Announced on April 1, the City of Houston and Houston First Corp. (the city’s destination marketing organization and managing company of the George R. Brown Convention Center) secured funding for the first phase of the convention center’s renovation project, achieved through the sale of nearly $1.38 billion in hotel occupancy taxes and special revenue bonds. Named the Convention District Transformation Project, the revitalization is currently underway with the construction of a new 700,000-square-foot convention building, GRB Houston South, which will house two exhibition halls, a multipurpose hall, 225,000 square feet of contiguous exhibit space, ground-level retail and dining spaces, and a central atrium. GRB Houston South is expected to open in 2028.
Key elements of GRB Houston South will include sustainable building design using low-carbon materials, high-efficiency rainwater collection and water-reduction systems, and wildlife-friendly landscaping using native plants. The updates will emphasize a look inspired by Houston’s natural environment made of bayous and prairie landscapes, incorporating neutral tones, warm wood accents, and lush vegetation. This first phase also will introduce a new 100,000-square-foot pedestrian plaza that connects the convention center to nearby Toyota Center, home court of the NBA’s Houston Rockets (and future home of the WNBA’s Connecticut Sun, moving to Houston next year). As the convention center project progresses, construction will be managed in phases, with timelines announced gradually. The entire project is slated to be completed by 2038.
