When the Dallas Convention Center underwent its $130 million renovation and expansion in 2002, boosting square footage was just one of the goals. The project also provided an opportunity to give the facility a technological boost and an aesthetic makeover.

Skidmore, Owings and Merrill LLP of Chicago and HKS Architects of Dallas were the project’s architects. In addition to creating the world’s largest, singular, column-free exhibit hall, and making the building 100% wireless, their plan was to give the building clean lines, wide open spaces and dramatic views of the Dallas skyline.

As part of the renovation, the facility was given a new main entrance. To give it just the right look, the design team relied heavily on Reynobond® ACM from Alcoa Architectural Products. The aluminum composite material was utilized for the entryway’s radiused-corner canopies—curved on both the X and Y axis; curved bullnose; and elliptical columns that slope outward and 12 degrees, following walls that penetrate the lower canopies into the top column. The material was also used on the doors and interior walls in that section of the building.

In total, approximately 75,000 sq. ft. of Reynobond was utilized on the project, with the installation being handled by NOW Specialties of Carrollton, TX. The material specified was 6mm thick with the standard polyethylene core. The Colorweld 300 finish color was Mica Platinum.

The project’s general contractor was Austin Commercial, Austin, TX.