Austin

Newly released renderings show the Austin Convention Center's upcoming transformation

KUT 90.5 | By Luz Moreno-Lozano

Published February 26, 2025 at 5:03 AM CST

A rendering of a multi-level building that is lit up near dusk. There is a large outdoor space with trees and the skyline stands in the background. — The Austin Convention Center will close in April, and construction will begin shortly after. This rendering gives a glimpse at what the completed redesign project, also known as Unconventional ATX, will look like in 2029 when it is expected to reopen.

A design for the Austin Convention Center expansion and redevelopment was revealed Tuesday.

The city expansion has been in the works for years and has been part of a nearly decade-long study to expand the convention center in an effort to become more attractive space for large events and conferences. Architects from LMN Architects and Page Southerland Page presented the new design to the Austin City Council during a work session.

Today, the center is the 61st largest in the country, which officials said makes it tough to compete with other large cities. After the redevelopment, Austin’s convention center is projected to be the 35th largest.

A rendering of the upcoming redesign of the Austin Convention Center as seen from the East view from across Red River Street, 2nd Street and the Waterloo Greenway. — This rendering shows the East view of the convention center from across Red River Street and Second Street and the Waterloo Greenway. The architects hope the redesign will connect the center with other parts of the downtown and nearby neighborhoods.

The $1.6 billion project will be paid for by funds from Hotel Occupancy Tax and Convention Center, and will allow the city to host larger events as well as multiple events at a time. The amount of rentable space will nearly double to 620,000 square feet, with room to add an additional 140,000 square feet.

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The Austin Convention Center already plays host to the South by Southwest festival in March. Last year's event brought in more than $377 million and nearly 48,000 people, the Austin Monitor reported.

Mayor Kirk Watson said in a statement that the transformation of the Austin Convention Center "will enhance connectivity and inclusivity, creating a more accessible and engaging downtown experience for residents and visitors."

Once complete, the Austin Convention Center will be the first zero carbon certified convention center in the world. The multi-story space will also include public art, several meeting rooms, ballrooms and a multi-purpose outdoor space for live music and community events.

The north side of the convention center is seen in this rendering looking across Third Street and the north event plaza. People are shown congregating at tables with large panels that can display the current conferences or events taking place. — This rendering shows the north side of the building looking across Third Street and the north event plaza. The new design features large outdoor spaces for people to congregate.

It will also be walkable to Rainey Street, the Red River Cultural District, Sixth Street and the Waterloo Greenway — and have access to public transit and bike lanes.

The center will close in April ahead of demolition. Construction is expected to continue through 2028 and open in time for the 2029 spring festival season.

This rendering shows the convention center's entrance at Second Street and Trinity Street. It features a large wooden covering with open space beneath it. The wood covering is as tall as the brick walls next to it. — The redesign of the Austin Convention Center will take the space from 365,000 square feet to 620,000 square feet of rentable space. This rendering shows the entrance at Second Street and Trinity Street.

Trisha Tatro, director of the Austin Convention Center Department, said the venue will be a landmark that reflects the city’s bold and creative spirit.

"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," Tatro said in a written statement.

People walk along an outdoor covered patio. The ceiling of the patio features a large colorful mural. Bits of surrounding skylines can be seen in the background. — While this rendering highlights the outdoor event space in front of the ballroom and lobby area, it also gives a glimpse at what the one of the many public artworks could look like. The project will include a $17.7 million investment in public art, the largest in Austin’s history, according to the city.