PILLAR: Growing
AGENDA DATE: June 24, 2026
COUNCIL DISTRICT(S): 1
DEPARTMENT: Department of Convention and Event Services
PRIORITY: N/A
______________________________________________________________________
SUBJECT
Title
Authorize (1) Supplemental Agreement No. 2 to the professional services contract with M. Arthur Gensler, Jr. & Associates, Inc. dba Gensler for architectural and engineering services, to provide for a change in scope to meet the time constraints related to the City’s construction obligations for the Secondary Facility in an amount not to exceed $379,885.00; and (2) a decrease to the original award amount for Supplemental Agreement No. 1 in an amount not to exceed $1,100,393.40 to eliminate any further design services for the Secondary Facility - Total not to exceed ($720,508.40), from $30,639,241.00 to $29,918,732.60 - Financing: Convention Center Construction Fund
*In alignment with Kay Bailey Hutchison Convention Center Dallas Master Plan.
Body
BACKGROUND
In 2018, the Department of Convention and Event Services (CES) engaged in a multi-departmental solicitation for a development process to determine a path-forward for correcting long-time deferred maintenance of the 2 million square foot Kay Bailey Hutchison Convention Center Dallas (KBHCCD). The solicitation phase for master planning understood that the demand among convention centers continues to grow for high-quality exhibition and meeting space, especially within the medical, scientific, and technical fields, and that the existing KBHCCD was losing ground at a rate that was impacting the local economy. Market analyses conducted in prior years pointed to several factors, in addition to the KBHCCD’s aging infrastructure, that were impacting the center’s salability.
Included among those factors were mobility, transportation, surrounding amenities, and overall land use surrounding the facility. The exploration of facility data demonstrated that, as a facility constructed in five phases, over several decades without consistent continuity or integration of major systems, the estimated investment level to merely correct existing deficiencies would be an estimated $500 - $600 million. As a result of that internal engagement and discussion, CES issued a combined Request for Qualifications and Request for Proposals entitled Professional Services for the Kay Bailey Hutchison Convention Center Dallas (KBHCCD) - BC20-00011768 to procure a firm to develop a multi-layered master plan for the KBHCCD and a larger study area.
A collective decision was made to draft the KBHCCD Master Plan (“Master Plan”) by studying the Convention Center District as a larger and integrated economic development plan that included the convention center facility, land use, transportation, and connectivity around the facility and into South and Southern Dallas, and financing.
In January 2021, the procurement evaluation process resulted in the awarding of a contract to WSP USA, Inc. to work with the Department and its broader Internal and External Stakeholder teams in the development of the Master Plan. Over the next two years and more than 350 engagement meetings with both internal and external stakeholders, a draft plan was developed, and City Council recommendations made to move the existing convention center to the west of Lamar Street, detaching The Black Academy of Arts and Letters (TBAAL) and the Dallas Memorial Auditorium (Arena) to function as stand-alone buildings. The expansion of the campus, and ultimate decommissioning of some portions of the existing building, would result in an opportunity to create a multi-use district on approximately 30-acres, while re-orienting the convention center west of Lamar Street. Additionally, the plan would allow for the re-orientation of streets, the re-envisioning of the Eddie Bernice Johnson Union Station, the repair and refreshing of Pioneer Plaza and Cemetery, and reconnection into South Dallas.
The Master Plan incorporated feedback and active participation from fourteen City departments, Visit Dallas, Oakview Group (dba OVG360), Downtown Dallas Inc., the North Central Texas Council of Governments, the Texas Department of Transportation, Dallas Area Rapid Transit, Union Pacific Railroad, chambers of commerce, local Minority/Women-owned Business Enterprises (M/WBE) development groups, and many other stakeholders.
The Master Plan also incorporated all existing City of Dallas developed plans related to transportation, sustainability, development, racial equity, arts and culture, and others. The resulting concept, and March 6 reorientation, meets multi-agency and long-term City of Dallas goals to reconnect and re-knit communities by expanding the KBHCCD in such a manner that it no longer serves as a physical and development barrier into the community referred to in the vernacular as The Cedars, which is the northernmost gateway into South Dallas and the larger southern sector.
