Kay Bailey Hutchison Dallas Convention CenterPulling It All Together

To add 475,000 square feet of convention center space over active rail and commuter lines.

Working with design architects Skidmore, Owens & Merril, HKS added 475,000 square feet to the sprawling Kay Bailey Hutchison Convention Center in downtown Dallas. The expansion unifies multiple previous add-ons and creates a new dramatic arrival/entry and pre-function space fronting a historic park. Two sets of arched steel trusses on the roof provide a distinctive new profile on the city skyline. They also provide support and suspension for the new 203,000-square-foot Exhibit Hall F.

Now that the Kay Bailey Hutchison Convention Center has more than 1 million square feet, the facility can accommodate events it couldn’t before, increasing its ability to draw more visitors to contribute to the local economy. With 40-foot ceilings, Hall F is the largest column-free singular exhibit hall in the world, helping Dallas land large conventions, rallies and other large national and international events.