Austin plans $1.26 billion convention center rebuild as artists say city will destroy embedded public art

The Austin Tourism Commission on March 12 heard competing accounts about the future of artworks embedded in the city’s existing convention center as staff outlined the $1.26 billion redevelopment that will close the current building April 1 and reopen in time for spring festival season 2029.

Why it matters: The convention center redevelopment, branded “Unconventional ATX,” will expand rentable indoor exhibit space from about 365,000 square feet to 555,000 square feet plus roughly 70,000 square feet of outdoor rentable event space. Artists and relatives of artists told the commission they received letters deaccessioning their works and said the city’s process has been opaque; they urged the city to fund removal and preservation so taxpayer‑funded artworks are not destroyed.

Artist Margo Sawyer, who identified herself as a University of Texas professor and Guggenheim Fellow, said her large mural‑scale work "Index for Contemplation" and others integrated into the convention center are slated to be demolished. Sawyer told the commission she has arranged to remove her piece at her own expense and that she will pay about $20,000 from personal funds to deinstall it on March 28–30. "This process has not been...transparent," Sawyer said, adding the city did not engage conservators to explore alternatives.

Artist John Yancey, identified as the creator of the convention center mosaic "Riffs and Rhythms" and a professor emeritus at the University of Texas, told the commission he believes City Council voted Jan. 30 to deaccession his and other works and said he received what he described as inaccurate information from Art in Public Places (AIPP) about the feasibility of relocating the mosaic. Yancey said three art‑handling firms declined to bid and that he has independently secured a company willing to reinstall the work for about $40,000 but that no funds are available to pay that firm. "On or about May 1, the city is still scheduled to reduce this valuable work of art to rubble and toss it into the dumpster," Yancey said.

Paula Prier, who said her late husband Damien Prier created a 1995 convention center piece, told commissioners contractual terms should have provided for funds to deinstall the work or find a comparable public location. "To devalue the arts by destroying iconic pieces...is to shoot the golden goose that's bringing you 30,000,000 visitors a year," Prier said.

City staff and the project design team described the redevelopment timeline, scope and public‑art strategy. Katie Zemeznik, assistant director of the Austin Convention Center, said the project team has been working with AIPP and that marketing and facilities staff will photograph and archive the existing building and its artworks before demolition. Zemeznik said one of the four artworks referenced in public comment will not be removed because the artist has not responded to removal offers.

Larry Speck, senior principal with Paige Architects and part of the design joint venture, outlined the project design and public‑art integration. He said 10 Austin artists were selected at schematic design and that many works will be exterior and publicly accessible. Speck said the team is pursuing certification with the International Living Future Institute and aims to make the rebuilt convention center the first zero‑carbon‑certified convention center in the world. "That is our goal, and we're on track to do that," Speck said.

Questions from commissioners focused on how the project will treat artwork that is integrated into the building, whether conservationists were consulted and whether contingency or art funds could pay to salvage or relocate works. Zemeznik directed detailed policy and funding questions about deaccessioning and stabilization to AIPP. She told the commission the convention center team has followed AIPP processes and that AIPP is documenting artworks.

Clarifying details captured from the meeting: - Construction cost presented: approximately $1,260,000,000 (projected). - Rentable space: current ~365,000 sq ft → proposed 555,000 sq ft plus ~70,000 sq ft outdoor. - Demolition/closure schedule: current center to close April 1, 2025; demolition and excavation to follow; reopening targeted spring 2029. - Artists’ stated costs: Margo Sawyer said she will pay ~$20,000 to deinstall her work; John Yancey cited a private bid of ~$40,000 to reinstall his mosaic; Yancey estimated that under $125,000 could deinstall three works he mentioned. - Project contingency funding cited during public comment: speaker cited roughly $160,000,000 in contingency within a larger construction budget (statement made by a public commenter, not a staff budget figure presented by project team).

What happens next: Commissioners asked AIPP and the convention center to provide documentation and more detail on removal options and costs. Separately, the new Office of Arts, Culture, Music and Entertainment (ACME), created by the city in February, will house AIPP and review policies and grant programs; ACME's director said the office will review processes to avoid similar disputes going forward. The commission did not take formal action on the project or the artworks at this meeting.

Proper names referenced in this article: Austin Convention Center; Unconventional ATX; Art in Public Places (AIPP); Paige Architects; LMN; International Living Future Institute (ILFI); Waller Creek; Waterloo Greenway; "Riffs and Rhythms"; Index for Contemplation; Deborah Roberts.

Speakers (as listed in the meeting record): - Margo Sawyer — Professor, University of Texas (artist; public speaker) - John Yancey — Professor Emeritus, University of Texas (artist; public speaker) - Paula Prier — Spokesperson/family member (public speaker) - Katie Zemeznik — Assistant Director, Austin Convention Center (staff presenter) - Larry Speck — Senior Principal, Paige Architects (design presenter) - Daniel Ronan — Chair, Austin Tourism Commission (meeting chair) - Felicia Burleson — Commission staff liaison (staff)

Searchable tags: convention center, public art, art deaccession, Austin, AIPP, Unconventional ATX