Exploring The Austin Convention Center
As America’s ongoing COVID-19 pandemic nears its one-year anniversary, the idea of a large-scale event seems unreal. With vaccine availability on the rise, however, a return to normalcy may come sooner than we think. When events can resume safely, you’ll find no better venue than Austin’s own convention center.
Located at 500 East Ceasar Chavez Street, Austin Convention Center sits nestled in the heart of the downtown district, within easy walking distance of 11,000 guest rooms-worth of hotel accommodations. The center itself spans over six city blocks, and offers 247,052 square feet of column-free exhibit hall space. Whether you’re an event host or an esteemed guest, the Austin Convention Center is sure to exceed your expectations for ease of access, quality and affordability.
Read on to learn more about the best perks and features of this capitol city gem.
History
Prior to the 90’s, the city of Austin lacked a dedicated event center, despite hosting half a million visitors annually. In 1992, The Austin Convention Center was combined with the Neal Kocurek Memorial Austin Convention Center to create the massive, 881,400 gross square foot facility visitors and locals can enjoy today.
Accolades
ACC is certified by the USGBC LEED Gold EB: an honor reserved for venues operating on 100% renewable energy. The center is partnered with Austin’s Energy Green Choice Program; and diverts around 50% of all generated waste into programs dedicated to recycling and reuse. Guests can cut down on their own carbon footprint by traveling to ACC via the MetroRail or MetroBus: both of which make stops directly next to the venue.
As of November, 2020, ACC has also achieved the Global Biorisk Advisory Council’s STAR accreditation, commemorating a gold standard of operation for cleanliness, disinfection and infection disease prevention throughout the venue. The facility is cleaned using Green Seal certified products, limiting the release of harmful chemicals.
Accessibility
Austin is a city committed to diversity and hospitality. The Austin Convention Center continues this tradition by providing guaranteed accessibility to all visitors, in accordance with the Americans With Disabilities Act.
Ramps featuring handrails and gradual inclines are available throughout the facility, to accommodate users of wheelchairs and scooters. Automatic doors activated by button-press are also available throughout the venue.
All four levels of ACC can be accessed via elevators, featuring bumper safety systems and buttons readable in raised Braille. All operation buttons can be accessed from a wheelchair or scooter if need be.
Service animals certified to serve those with disabilities are welcomed inside the Austin Convention Center. PLEASE NOTE: Animals not certified as legitimate service animals are not permitted inside ACC without prior written consent from venue staff.
Nursing mothers can enjoy access to a number of amenities tailored to their comfort. ACC features “mother’s rooms” with amenities such as changing stations, sofas and coolers. Raised Braille is featured on the signage for all mother’s room areas.
Venue Amenities
Visitors to ACC can enjoy an array of specialized amenities to help you make the most of your event. These perks include a Business Center; where you can scan documents, make copies, and access status boards and check-in kiosks linked directly to the Austin Bergstrom International Airport. Save time by printing luggage tags and boarding passes, and stay in real-time touch with your flight status while you enjoy your day at the Center. The Business Center also provides shipping service for light, outbound items via the U.S. Postal Service’s flat-rate system.
Stop by the gift shop to browse souvenir items to help you remember your time in Austin. Snacks and supplies are available here as well. Feeling peckish? Grab some coffee and a bite to eat at the cozy Atrium Café. While you sip your cup of Joe, catch up on social media using complimentary Wi-Fi available to all guests and vendors. The center’s high-speed access is capable of accommodating up to 20,000 wireless devices at one time.
Parking
Two parking garages are available for convention center guests: 2nd Street Garage and 5th Street Garage. No overnight parking is permitted. Rates for both sites is $5 for up to 12 hours. For additional parking inquires, contact accdparkinginfo@austintexas.gov, or call (512)-404-4260.
PLEASE NOTE: Due to the current ongoing pandemic, guests making use of parking garages are required to use credit cards only when paying at automated machines upon exit.
Security
Austin Convention Center is protected by a dedicated 24-hour security team spearheaded by veterans of the City of Austin Police Department. These team members share more than 100 years of combined experience under their belts. Physical and electronic safety measures are also at work during every event, to keep hosts and guests safe.
COVID-19
The Austin Convention Center remains in close contact with the department for Austin Public Health, the Texas Department of State Health Services and the Center for Disease Control. These local, regional and national healthcare agencies are committed to providing the best practices for the safety of ACC’s guests, vendors and event hosts.
In recent months, ACC has made use of UV disinfection machines, handheld electrostatic sprayers and multipurpose, hospital-grade sanitizers to promote the health and safety of visitors and venue staff.
While we remain for now in the midst of our “new normal”, a return to public gatherings is certainly on the horizon. When that day arrives, we hope you’ll make the Austin Convention Center your home away from home for all the events you’ve been missing.
