H.W. Houston Construction, DLR Group deliver expanded Pueblo Convention Center

Last month, H.W. Houston Construction and DLR Group celebrated the opening of the expanded Pueblo Convention Center with representatives from the city of Pueblo and the state of Colorado.

Located at 320 Central Main St. along the historic Arkansas Riverwalk, the convention center serves as a gateway to Pueblo’s downtown with an iconic 82-foot-tall steel and translucent glass tower that acts as a beacon to guide visitors to the facility and to the city’s downtown. The expanded convention center houses the PBR Sport Performance Center, a training facility where members of Professional Bull Riders Inc. and other amateur and pro athletes can train. The PBR training facility, which was designed in partnership with Fawley Bryant Architects Inc., is connected to prefunction spaces by the Fan Zone, an interactive gallery space with memorabilia showcasing PBR, its riders, and the sport’s storied history. The PBR Sport Performance Center offers a full rehab and recovery center, including cryotherapy and wet room, video review room, mind and vision training, yoga and more.

“We are honored to have safely built the convention center expansion, as it is such an important part of Pueblo’s vibrant community,” said H.W. Houston Construction General Manager Scott Robb. “As a Pueblo native, I know how special it is to have this new facility welcoming visitors to the Riverwalk and our city.”

The 52,000-square-foot addition includes expanded exhibition and prefunction space. The exhibition hall is designed as a flexible space to accommodate a wide range of events; additional event spaces include a new public plaza where special events, large outdoor gatherings and concerts can take place. A semiprivate covered area connects the public plaza and building and acts as an extension of the prefunction space of the exhibition hall, creating an intimate setting for outdoor cocktail events. Design features of steel and glass on the exterior, as well as warm red earth tones and terracing rooflines, echo the context of Pueblo’s terrain. Sustainable features include utilization of local materials, natural daylighting, LED lighting, high efficiency mechanical systems and drought-tolerant native landscaping.

“Our design for the convention center is a reflection of Pueblo’s rich history and forward-looking innovation,” said DLR Group Senior Associate Josh Doss, AIA, who designs for the firm’s Hospitality Studio. “Creating a space where the city can advance its unique partnership with PBR promotes Pueblo as a tourist destination, not only to the region, but also nationally and internationally. The city’s investment in expanding the convention center is a testament to its community pride and commitment to the future.”

Published in the June 19-July 2, 2019, issue of CREJ.