Contract calls for modernization, expansion to be complete in 2016.
2012-09-25 — /travelprnews.com/ — After announcing plans to expand the Henry B. Gonzalez Convention Center in June, San Antonio Mayor Julián Castro and City Council have officially approved the project by awarding the design-build contract to the Hunt/Zachry Joint Venture team that will design and construct the $325 million expansion project.
The expansion will create uniform quality throughout the facility; contiguous exhibit halls; more uniform meeting space; and will modernize the facility to meet the market’s current and future needs. This will bring San Antonio’s prime contiguous exhibit space from 22nd largest into the top 10 among comparable cities nationally.
“Our city leadership supports the hospitality industry and understands that strong infrastructure along with San Antonio’s distinct visitor experience are what make us one of the top convention destinations in the nation” said SACVB Executive Director, Casandra Matej. “This project will allow us to offer convention clients a flexible, state-of-the-art facility built to meet their needs. It’s completion in 2016 will only enhance San Antonio’s already strong economy and provide benefits to all groups meeting in San Antonio, no matter the size” remarked Matej.
The Hunt/Zachry Joint Venture expansion program calls for construction of new exhibit halls, development of a new well-defined entrance, expansion and renovation of food service facilities, and improvements to circulation and way-finding. All this will be accomplished while the convention center remains operational, with no disruptions to events, customers, staff and surrounding stakeholders. In addition, the original 1968-era wing will be demolished in 2016 upon completion of new construction and renovations. The expansion calls for approximately 835,000 gross square feet of new construction and approximately 78,000 square feet of renovation.
Among the improvements are:
- Approximately 280,000 square feet of new exhibit space
- New ballroom of approximately 55,000 square feet (the largest in Texas)
- Meeting, pre-function, and back-of-house space to support the exhibit halls
- Expansion of the existing kitchen
- Associated administrative and exhibit support offices
“I am looking forward to the Hunt/Zachry Joint Venture’s innovative design that will make our convention center a unique and inviting destination for guests from across Texas, the country and the world,” Mayor Julián Castro said. The Hunt/Zachry Joint Venture team consists of Hunt Construction Company, Zachry Construction Company, Populous, Inc. and Marmon/Mok Architects. Combined, the team brings more than 238 years of experience in design and construction to the Henry B. Gonzalez Convention Center expansion project.
Hunt Construction has worked on 20 major convention center expansions and renovations including Chicago’s McCormick Place West, the Phoenix Convention Center,and the San Jose Convention Center. Zachry Construction Company, headquartered in San Antonio, brings more than 80 years of experience with 810 local employees, while Marmon Mok Architects, also located in San Antonio, has been a leading architectural design firm in the San Antonio community and throughout the state of Texas for over 58 years having worked on the Alamodome and most recent convention center renovations. Populous, the world’s largest designer of public assembly facilities and one of the world’s leading experts in convention center design, has worked on more than 1,000 projects both nationally and international. Populous and Hunt Construction have collaborated on more than 40 projects including the San Jose and Phoenix Convention Center expansion projects. In addition, Populous and Marmon Mok have a 20-year history together, including the Alamodome, which Hunt constructed.
###
San Antonio Selects Design-Build team for Convention Center Expansion Project — Conv. Ctr. Barge Approaching