Convention Center Expansion

Summary

The original Austin Convention Center facility covered four city blocks downtown, bounded by Red River, East Cesar Chavez, Trinity and East Third streets. This project is a $110 million expansion of the Convention Center on adjacent land north of the current facility, pushing the footprint to Fourth Street. The Center, which opened in July 1992, was built to allow for future expansion.

Status

Installation of the exterior skin is wrapping the north elevation and will soon turn down Trinity Street where it will become complete. The atrium glass is complete and the remaining glazing is nearing completion.

Temporary chilled water is in service and the interior finishes have commenced. Austin Energy will eventually supply 1800 tons of chilled water service from the Hobby Garage to the Expansion. The abandoned portion of the 66" water main that is now under the expansion will be used as a sleeve by Austin Energy to bring the chilled water lines in from Hobby and connect to a future District Plant that will provide backup service.

All of the air-handlers have been set. The 200,000 square feet of new roof is about 90% complete. Interior partitions are about 80% complete. Many of these partitions are air entrained concrete block, a relatively new product that is making its way into the construction industry. The blocks are solid and the pathways for utilities, like electrical conduits, are routed out of the surface. It's an interesting installation to see.

All of the stairways are complete. The freight elevator is in place and the escalators are installed. The existing facility was taken out of service for the entire month of September so that renovation work and tie-ins to the new building could occur. The north wall separating the two buildings came down during September and a dust partition was installed.

Description

The expansion will add an additional 130,000 square feet of exhibit space, a new 40,000 square foot ballroom and another 35,000 square feet of meeting rooms, doubling its capacity.

Room nights - the nights people spend in area hotels - are expected to increase from 150,500 to 332,600 with the expansion.

A feasibility study on the Convention Center anticipates a community economic impact of an expansion to increase from $70.6 million annually and 1,464 jobs to $156.6 million annually and 3,268 jobs. The fiscal impact including property, sales and hotel taxes for Austin would grow from $3.3 million annually to $7.4 million annually. During construction of the expansion, Austin is expected to have a one-time benefit of $145 million and 1,143 jobs.

Basic Data

• Project Contact: Tom Wood, Public Works Department, 404-4082
• Project Manager: Gilbane Building Company
• General Contractor: SpawGlass
• Substantial Completion: On Schedule for March 2002

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