Red Cross set to break ground

• By CHAD CALDER
• Advocate business writer
• Published: May 16, 2008 - Page: 1B - UPDATED: 12:05 a.m.

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The Baton Rouge chapter of the American Red Cross will break ground next week on its new headquarters on four acres off Sherwood Commons between Coursey Boulevard and Airline Highway.

The $5.5 million building is funded by an $8 million donation made last year by the Kuwaiti people through the Kuwaiti Red Crescent Society. It was part of a $25 million, post-Hurricane Katrina gift to Red Cross chapters in New Orleans, Mobile, Ala., and Tallahassee, Fla.

Victor Howell, chief executive officer of the Louisiana Capital Area Chapter, said the donation went to buying the land for the new site and will pay for construction, outfitting and furnishing of the two-story, 40,000-square-foot building.

“It’s a fabulous gift to the community,” he said.

The new building will double the administrative and operational capacity for the 21-member staff and active roster of 350 volunteers. It will also provide 6,500 square feet of much-needed on-site warehouse space, Howell said.

The Red Cross’ home on Celtic Drive is 17,500 square feet and has no real warehouse space for cots, blankets, food, and hygiene and first aid kits. Howell said the organization has relied on small facilities scattered in several locations.

“We just put it where we can,” he said.

The new facility will have a disaster operations center, with 24 workstations, satellite phones and display screens to track the news and weather.

“We (The Red Cross) have nothing like that anywhere here,” he said.

Howell said the new building will also provide more classroom space, where the Red Cross teaches CPR, first aid and babysitting, which includes instruction in child and infant first aid.

Howell said the new building will also allow the Red Cross to provide better facilities to its volunteers, including 16 new workstations.

Howell said the goal is to occupy the building by May 1, to give the staff a month in its new home before hurricane season starts.

“We have hurricane season, and getting-ready-for-hurricane season,” he joked.