Latest news with #UnconventionalATX
Yahoo
17-04-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Construction officially starts on new Austin Convention Center
AUSTIN (KXAN) — Just weeks after South by Southwest ended, construction has already begun on the new Austin Convention Center. Austin leaders hosted an official event Thursday. 'Today is the official closure of the Austin Convention Center. We are unveiling Unconventional ATX, which is the new Austin Convention Center project,' said Trisha Tatro, director of the Austin Convention Center Department. The city of Austin first released renderings of the new space earlier this year. City leaders say it will make the area more walkable and add green space. 'The redevelopment of the Convention Center will create a vital downtown amenity and urban connector,' said Austin Mayor Kirk Watson. 'With a design that emphasizes street-level openness and accessibility, vibrant public plazas, and pedestrian-friendly pathways, this transformation will enhance connectivity and inclusivity, creating a more accessible and engaging downtown experience for residents and visitors.' The $1.6 billion project will nearly double the rentable square footage of the existing facility, growing from 365,000 square feet to 620,000 square feet of rentable space, according to a release from the city in February. 'We took about half of our leads that we got, and we put them right in the trash can because we were either sold out or too small,' said Tom Noonan, president and CEO of Visit Austin. 'Now we're going to be much more competitive.' What's the deal with SXSW when the Austin Convention Center closes for reconstruction? The project, which the city calls Unconventional ATX, is being funded through Hotel Occupancy Tax and Convention Center revenues — no property taxes are going toward the project, the city said. The convention center is expected to reopen in 2029. According to the city, the new convention center will be the world's first zero-carbon-certified convention center (International Living Futures Institute). The design of the center 'reimagines traditional event spaces,' a city release said. It will prioritize accessibility, flexibility, and sustainability. $1.6B Austin Convention Center expansion to start in 2025 The design also aims to enhance connectivity with surrounding districts, including the Waterloo Greenway, Palm District, and Project Connect initiatives, the city noted. It will prioritize public access and multimodal transit by reopening Third Street for multimodal traffic and transforming Second Street into a pedestrian-friendly corridor. 'There will be retail and open green spaces for not only the community to celebrate and enjoy and partake in but also our visitors,' Tatro said. The convention center will also showcase art installations, interactive exhibits, and artist-driven spaces that 'celebrate Austin's diverse creative community,' a release said. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Axios
26-02-2025
- Business
- Axios
Austin convention center revamp revealed
The Austin Convention Center, due to close in April for a major rebuild, will reopen in spring 2029, per a presentation this week to Austin council members. Why it matters: Conventions are a key part of the Austin economy — along with gatherings ranging from bachelorette parties to music festivals — and city officials say a revamped convention center is key to capturing business. By the numbers: Austin is the 11th-largest city in the U.S. but has the 66th-largest convention center. After the reconstruction, it will be the 35th-largest, Katy Zamesnik, assistant director of the convention center, told the city council. The project will expand Austin's convention space from 365,000 square feet to about 620,000 square feet. The bottom line: The $1.6 billion project, known as Unconventional ATX, will be paid for by hotel occupancy tax and convention center revenues.
Yahoo
26-02-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Here's what the new Austin Convention Center could look like
Austinites are can now get a first look at the new Austin Convention Center. "City staff and architects revealed renderings of the $1.6 billion Unconventional ATX project, showcasing the extensive expansion of the existing building in downtown on East Cesar Chavez Street, during a public meeting on Tuesday. The existing center is scheduled to close this April to allow for demolition to begin. The $1.26 billion construction project is funded by the convention center's share of the city's hotel occupancy tax and its own revenue 'The redevelopment of the convention center will create a vital downtown amenity and urban connector,' Austin Mayor Kirk Watson said. 'With a design that emphasizes street-level openness and accessibility, vibrant public plazas, and pedestrian-friendly pathways, this transformation will enhance connectivity and inclusivity, creating a more accessible and engaging downtown experience for residents and visitors.' Here's what we know. The Austin Convention Center's makeover will nearly double its rentable square footage, expanding from 365,000 square feet to 620,000 square feet. The update, designed through a joint venture of LMN Architects and Page Southerland Page, will feature more outdoor amenities such as open-air terraces and public plazas. According to the Austin Convention Center Department, it will also be the world's first zero-carbon-certified convention center. The new center is intended to serve as a 'cultural hub' by connecting with the surrounding Waterloo Greenway and Palm Districts and showcasing art installations and interactive exhibits. It is also being designed to integrate with the ongoing Project Connect transportation projects in Austin. This will be done in part with a $17.7 million investment in public art, the largest in Austin's history," according to the department. Unconventional ATX will also reopen Third Street for multimodal traffic and enhance Second Street to make it more pedestrian-friendly. 'The new Austin Convention Center is more than a venue — it's a landmark that reflects our city's bold and creative spirit,' said Trisha Tatro, director of the Austin Convention Center Department. 'With its dynamic design, enhanced community access, and commitment to sustainability, this facility will set a new benchmark for convention spaces while strengthening Austin's reputation as a premier global destination.' The Austin Convention Center will close for demolition in April of this year and construction will begin shortly after. The expected completion date for construction is in the latter half of 2028, set to reopen in time for the 2029 spring festival season. This article originally appeared on Austin American-Statesman: First look: Austin Convention Center project renderings released
Yahoo
26-02-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Unconventional ATX: Design for Austin's new convention center released
