Revamping for a modern studio and office space redesign.
The former headquarters of Pontchartrain Housing Corporation is being transformed into a redesigned 37,000-square-foot studio and office space for WVUE Fox8 News. The first floor is a state-of-the-art newsroom and two new studio areas dedicated to breaking news, investigative reporting, and sports. The second, third, and fourth floors were refurbished, with the installation of new flooring and carpet, and the removal of select partition walls to create more spacious office areas. Externally, a new steel structure supports six ground-level satellites and provide ten covered parking spaces. Following a meticulous four-month preconstruction phase, the project was completed in spring 2025.
Square Footage
37,000
Completion
Early 2025
Owner
Gray Media Group, Inc.
Architect
Project Location
New Orleans, LA
Strategic Planning and Precise ExecutionÂ
Delivering a cutting-edge broadcast facility with extensive supporting infrastructure.
In late December 2023, DonahueFavret Contractors was approached with a unique opportunity: to help transform a former office building we had built more than a decade earlier into the future headquarters of WVUE Fox8, a leading television station in New Orleans. The existing station, located just blocks away, had become outdated and no longer supported the needs of a modern broadcasting operation.Â
With a fast-moving timeline, aggressive goals, and the city preparing to host Super Bowl LIX in January 2025, the project demanded exceptional planning, coordination, and execution.
Building for Broadcast
Coordinating with Beck TV:Â A project within a project.
A major factor influencing the project’s schedule was the coordination with Beck TV, the station’s broadcast integration partner, whose five-month scope beginning in October 2024 was critical to completing the live television infrastructure. To meet this deadline, DonahueFavret prioritized turning over the server room by October, driving early procurement of key electrical components like the MDP and generator and dictating the June demolition start. Weekly coordination with Beck TV was vital, as their rotating 10-day on-site intervals required DFC to carefully sequence work between visits. Construction efforts ran concurrently, including pile driving for a new satellite structure, and phasing remained fluid as Beck advanced from the server room through the newsroom, studios, and control room. Meanwhile, upper-floor renovations followed a top-down approach, balancing conventional construction flow with the demands of broadcast integration.
Adapting to Change Without Ever Losing Momentum
Evolving owner needs and intricate studio finishes add to complexity.Â
Midway through construction, the owner introduced a series of late-stage change orders that significantly expanded the project scope. These included the addition of 14 bathrooms, multiple office spaces, and infrastructure upgrades specific to the station’s broadcast technology, such as Cat6 cabling and enhanced network infrastructure. Though these additions posed scheduling challenges, DFC worked closely with trade partners to absorb the changes without altering the target completion date. The team’s ability to adapt while maintaining progress was a testament to its disciplined planning and communication.
From the earliest planning sessions to the high-stakes final walkthroughs, the WVUE Fox 8 renovation was defined by its extraordinary pace, constant change, and a team that never lost stride. The team on this project was phenomenal. You don’t accomplish what we accomplished without a cohesive team that has gelled so well and is willing to work together. This job was all about adapting and overcoming the change. Every day brought a new ‘boulder in the road,’ and the team just figured out how to move it. That’s what made this project a success.
Jay Merchant
Senior Project Manager, Project Control, WVUE Fox8 Owner’s Representative