The implementation of the Master Plan was ultimately divided into seven fundable components as outlined below:
1. KBHCCD Convention Center Expansion and proposed Enhanced Greenspace connector using the Construction Manager At-Risk Delivery Model, and the Demolition of the Existing Convention Center
2. Transportation-Related Alternatives
3. Arena using either Design Bid Build or Construction Manager At-Risk Delivery Model
4. TBAAL using a Design Bid Build or Construction Manager At-Risk Delivery Model
5. Pioneer Plaza and Pioneer Cemetery
6. Eddie Bernice Johnson Union Station
7. Land Use and Development on City of Dallas owned property within the downtown area
In March 2023, the City released solicitation BBZ34-00021453 seeking project managers and owner’s representation services for each of components. McKissack & McKissack. was selected as the Project Manager and Owner’s Representative for Component 3. On February 28, 2024, the City Council awarded a professional services contract to McKissack and McKissack. for project management and owner’s representation services for implementation of component three of the KBHCCD Master Plan by Resolution 24-0388.
On June 20, 2024, the City released solicitation CIZ24-CCT-3091 seeking architecture and engineering design firms for Component 3 of the KBHCCD Master Plan. The City shortlisted five firms and released the request for proposals on August 12, 2024. In October 2024, an evaluation committee selected M. Arthur Gensler, Jr. & Associates, Inc. dba Gensler as the recommended firm for City Council consideration.
On April 24, 2024, the City Council authorized the Dallas Memorial Auditorium Resident Use and Incentive Agreement (“Use Agreement”) between the City and Full Court Partners LLC d/b/a the Dallas Wings, a professional WNBA sports team providing for relocation of the Dallas Wings to the Arena as its home base by Resolution No. 24-0616. The shortlisted firms were provided WNBA programming guidelines as required under the City’s agreement with the Dallas Wings. During the advance planning phases of the master plan, the secondary practice facility to be provided under the Use Agreement was concepted for the Dallas Wings to be connected to the arena. Due to the City’s commitment to participate as a host city in the World Cup, the secondary practice facility for the Dallas Wings was eliminated from the scope of the solicitation as city staff looked for a secondary facility address. In working with the City Attorney’s Office and leadership, it was determined that the best approach to ensure consistency of the project, timeline adherence and familiarity with the needs of the project, was to use the allowable special need process within Administrative Directive 4-05.
Having solidified the address at a May 12 Ad Hoc Committee on Professional Sports Recruitment and Retention, this item provides for the supplemental agreement necessary to complete the design process for the secondary facility and ensure its opening by spring 2026 as outlined in the Council approved Resident Use and Incentive Agreement with the Dallas Wings. The required Administrative Directive 4-05, a Special Need consideration memo, was approved by the City Manager’s Office on May 14, 2025.
This action will authorize (1) Supplemental Agreement No. 2 to the professional services contract with M. Arthur Gensler, Jr. & Associates, Inc. dba Gensler for architectural and engineering services, to provide for a change in scope to meet the time constraints related to the City’s construction obligations for the Secondary Facility in an amount not to exceed $379,885.00; (2) a decrease to the original award amount for Supplemental Agreement No. 1 in an amount not to exceed $1,100,393.40 to eliminate any further design services for the Secondary Facility; Total not to exceed ($720,508.40), from $30,639,241.00 to $29,918,732.60 - Financing: Convention Center Construction Fund
PRIOR ACTION/REVIEW (COUNCIL, BOARDS, COMMISSIONS)
On February 28, 2024, the City Council authorized a professional services contract for Component Three of the Kay Bailey Hutchison Convention Center Dallas Master Plan with McKissack and McKissack for Project Management/Owner’s Representation, by Resolution No. 24-0388.
On April 24, 2024, the City Council authorized a fifteen-year resident use and incentive agreement for the Dallas Memorial Auditorium ("Arena" and "primary facility") and ancillary meeting rooms ("secondary facility") with three five-year renewal options with a professional sports team, by Resolution 24-0616.
On January 8, 2025, the City Council authorized a contract with M. Arthur Gensler, Jr. & Associates, Inc. dba Gensler to provide architectural and engineering design services for the Kay Bailey Hutchison Convention Center Dallas Master Plan renovation and reconstruction of the Dallas Memorial Auditorium (Arena) - Component Three, by Resolution No. 25-0141.
