Benson Tower, High-rise building in Central Business District, New Orleans, US
Benson Tower is a 26-story high-rise in New Orleans' Central Business District rising about 406 feet with a postmodern glass and steel design. The building provides roughly 486,000 square feet of office space and features balconies overlooking Champions Square.
Benson Tower was designed by Hellmuth, Obata & Kassabaum and rises 26 stories to 124 metres, making it the 12th-tallest building in New Orleans. On 29 August 2005 Hurricane Katrina broke dozens of its windows, and the building stood empty for years. Tom Benson bought it on 15 September 2009 and gave it his name; in 2012 Ochsner Health System moved executives and up to 750 administrative staff into the top four floors and the second and third floors.
The tower's name comes from Tom Benson, owner of the New Orleans Saints, who bought the building on 15 September 2009 and renamed it. Its second floor holds the studios of Fox affiliate WVUE (Channel 8), used for the station's morning newscast and sports coverage.
The building sits on Poydras Street in the heart of the city and is easily accessible by public transportation. Visitors can explore the exterior and surrounding area during daylight hours, with the best views of the structure available from different angles around Champions Square.
The second floor holds the studios of Fox affiliate WVUE (Channel 8), where the station films its morning newscast and sports programming; other parties lease the same space. The tower's owner, Tom Benson, also owned the station, tying the building to local broadcasting.
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