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San Antonio is celebrating the completion of Phase II of a $215.7 million expansion to the Henry B. Gonzalez Convention Center that doubles the facility’s size and helps ensure that the city remains one of the most popular visitor and meeting destinations in the country. Officials expect the expansion to create continued growth in the city’s tourism industry, which currently brings in an estimated $3.1 billion per year and employs over 56,000 people. Clark/J.T. Construction, a joint venture of Clark Contractors, Inc. and J.T. Construction, a San Antonio minority-owned firm, served as general contractor on the project. Based in Dallas, Clark Contractors is the Southwest regional office of Clark Construction Group, LLC.
Phase II features the construction of connections between the expansion and the existing convention center, including a dramatic two-story glass and steel lobby bridge which provides a view of the San Antonio River below. The project also included an extension of the famous River Walk, a three-mile linear oasis alongside the San Antonio River, that features natural and artificial rock formations to match existing conditions, while scenic plazas, fountains and a waterfall enhance the extension.
Architects Kell Munoz Wigodsky and Haywood McCowan SAT, Inc. of San Antonio with Thompson, Ventulett, Stainback & Associates, Inc. of Atlanta designed the expansion to take advantage of the center’s location on the beautiful downtown River Walk. Extensive use of the color blue is incorporated throughout the structure to visually connect the building to the river.
In addition to Clark/J.T. Construction and the architects, the project team included the Convention Center Expansion Office, 3D International of San Antonio, project manager; Walter P. Moore & Associates, Inc. of Houston, structural engineer; Jaster-Quintanilla & Associates of San Antonio, structural engineer; CHP & Associates Consulting Engineers of Houston and K.M. NG & Associates of San Antonio, electrical and mechanical engineers; and Fernandez Frazer White & Associates of San Antonio, civil engineer. Clark Construction Group, LLC is based in Bethesda, Md.
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