The city of Irving just took a big Texas step toward completion of its modern convention center. The Westin Convention Center Hotel at Las Colinas began construction this week on a 350-room property.
Scheduled to open in late 2018, the upscale hotel will include 16,000 sq. ft. of meeting space and a 10,000-square-foot ballroom. The $113 million property, located between Irving Convention Center and The Music Factory, will feature 12 stories.
The hotel, operated by Marriott International, is expected to serve the growing business needs of the 275,000-square-foot Irving Convention Center, which opened in 2011 and hosts an estimated 305 annual events.
Developed by Garfield Public/Private LLC, the hotel is committed to attracting business clientele to Irving, which is providing $22.5 million in bond proceeds for the construction of city-owned public meeting facilities. The city is also committing $13.7 million toward the construction of a public parking garage.
“This is the right agreement at the right time, with the right players,” said Irving Mayor Beth Van Duyne. “The hotel will help fuel the growth of our convention business while simultaneously serving as a tremendous addition to our ever-evolving city.”
Plenty of parking and entertainment
Designed by architectural firm BOKAPowell, The Westin at Los Colinas is expected to complement Irving Convention Center’s award-winning contemporary aesthetic. As part of the business-oriented project, the city plans to build an 840-space parking garage to accommodate hotel and convention center activity.
Much of that business activity is expected to center on The Music Factory, a dining and entertainment destination scheduled for completion this fall. The venue will include a Live Nation amphitheater and various restaurants, situated on 40 acres of pedestrian-friendly property.
In addition to lots of dining options for business travelers, The Music Factory will serve as a nearby venue for opening- and closing-night events, Irving Convention & Visitors Bureau announced in a press release.
“News of Westin as the flag and Marriott as its operator was well-received by our customers,” said Maura Allen Gast, executive director of the CVB. “The hotel represents the final piece of Irving’s vision for a distinctive visitor district.”
