The first official topping out of the Fort Worth Convention Center expansion brought downtown Fort Worth a step closer to its future Thursday. 

The city of Fort Worth and the construction management joint venture AECOM Hunt-Byrne-EJ Smith celebrated the milestone with a topping out ceremony, marking a key development in the $95 million Phase I of the project. The project got underway last December after years of planning and delays caused by the pandemic.

Rendering of the new southeast entrance of the Fort Worth Convention Center, part of the Phase 1 expansion. [Image: City of Fort Worth]

Phase 1 has included demolishing an outdated 1983 annex to make way for increased loading docks. The 67,794-square-foot Phase 1 expansion will feature a new grand Southeast entrance, state-of-the-art food and beverage facilities, increase loading docks from 7 to 11, and straighten Commerce Street to allow for a future adjoining convention hotel.

The convention center will remain operational through both Phase 1 and Phase 2 of the expansion, the city said, with the project slated to be fully finalized by 2030.

Watching the last (tree-topped) beam rise to its perch

At Thursday’s ceremony, elected officials, business leaders, and construction teams watched as Phase 1’s highest structural steel beam was hoisted into place with the traditional fir tree perched atop it. Speakers included Fort Worth Mayor Mattie Parker; Fort Worth’s public events director, Mike Crum; Visit Fort Worth Chairman Brian Newby; and City Councilmember Elizabeth Beck. “Today is an exciting milestone as we continue to build on the success of our local tourism economy,” Parker said in a statement. “The Fort Worth Convention Center expansion is more than just a building project, it’s a pivotal component of Fort Worth’s vision for a vibrant, economically robust future.”

Rendering of the exterior of the Fort Worth Convention Center’s Phase 1 expansion. [Image: City of Fort Worth]

Aiming for walkability & ‘connectedness to all of downtown’

Parker highlighted some of the key benefits of the planned expansion.

“The expanded convention center will bring increased capacity to host conferences from across the nation, bolstering our already impressive convention and tourism industry,” she said. “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.” That “overall connectness” will include improved access to the Fort Worth Water Gardens, the new Texas A&M Fort Worth campus, surrounding hotels, and the Deco 969 residential tower.

Scaling up for city’s $3.3B tourist industry

The city noted that tourism is a $3.3 billion industry for Fort Worth—as well as one of its largest employers, with more than 30,000 jobs. The convention center expansion is just part of the city’s larger economic development strategy, which aims to boost that tourism number by attracting meetings from across the state and the U.S.

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

Monte Thurmond, EVP/COO for AECOM Hunt’s South Region, said his team “has dedicated countless hours of their time and talent to this project, and I couldn’t be prouder to thank them and celebrate their hard work.” “It’s because of their collective skill that we stand here today,” Thurmond added. “I know that, looking ahead to the next steps in this project, we’re in great hands. Together, we will drive this remarkable project forward, bringing new life to this facility, the surrounding community, and the entire city of Fort Worth.”

Phase I of the expansion is set for completion in 2026. Phase II—which is estimated to cost $606 million—is still in the planning and design stage. Construction for that even bigger and more ambitious phase is slated to begin in 2026 and be completed in early 2030.

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