The Advocate in Baton Rouge, La., expects to move into its new $50 million, 117,000-square-foot production building in November, capping off a 29-month construction project. The building is one of two Advocate facilities designed by Austin Aecom; the other, housing administrative functions, opened last year after significant remodeling of an existing structure.

The newspaper began studying its options in 2002. “The old administrative facility was over 50 years old and was full of hazardous materials,” said Richard Shurley, The Advocate’s director of technology and planning.

The Advocate's production facility will be
ready by November.
Photo: Austin Aecom

“We could no longer operate in the building with any flexibility. The old production facility was over 25 years old and was designed for letterpress operations. It was not feasible to reconstruct it as an offset facility.”

 

The Advocate’s administrative operations are now based in an 86,000-square-foot building that boasts ample room for current and future needs, said Shurley. Austin Aecom oversaw workplace services, design, construction administration, furniture selection and move management.

The production facility, which will house a MAN  Roland Inc. 4-by-1 RegioMAN press, is about 90 percent complete, according to The Advocate. Austin Aecom helped the paper with site and press selection, among other services. Local firms provided civil engineering and general contracting services.