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Irving Convention Center at Las Colinas facts for kids

Kids Encyclopedia Facts
Outside Irving Convention Center.jpg
Exterior
Address 500 West Las Colinas Blvd.
Irving, Texas 75039
Coordinates 32°52′41″N 96°56′35″W / 32.8779653°N 96.9431448°W / 32.8779653; -96.9431448
Owner City of Irving Government (Irving Convention and Visitors Bureau)
Operator ASM Global
Opened January 2011
Quick facts for kids
Enclosed space
 • Total space 275,000 square feet
 • Exhibit hall floor 100,000 square feet
 • Ballroom 19,264 square feet
Parking 800 spaces
Public transit access Irving Convention Center (DART station)

The Irving Convention Center is a really big building in Irving, Texas. It's located in an area called Las Colinas Urban Center. This huge facility, about 275,000 square feet, opened its doors in January 2011. It's easy to spot because of its cool and unique design. The center is surrounded by major roads like Highway 114 and Las Colinas Boulevard.

What's Inside the Convention Center?

This center is built to host many different kinds of events. It's perfect for big meetings, conventions, and shows. It can hold groups of 800 to 1,200 people, and up to 4,000 for a main gathering.

Exploring the Levels

The building has several floors, plus a parking garage right next to it.

  • The first floor has a huge exhibition hall. This hall is 50,000 square feet and has no columns, making it a wide-open space. It's about two and a half stories tall! This floor also has the main lobby where you enter.
  • On the second level, you'll find 20 smaller rooms. These "breakout rooms" are great for smaller meetings and workshops. There's also a cafe here with an outdoor terrace.
  • The third level features a large ballroom. This 20,000-square-foot space is used for big dinners or dances. It also has areas nearby for people to gather before or after events.

Cool Building Design

The Irving Convention Center looks very different from typical convention centers. It's designed to let in lots of natural light. The building looks like two big boxes stacked on top of each other. They are rotated to create shaded outdoor spots for visitors.

Most of the building is covered in glass to bring in sunlight. It also has a special copper covering that helps save energy. This copper will change color over time, turning into a natural green-brown color. This unique design helped the center earn a LEED Silver certification. This means it's recognized for being environmentally friendly.

Nearby Fun Places

There are exciting plans for the area around the convention center. A large concert venue is being built, which can hold between 3,500 and 8,000 people. This venue will host many live music shows. Also, new restaurants, shops, a movie theater, and offices are being added. There are also plans for a hotel right next to the convention center.

Getting There

It's easy to get to the Irving Convention Center using public transportation. There's a Dallas Area Rapid Transit (DART) Orange Line light rail station right nearby. This station, called the Irving Convention Center station, connects you to places like DFW International Airport and Dallas Love Field. There's also a special elevated train system, the Las Colinas APT System, that serves the Las Colinas area. If you drive, there's a multi-level parking garage with space for 800 cars.

Awards and Recognition

The Irving Convention Center has won several awards for its amazing design and structure:

  • In 2012, it received the Innovative Design in Engineering and Architecture with Structural Steel award. This came from the American Institute of Steel Construction.
  • In 2015, it earned a Special Mention in the Government and Municipal Buildings category at the Architizer A+ Awards.
  • Also in 2015, it won the Copper in Architecture Award from the Copper Development Associates, Inc. This award recognized its unique copper facade.

Gallery

  • Outside Irving Convention Center

    Outside Irving Convention Center

  • Irving Convention Center Grand Staircase

    Grand Staircase

  • Irving Convention Center Deck

    Outdoor function space

  • Irving Convention Center View of Las Colinas

    View of Las Colinas

  • Irving Convention Center Dart Station

    DART Station

  • Irving Convention Center Water Fountain

    Water Fountain

  • Irving Convention Center Lobby Pano

    Lobby Pano

  • Irving Convention Center Exterior at Sunrise

    Exterior at Sunrise

  • Irving Convention Center Grand Ballroom

    Grand Ballroom

  • Irving Convention Center Ballroom Prefunction

    Ballroom Prefunction

  • Irving Convention Center Cafe

    Upstairs Cafe

  • Irving Convention Center Main Lobby

    Main Lobby

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