SAN ANTONIO
San Antonio recently unveiled the newly transformed Henry B. Gonzalez Convention Center. The $325 million expansion marks the largest capital improvement project in the City of San Antonio’s history and increases the facility’s footprint to 1.6 million square feet set along the downtown River Walk.
Festivities were celebrated with the unveiling of “Liquid Crystal,” a public art installation by artist Jason Bruges that is located in the center’s new lobby atrium. Its 3,510 LCD interactive panels create a digital fountain effect where the flow depends upon the amount of people and activity filling the atrium. It is one of three new art installations in the center, showcasing San Antonio’s local arts scene.
The Henry B. Gonzalez Convention Center, originally built in 1968 when San Antonio hosted the World’s Fair, has welcomed numerous additions and renovations throughout the years. The project challenged the convention center’s design team to integrate its work into downtown area and Hemisfair Park.
A new addition was built to the east, which will allow for the demolition of the original 1968 structure to the west. In place of the original structure will be an expansion of neighboring Hemisfair Park.
Transformation at a glance:
- 1.6 million-square-foot footprint.
- 514,000 square feet of contiguous exhibit space.
- 86,500 square feet of column-free multi-purpose space.
- 70 meeting spaces including divisible breakout rooms.
- 54,000-square-foot Stars at Night Ballroom.
- Enhanced circulation, way finding and accessibility of spaces.
- Innovative design, flexible spaces and advanced technology.
- Eco-friendly design using energy reduction measures.
- Public art installations that exude the history and culture of San Antonio.
- Upcoming expansion of neighboring Hemisfair Park.
“We are so excited to welcome everyone to San Antonio with the beautifully transformed Henry B. Gonzalez Convention Center,” said Casandra Matej, executive director of the San Antonio Convention & Visitors Bureau. “This transformation has been truly phenomenal. Throughout the design process, we made sure to incorporate client feedback to supersede meeting needs for the next generation.”
To learn more about meeting in San Antonio, visit www.meetings.visitsanantonio.com.
