Downtown FabWorks Portfolio | Global Black Economic Forum

project
description

For the 2026 ESSENCE Festival of Culture in New Orleans, The Global Black Economic Forum created a dedicated destination for conversations and activations centered on economic freedom, justice, health, culture, and leadership. Working with MVD, we helped bring this vibrant environment to life inside the Ernest N. Morial Convention Center. The visual language was bold and unmistakable: deep black, bright yellow, and GBEF’s dynamic starburst logo.

the
challenge

GBEF needed the space to feel clearly distinct from the larger ESSENCE Festival floor while still inviting attendees into the energy and purpose of the Forum. The build needed to create meaningful moments across public, private, and specialized areas that would be used for various events across multiple days.

description

We built a towering 28-foot-wide, 20-foot-high entry arch that gave guests a clear, memorable threshold as they crossed into the GBEF experience. Its layered half-circle form, CNC-cut starburst, dimensional lettering, black fabric wrap, and backlit LED details turned the entrance into a bold brand landmark. We also created an 8-by-8-foot photo moment with fabric graphics, dimensional logos, and a custom shelf structure that gave attendees a polished place to gather and capture the moment. Throughout the green rooms, we used rental flats and fabric wraps featuring the starburst logo to carry the identity into more intimate spaces. For the Future of Health Neighborhood, we fabricated a 16-by-20-foot angled archway with steel framing, MDF cladding, painted finishes, and custom vinyl graphics—creating a strong visual welcome for a space built around what comes next.

Ryan McDonald

Senior Creative Producer, RED VELVET

Downtown FabWorks was a standout partner for our brand activation at Tales of the Cocktail. From the start, their team was collaborative, communicative, and deeply invested in bringing our vision to life with smart tech integration and seamless execution. Their onsite crew was not only skilled, but also incredibly friendly and easy to work with, making install a breeze. The final result was high-quality, on-brand, and a true showstopper.

Jordan Schwartz

Owner, Primetime Innovations

A+ job and A++ team. Every single crew member was extremely helpful, very respectful to all on site, and willing to help wherever and however without any complaints. Amazing group…next project, I am going to request that exact crew! Thank you. You killed it.

Paul Utterback

Business Development, Crystal Clear Imaging

A model company for design and fabrication. If you can dream it, Downtown FabWorks can do it.

Mike Cassesi

Owner, CASSESI Commercial Construction

Dan and his team are true professionals who are in a league of their own. When it comes to creativity, quality, and skill, Downtown FabWorks is a company that we know we can trust. Dan is down-to-earth, responsive, hardworking, and a true pleasure to work with every time.

Scott Beelman

Partner, Katapult Events

In the world of live events—where things often change on a whim—it's great to have a fabrication partner who understands our business and exceeds our expectations every single time.

Irina Gusin

Independent Exhibitions Producer

Dan and his team at Downtown FabWorks were able to fully produce and execute a large-scale structure thoughtfully and in record time when my project's deadline was threatened by Hurricane Ida. I couldn't be more appreciative of Dan's professionalism and hard work during a very stressful and uncertain time. Dan and his team were a joy to work with!

Kristen Kain

Owner, Kristen Kain: Marketing + Events

Downtown FabWorks is a great group to work with on any event project. They are experienced in all things related to scenic fabrication and installation, and they are flexible and accommodating as the needs of the project are developing. Having a reliable scenic partner is crucial to the success of the project—and Downtown FabWorks does not disappoint.

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