Just days into the new year—and just a couple of months after moving into our 40,000 sq ft shop—the Downtown FabWorks team threw itself into fabricating a full-scale, three-story replica façade of one of New Orleans’ most iconic buildings: the Cabildo. While we are used to receiving requests for large-scale theming for museum and film set use, it’s not every day that we get asked to recreate a famous building for use as the grand entrance of a private VIP Super Bowl party. 

The Cabildo façade was one of 11 different Super Bowl LIX live events and brand activations that we had the pleasure of fabricating in New Orleans last season. And while it’s impossible for us to pick a favorite, it’s safe to say that this was the grandest of the experiences, by far.

This world-class event was a chance to bring together NFL team owners, public officials, artists, chefs, and culture bearers to celebrate the city of New Orleans less than 24 hours before the biggest game in football. Imagined by Van Wyck, a creative agency known for blending hospitality with design, every aspect of the event was carefully curated to ensure that guests were given the event of a lifetime.

Why the Cabildo?

There’s something poetic about recreating the Cabildo for this moment. Originally built in the late 1700s under Spanish rule, it’s long been a symbol of New Orleans' resilience and complexity. It’s where the Louisiana Purchase was signed, marking a turning point in American history. It has been a courthouse, a state museum, and a silent witness to generations of transformation, so the choice to use the building as a gateway to a night of celebration was more than just set dressing.

Scenic Fabrication on a Grand Scale

This project was experiential fabrication at its most ambitious—a seamless blend of engineering, art, and logistics.

Details Matter

Every last detail of this gorgeous entrance was touched, shaped, and refined by someone (in most cases, multiple someones) with years of craft under their belt.

It’s easy to get lost in the grandeur of Super Bowl weekend—the VIPs, the cameras, the performances. But standing on the deck in front of that towering façade as guests arrived at dusk, you could feel something different. The air carried music and laughter, yes—but also reverence. For the city. For its architecture. For what it means to gather.

The Folks Behind the Build

This project simply wouldn’t have happened without the people who brought it to life. Every square inch was crafted by our incredible team: millworkers, scenic painters, steel fabricators, foam artists, plasterers, CNC techs, technical designers, project managers, and installers. Each person brought their expertise and care to the build.

That’s what makes experiential fabrication such a powerful medium: it’s not just about making something look good. It’s about creating a lasting memory by captivating the senses. And that kind of magic works just a little better if the people fabricating the thing feel just as excited about bringing it to life as the end users do about experiencing it.

A Moment Worth Building

It was a night of music, art, storytelling, and good food. But more than that, it was a love letter to New Orleans. And for us? It was a reminder of why scenic fabrication matters.

Because in the right hands, a façade isn't just a façade. It’s a gateway to the experience of a lifetime.

_____________

If you're kicking off creative for Super Bowl 2026 and need a fabrication partner who can translate ambitious ideas into bold, showstopping environments—we're your team.

Reach out now to get your vision on our build schedule for 2026. Contact Us and let’s make the next big game even bigger.

‍