Convention Center expansion milestone commemorated with topping out

Photo byCity of Fort Worth

The City of Fort Worth, together with construction management joint venture AECOM Hunt-Byrne-EJ Smith, marked a major milestone in the expansion of the Fort Worth Convention Center with the project’s first official topping out ceremony on Thursday.

Why it’s important: The milestone marks the latest development in Phase I of the project.

About the ceremony: Elected officials, business leaders and construction teams were on hand for the topping out as the highest structural steel beam was hoisted into place with the traditional fir tree riding on it.

Speakers at the ceremony included Public Events Director Mike Crum, Visit Fort Worth Chairman Brian Newby, Fort Worth Mayor Mattie Parker and City Councilmember Elizabeth Beck, representing District 9.

What they’re saying: “Today is an exciting milestone as we continue to build on the success of our local tourism economy,” Parker said. “The Fort Worth Convention Center expansion is more than just a building project, it is a pivotal component of Fort Worth's vision for a vibrant, economically robust future.

“The expanded Convention Center will bring increased capacity to host conferences from across the nation, bolstering our already impressive convention and tourism industry. One of the benefits of this project is it will bring an enhanced focus on pedestrian access, walkability and overall connectedness to all of downtown with the realignment of Commerce Street.”

Economic boost: Tourism is a $3.3 billion industry for Fort Worth and one of its largest employers with more than 30,000 jobs. The convention center expansion is part of the City’s larger economic development strategy to attract meetings from across the state and nation.

“Expanding our convention center means expanding opportunity for local business and creating jobs,” said Bob Jameson, president and CEO of Visit Fort Worth. “The word is out about Fort Worth, and this center will enable us to keep up with growing demand to meet in our city.”

The expansion project will take place in two phases, and the facility is remaining operational during both. Totaling 76,794 square feet, the $95 million Phase I includes:

• Construction of a new grand southeast entrance
• State-of-the-art food and beverage facilities
• Demolition of the 1980s annex to double loading docks
• And realignment of Commerce Street to create a site pad for a future convention hotel.

The project emphasizes pedestrian access and improving the area’s walkability and connection to the surrounding neighborhood, which includes the Water Gardens, the new Texas A&M Fort Worth campus, surrounding hotels and the Deco 969 residential tower.

Timeline: Phase I of the expansion is set to complete in 2026. Phase II, estimated at $606 million, is in the planning and design stage, with construction anticipated to begin in 2026 and run through early 2030.

About the Convention Center: Since 1968, the Fort Worth Convention Center & Arena has hosted thousands of major national and international events, including sports, concerts, political rallies, conventions and trade shows. Owned and operated by the City of Fort Worth, the Convention Center was significantly expanded in 2003. With total meeting space of almost 400,000 square feet, it is the premier event space in downtown Fort Worth.

Learn more

• View Convention Center staff, floor plans, a virtual tour and calendar of events.
• Find additional information on the project, including Phase I renderings.

Get articles like this in your inbox. Subscribe to City News.