The Austin Convention Center was essentially doubled in size on a footprint with half the area of the original building. Four thousand tons of structural steel were used to create a long-span structure that supports meeting rooms and a ballroom above a 125,00 square foot, column free exhibit hall. The entrance atrium is a soaring glass box, ninety feet tall and one hundred sixty feet long with an internal, exposed structure. Architectural concrete pedestals support fin-shaped, steel box columns that resolve in structural trees at the building roof. Pipe struts and cable ties knit the columns to horizontal framing. The structure, designed in collaboration with Ove Arup and Partners of New York, supports a hanging façade of shingled glass, shaded on its west face by a 120-foot-tall, freestanding screen wall.

"...the new front door is an art installation of blue glass panels and photovoltaic panels mounted over the atrium's west facing curtain wall. Designed in conjunction with New York artist James Carpenter, the installation generates enough energy to power 25 homes."

Earl Swisher, AIA, Texas Architect, 9/10 2003