The Brief Architects revealed the design for Austin's new convention center The $1.6 billion project is known as Unconventional ATX Some people aren't so sure about a brand-new convention center AUSTIN, Texas - Architects revealed the design for Austin's new convention center at a City Council work session Tuesday morning. The $1.6 billion project, known as Unconventional ATX, will be funded through hotel occupancy taxes and convention center revenues. It was designed by LMN/Page, a joint venture. What we know The new convention center will nearly double the size of the current one, from 365,000 square feet to 625,000 square feet. The architects describe the design as multi-layered, walkable and sustainable, with public plazas and indoor-outdoor connections. "A lot of outdoor space, outdoor event space, hangout space that is very much integrated with the program of the convention center," Larry Speck with Page Architects said in the presentation. "I think this design is fantastic," Paige Ellis, District 8 Council Member, said. "I also am very impressed with how much this design reflects an improvement in our buildings reflecting our community values," Krista Laine, District 6 Council Member said. Across the street at the Fairmont Hotel, general manager Mike Culver is looking forward to the new convention center. "We're excited, because it's also going to provide some more green space and not just the concrete jungle that I think we tend to have now," he said. "I do think having that bigger convention center will allow us to attract many different types of groups, on a larger scale, I think, which will bring a lot more money into the city as a whole. It'll help with occupancy taxes, it'll help with tourism taxes." The city says they're looking into traffic management for the roughly four-year process, and they've been reaching out to nearby places for feedback. "I think traffic is going to be one of those wait-and-see things. They've thought about how to make this as less of an impact as possible with one-way traffic for construction trucks," Culver said. The other side However, some aren't so sure about a brand-new convention center. "I think it's just fine the way it is. I've visited here multiple times over the years, and it seems to be big enough, and it's already tight on space here anyways," Joe Hartley, who is visiting from Houston, said. There are also concerns about the art in the current one, including the Riffs and Rhythms mosaic created by John Yancey in 1996. It was commissioned by the city and accepted into its permanent public art collection. The mosaic is connected to the wall. "If an artist has work in a museum, you don't expect the museum to take it, throw it in the dumpster at the end of the workday. You expect there's care, stewardship, and that there's a responsibility there," Yancey said. The city says they will put together a living history of the pieces. Some artists have taken their pieces down on their own dime. Yancey says the city didn't think the process through. His piece was brought up in the work session. "Do we have any cost estimate as to what it would take to salvage Dr. Yancey's work or anything else that may not be possible to, at this stage, be reused as part of the process," Marc Duchen, District 10 Council Member, asked staff. "This new building will have a blend of brand-new art by these artists. It will have a blend of art that was in the previous convention center," Trisha Tatro, director of the Austin Convention Center Department said. For specifics, she deferred to the Art in Public Places program. What will happen to Yancey's piece is still up in the air. He is consulting with preservationists and attorneys to figure out what to do. "Artists don't have money to just go around taking the work down. These are monumental works. These aren't taking paintings off the wall. These are highly engineered works that are embedded into the architecture," Yancey said. He adds he doesn't think there needs to be a new convention center. "The convention is beautiful. It's clean. It's functional. The artwork in it is beautiful. It's a wonderful kind of a public art success," he said. What's next The current convention center will close in April and be demolished shortly after. The new one is expected to open in 2029. The Source Information from interviews conducted by FOX 7 Austin's Angela Shen
Yahoo
25-02-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
What will the new Austin Convention Center look like? First renderings give sneak peek
AUSTIN (KXAN) — The long-anticipated redevelopment of Austin's Convention Center is almost here, and Austinites got a sneak peek of what the new building will look like when the project is complete. The Austin Convention Center Department (ACCD) released the first renderings of the new Austin Convention Center on Tuesday. The $1.6 billion project to redevelop and expand the Convention Center is set to begin following South By Southwest this year, and is expected to reopen in 2029. The project, which the city calls Unconventional ATX, will be funded through Hotel Occupancy Tax and Convention Center revenues, according to a release from the city of Austin. What's the deal with SXSW when the Austin Convention Center closes for reconstruction? The city of Austin said the center, designed by LMN/Page (a joint venture) is a 'cutting-edge facility' that will 'seamlessly integrate innovative architecture, sustainability, and public art to create a world-class event space in the heart of Austin.' The new center will nearly double the rentable square footage of the existing facility, growing from 365,000 square feet to 620,000 square feet of rentable space, according to a release from the city. 'The redevelopment of the Convention Center will create a vital downtown amenity and urban connector,' said Austin Mayor Kirk Watson. 'With a design that emphasizes street-level openness and accessibility, vibrant public plazas, and pedestrian-friendly pathways, this transformation will enhance connectivity and inclusivity, creating a more accessible and engaging downtown experience for residents and visitors.' $1.6B Austin Convention Center expansion to start in 2025 According to the city, the new convention center will be the world's first zero-carbon-certified convention center (International Living Futures Institute). The city's release said that feat will help bolster Austin's image as a leader in sustainable urban development and set a new standard for the convention center industry. The design of the center 'reimagines traditional event spaces,' the release said. It will prioritize accessibility, flexibility, and sustainability. Key architectural highlights include expansive outdoor features such as open-air terraces, public plazas, and indoor-outdoor connections, per the city. Other architectural elements include a modern facade, sweeping roof structures, and transparent designs to maximize natural light. The design also aims to enhance connectivity with surrounding districts, including the Waterloo Greenway, Palm District, and Project Connect initiatives, the release noted. It will also prioritize public access, and multimodal transit, by reopening Third Street for multimodal traffic and transforming Second Street into a pedestrian-friendly corridor. The convention center will also showcase art installations, interactive exhibits, and artist-driven spaces that 'celebrate Austin's diverse creative community,' the release said. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
