The Harlingen Convention Center is set to open later this week! On March 29, Harlingen Texas Mayor, Chris Boswell, will hold his annual State of the City address at the new facility. The convention center has twelve meeting rooms, eight of which can be combined to create a large ballroom that can host 1,800 guests.
The convention center was designed with South Texas elements in mind. “There are two special tile murals flanking the entry. These were selected after a local competition,” explains Geoffrey Butler, project architect. “We also used brick and cast stone to bring the South Texas character to the facility.” Other elements include tall arched windows, heavy timber framing of the roof in the 3,600 sq. ft. outdoor pavilion, the porte-cochere and pre-convene areas. Other amenities include a fountain and reflecting pool welcoming guests to the building, as well as tall glass doors that enter the sprawling pre-convene area.
“This is a major community facility which needs to reflect the character of the community. It needs to be a point of pride for the community and something they can feel good about having. It also allows them to host events that they could not before,” says Geoffrey. An event lawn and pavilion will host outdoor events including weddings and live entertainment. The convention center will also have a boulevard-style entry drive which will include a roundabout feature.
“The entire building itself is a beautiful facility and we’re very proud of it,” said City Manager Dan Serna. Mayor Chris Boswell adds, “It will reflect our identity and our culture with both indoor and outdoor spaces. It will be a place to host visitors to our city in ways that we currently cannot. And it will be a place our own residents can use and enjoy.”
The facility will also provide a significant economic boost to the community as it brings in out of town visitors who will typically spend about $200 a day per person. Every dollar brought into town from out of town visitors turns over about seven times as local businesses pay for goods and services. The potential impact could be over $100 million of economic activity per year.
A 149-room Hilton Garden Inn will be attached to the convention center. The hotel will include spaces for meeting rooms, an outdoor pool, a breakfast area, bar, a community space and a fitness center.
Project Team:
Owner: City of Harlingen Texas
Architect: BRP Architects dba Geoffrey H. Butler AIA
Contractor: Killian Construction Co.
Structural Engineer: J&M Engineering
Civil Engineer: Cruz-Hogan
MEP Engineer: CJD Engineers
Interior Design: MatchLine Design Group
Landscape Architecture: Heffner Design
Also in the March Newsletter: A Facility Fit for a Champ: A New Multipurpose Addition for Greenwood BRP Welcomes George Mandrik to the Team