Waco Convention Center

Status as of:

July 13, 2009

• Design plans and bid documents were ready in December 2008, bids were advertised in January 2009 and submitted bids were received in February 2009.  Six bids were received but all bids exceeded the funds budgeted for the project and therefore were rejected by City Council on March 3, 2009.
• Portions of the project and specifications have been modified and redesigned and will be rebid in mid-July, 2009.
• Construction bids will be opened in late August.
• Construction should begin in the early Fall of 2009 and will likely last 16-18 months.
• The project will be phased and the building will remain open with meetings and events occurring during construction.

April 8, 2009 - Project design development is complete. Construction bids were received but all exceeded budgeted funds for the project.   Portions of the project and specifications are being modified and redesigned and will be taken back out to re-bid in July/August 2009.

Construction is scheduled to begin in the early Fall of 2009 and will likely last 16-18 months.  (The project will be phased and the building will remain open with meetings and events occurring during construction.)

October 13, 2008 – The Schematic Design Phase and Design Development Phase are both 100% complete and the Construction Document Phase is 50% complete. Remaining phases include Bid/Negotiation, Construction Administration and Warranty.  Consultants are being utilized for civil engineering, acoustics/sound/audio-visuals, and kitchen/food service and internet technology.
ALL DATES IN THIS TIMELINE ARE SUBJECT TO CHANGE WITHOUT NOTICE.

• November 2008 - Construction documents (CDs) complete
• December 2008 – Prepare CDs and Advertise for Bid
• January 2009 –  Receive Bids & Award Contract
• January 2009 (late) – Construction Begin
• Project duration – 18 months

March 4, 2008 -  Conceptual design drawings for this project were presented to the Waco City Council  by the Architects on March 4, 2008. 

Click here to download a PDF of the architect's renderings

Project Description: The project will include adding approximately 25,000 square feet of pre-function and meeting space, new interior finishes, improving technology offerings for customers, improving the catering and back-of-the-house service capabilities of the facility and wrapping the entire façade in a new, modern exterior.  The architects and kitchen design consultants are working on design of the commercial catering kitchen and materials for the exterior and interior are being evaluated for cost-efficiency and aesthetic value.  A professional cost-estimating company has been retained to ensure costs are being adequately anticipated and certain parts of the project are being identified as "add/deduct alternates" in order to make sure the budget is met according to the bond money allocated.   

November/December 2007 - A series of public meetings were held and will be followed up at each stage of the process with various user groups/constituents to obtain broad-based input into the design and user-aspects of the facility. The Waco Convention Center and Visitors Bureau Staff plan to continue operation of the facility during the renovation. Clients have been notified and are being kept informed on updates and information as the project progresses.

October 16, 2007 - City Council approves the selection of RBDR, LLC of Waco as architects for the project.