The transformation of one of downtown New Orleans’ most visible but long-vacant skyscrapers into a Four Seasons Hotel and private residences is one of the most anticipated projects in the city’s recent history. Formerly the World Trade Center tower, the 33-story building at 2 Canal Street has been targeted for redevelopment for more than two decades, and stakeholders are eager to reach the finish line.
With plans for completion by December 2020, the construction team on the $530-million project had to reengineer the building’s spine, accommodate trains going through the site and work next to a rising river that forced months-long shutdowns of underground work. As of ENR press time, news of community spread of the coronavirus in Louisiana added another layer of uncertainty for construction projects across the state.