About $5 million in renovations began today inside the historic Gallier Hall on St. Charles Avenue.
Mayor Mitch Landrieu and members of the New Orleans Tricentennial Committee held a news conference outside of the historic building to announce the start of the project.
A piece of the exterior fell in in summer 2014, damaging the granite stairs. After that, preservationists did a full forensic analysis of the building.
Exterior renovations, expected to cost about $10 million, began in 2014. Interior renovations began today.
Inside consists of 12 ball rooms and a theater. It is one of the oldest government buildings in New Orleans, serving as city hall until 1957.
It contains 41 works of art that The Helis Foundation has committed $145,000 to restoring.
They plan to finish all 41 paintings and frames by fall 2017.
Watch the complete segment on WGNO-TV.