On May 28, 2025, the City Council authorized a Construction Manager at Risk Agreement with Beck Azteca, A Joint Venture, for pre-construction and construction services for the renovation and reconstruction of the Dallas Memorial Auditorium (Arena) - Component Three, by Resolution No. 25-0815.
On May 28, 2025, the City Council authorized Supplemental Agreement No. 1 to the professional services contract with M. Arthur Gensler, Jr. & Associates, Inc. dba Gensler for additional services associated with architectural and engineering design services for the Dallas Memorial Arena Practice Facility at an offsite location, by Council Resolution, 25-0817.
The City Council was briefed by memorandum regarding this matter on June 6, 2025. <https://dallascityhall.com/government/citymanager/Documents/FY24-25%20Memos/Upcoming%20Agenda%20Item%20-%20Supplemental%20Agreement%20to%20Trinity%20Alliance%20Ventures,%20LLC.pdf>
On June 11, 2025, the City Council authorized Supplemental Agreement No. 2 to the Dallas Memorial Auditorium Resident Use and Incentive Agreement (CCT-2024-00024819 No. 24-0616) with Full Court Partners LLC, d/b/a/ Dallas Wings to include an addition of the address for secondary facility at 1200 North Cockrell Hill Road; and additional negotiation terms, by Resolution No. 25-0969.
On September 24, 2025, the City Council authorized Supplemental Agreement No. 2 to the project manager/owner's representative services agreement with McKissack & McKissack, Inc. for additional services associated with the implementation of Component Three of the Kay Bailey Hutchison Convention Center Dallas master plan, which includes project management/owner’s representation for the Secondary Facility located at 1200 North Cockrell Hill Road, Dallas, Texas 75211, not to exceed $3,338,807.00 a one year contract extension to include additional services for the project management/owner’s representation for the rehabilitation/renovation of the Dallas Memorial Auditorium (Arena), and necessitated by the City’s obligations under the Full Court Partners LLC, d/b/a/ Dallas Wings contract not to exceed $2,624,537.00; and the establishment of appropriations in an amount not to exceed $5,963,344.00, from $7,982,340.00 to $13,945,684.00, by Resolution No. 25-1520.
On February 25, 2026, the City Council deferred a Dallas Wings and McKissack Council item to the March 25, 2026, City Council meeting.
On March 25, 2026, the City Council authorized an economic development grant agreement with the Full Court Partners, LLC d/b/a Dallas Wings to construct a facility on City-owned park property located at 1200 North Cockrell Hill Road in an amount not to exceed $51,250,000.00, plus the $3,240,000.00 developer fee per the Council directive, - for a total not to exceed $54,490,000.00 - Financing: Convention Center Construction Fund; an amendment to the Dallas Memorial Auditorium Resident Use and Incentive Agreement (CCT-2024-00024819 No. 24-0616) with Full Court Partners LLC, d/b/a/ Dallas Wings; and a decrease in project management services contract with McKissack and McKissack for a reduction in scope to eliminate the Dallas Wings Practice Facility in the amount not to exceed ($1,847,485.00), from $13,945,684.00 to $12,098,199.00 - Financing: Convention Center Revenue Bonds Series 2023 Fund (-$1,847,485.00) (4) In addition to the conditions set out in the sections above per the City Council directive, the Agreement is hereby expressly made subject to the following contingencies in Section 4 by Resolution No. 26-0555.
FISCAL INFORMATION
|
Fund |
FY 2026 |
FY 2027 |
Future Years |
|
Convention Center Construction Fund |
($720,508.40) |
$0.00 |
$0.00 |
Design $25,137,244.00
Supplemental Agreement No. 1 $ 5,501,967.00
Supplemental Agreement No. 2 (this action) $ 379,885.00
Supplemental Agreement No. 2 (this action) ($1,100,393.40)
Project Total $29,918,702.60
LOCAL PARTICIPATION
|
Prime |
Status |
Workforce % |
|
M. Arthur Gensler, Jr. & Associates, Inc. dba Gensler |
Local |
94.76% |
OWNER/EXECUTIVE
M. Arthur Gensler, Jr. & Associates, Inc. dba Gensler
Jordan Goldstein, FAIA, FIIDA, LEED AP, Co-Chief Executive Officer, Co-Managing Principal