Henry B. Gonzalez Convention Center

San Antonio, United States

The $325-million expansion and renovation of San Antonio’s Henry B. Gonzalez Convention Center focused on flexibility, connectivity and sustainability to create a convention center experience that showcases San Antonio’s rapidly growing downtown and vibrant culture. The project challenged us to find a creative way to connect the convention center with new transit systems, surrounding development and the recently redesigned Hemisfair Park.

The flexibility and connectivity of the project can be summed up by the addition of state-of-the-art exhibition and event spaces, from the 800,000 square feet of new construction to adding more than 78,000 square feet in the existing building to better accommodate larger, more varied events.

The expansion also shifts the building east, opening the convention center up to the new Hemisfair Park and exposing the River Walk to convention attendees. The expansion’s defining feature is a cantilevered room suspended over Market Street that is unlike anything currently found in the United States.

Additionally, the largest public indoor courtyard space in San Antonio was added to provide greater connectivity to the city’s urban core, while giving convention center visitors an incredible space to relax and refresh. This blending of indoors and outdoors was also carried out by the expansive balconies that provide visitors with sweeping views of San Antonio.

The new Henry B. Gonzalez Convention Center secures San Antonio’s competitive position among convention centers nationwide by providing a flexible urban experience that projects the character and spirit of the city and its citizens.

The expansion also shifts the building east, opening the convention center up to the new Hemisfair Park and exposing the River Walk to convention attendees. The expansion’s defining feature is a cantilevered room suspended over Market Street that is unlike anything currently found in the United States.

Additionally, the largest public indoor courtyard space in San Antonio was added to provide greater connectivity to the city’s urban core, while giving convention center visitors an incredible space to relax and refresh. This blending of indoors and outdoors was also carried out by the expansive balconies that provide visitors with sweeping views of San Antonio.

IMPACT. The new Henry B. Gonzalez Convention Center secures San Antonio’s competitive position among convention centers nationwide by providing a flexible urban experience that projects the character and spirit of the city and its citizens.

This transformation has been truly phenomenal. It’s an absolute gem.