Hale Boggs Federal Complex

The Hale Boggs Federal Complex is a federal building and courthouse in downtown New Orleans that occupies an entire city block between Poydras Street and Magazine Street. It combines a 14-story office tower with a connected 6-story courthouse structure that houses the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Louisiana and various federal agencies.

The complex opened in 1976 and was named after Louisiana congressman Hale Boggs, who disappeared during a flight over Alaska in 1972. This naming honors a significant political figure from the state whose unexplained disappearance became a notable chapter in American history.

The complex contains notable public artworks, including sculptures like 'Out of There' by Clement Meadmore and 'Silent Struggle' by Lucas Samaras that mark the public spaces. These pieces transform the building into a place where people encounter contemporary art while moving through federal corridors.

The building is easily accessible by public transportation and located near several subway stations and bus lines in downtown New Orleans. Visitors should expect that certain areas of the complex may require security screenings or have restricted access depending on the purpose of the visit.

The complex ingeniously combines two structurally distinct buildings into one facility: a tall office tower linked to a lower courthouse structure. This pairing of functionally different structures creates an unusual architectural arrangement that many visitors overlook.

Location: New Orleans

Inception: 1962

Floors above the ground: 14

GPS coordinates: 29.94861,-90.06917

Latest update: December 14, 2025 13:02