Austin's original convention center no longer met the needs of one of the nation's fastest-growing cities. The existing facility created barriers within downtown, limiting connections between surrounding districts and public spaces. At the same time, Austin sought a venue that could better support major events like South by Southwest (SXSW), drive economic growth, and set a new benchmark for environmental responsibility. The City of Austin engaged our team in partnership with LMN Architects to reimagine the role of a civic venue uniquely situated at one of Austin’s important intersections of urban density and nature.
UnconventionalATX, true to its name, transforms the convention center from a downtown barrier into an urban connector. Restored street grids, active ground-floor uses, and a major west-east public paseo linking the facility to the Waterloo Greenway strengthen connections between surrounding neighborhoods, cultural destinations, and future transit investments. The design also preserves and relocates the historic Trask House and Kitchen close to its original location while incorporating a $17.7 million architecturally integrated public art program that celebrates Austin's creative identity. The design nearly doubles rentable space to 620,000 square feet (57,00 square metres) while maintaining a compact footprint with a vertical planning strategy that stacks program functions across multiple levels and creates various outdoor event spaces.
Sustainability drives every aspect of the project, which is targeting International Living Future Institute (ILFI) Zero Carbon certification. The design integrates mass timber framing—including a long-span, column-free ballroom—alongside low-carbon concrete, all-electric systems, carbon-free energy procurement, and material reuse strategies. We incorporated salvaged structural steel and the original facility's iconic blue art glass into the new building, reducing waste while preserving a connection to the site's history.
The City predicts the larger convention center, now totaling 1.4 million gross square feet (130,064 square metres) will make more Austin more competitive, generate an additional $285 million in economic activity, and support an additional 1,600 jobs.
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