The Austin Convention Center is entering an exciting new chapter. As construction begins on the UnconventionalATX redevelopment project, we’re committed to keeping our community informed and engaged. From traffic control plans and construction updates to event highlights and partner spotlights, this newsletter offers a closer look at the milestones, stories, and people shaping the future of downtown Austin.
Austin InSight is a weekly program covering issues that impact Central Texans and highlighting the region’s creative diversity. The 30-minute program, hosted by Laura Laughead, anchors a renewed commitment to public affairs content at Austin PBS. Acting Deputy Director Katy Zamesnik explains why the new facility is needed, and shares numerous benefits of the project.
On April 17, Mayor Kirk Watson, Mayor Pro Tem Vanessa Fuentes, Council Member Zohaib “Zo” Qadri, and Tom Noonan, President & CEO of Visit Austin, joined Director Trisha Tatro and Acting Deputy Director Katy Zamesnik at the Austin Convention Center to sign a construction beam, officially kicking off the UnconventionalATX renovation project. Thank you to our city leaders and everyone who has supported this vision. The journey starts now!
Acting Deputy Director Katy Zamesnik was a panelist at this year’s Infrastructure Summit hosted by the Austin Chamber. The group discussed the transformation of downtown by key projects, and shared insights on infrastructure upgrades, economic impacts, and the benefits these projects will bring to Austinites.
Did you know the UnconventionalATX project plans to salvage approximately 75,000 sq. ft. of high-quality metal panels and 80 structural trusses from the current building? These materials will be integrated into the new facility’s design, reflecting a commitment to reducing environmental impact and preserving architectural heritage. This initiative is part of the project’s broader goal to achieve Zero Carbon Certification, setting a new standard for eco-friendly construction in the convention industry.
During construction, a traffic control plan ensures access and safety for pedestrians and bicyclists traveling between east and west in the Convention Center area. A defined truck route will minimize traffic impact with a one-way path for trucks.
We’re featuring a partner of the Austin Convention Center redevelopment in every newsletter. Meet the construction team.
A purpose-built joint venture, JE Dunn/Turner brings together two of the nation’s most trusted and experienced construction firms to lead the Austin Convention Center redevelopment. With expertise in convention center and public assembly construction, experience in downtown Austin, and a proven track record of successful collaboration with the City of Austin, the team is positioned to deliver a world-class facility that will elevate Austin’s place in the convention industry.
JE Dunn has built a strong reputation in Austin, transforming the skyline and constructing critical public infrastructure for the past two decades. Turner Construction, the largest Construction Manager-at-Risk firm in the U.S., brings a wealth of best practices from its 25+ completed convention center projects nationwide, ensuring innovative solutions and seamless execution for Austin’s redevelopment.
The journey as an events destination began in 1940 when the city bought an airplane hangar by Town Lake, transforming it into the City Coliseum by 1949. A decade later came the Municipal Auditorium, reborn in 1981 as the iconic spaceship-domed Palmer Auditorium. That site later evolved into today’s Long Center for the Performing Arts, while a new Palmer Events Center opened in 2002, still boasting one of the best skyline views in town.
But Austin had its sights set higher. In the 1980s, city leaders envisioned a larger downtown facility to match Austin’s growing national reputation. That vision became reality on July 4, 1992, with the opening of the 176,000 sq. ft. Austin Convention Center. The center, spanning four city blocks, was completed ahead of schedule and under budget, and helped spark a downtown renaissance that transformed its former sleepy, warehouse-centered streets into a bustling entertainment, meeting, and energetic downtown event destination.
As Austin’s identity, culture, and meeting demands soared, a major expansion was launched in 1999, adding an additional two city blocks to double its space. Opening in 2002, the expanded center opened and offered 365,000 sq. ft., including Texas’s largest ballroom at the time. The center grew to anchor a thriving downtown district with over 14,000 hotel rooms within a mile radius of its footprint.
Slated to open in Spring 2029, the reimagined Austin Convention Center will expand to 620,000 sq. ft., including five stories, two below grade and three above, and become the world’s first Zero Carbon Certified Convention Center. It will fuse innovation, sustainability, and the city’s creative energy into a meeting space.
As we gear up for summer, we’re excited to connect with you at upcoming events such as Thinkers and Doers, and ULI’s Marketplace, where we will have a table.
If you see us at these events, please feel free to stop by, say hello, ask any questions you may have, and help us spread the word about UnconventionalATX.
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Reimagining the Austin Convention Center of the future.
