closing time, opening vision

austin convention center closing party

Visit Austin

Austin, TX

location.

How do you capture the soul of a beloved civic space, on the very night it closes, and leave guests dreaming of what’s to come? That was the question RED VELVET faced as we designed the final celebration inside the original Austin Convention Center before its multi-year transformation. We needed to evoke nostalgia without leaning on the past, and spark anticipation and excitement for the future without revealing everything. The goal: translate a four-year construction journey into one unforgettable night, leaving guests with the impression that the new ACC would be worth waiting for. No pressure.

challenge.

We built a curated journey of activations that nodded to Austin’s roots while embracing the Center’s bold future. Guests wandered through immersive moments, from a life-size city skyline photo op to a VR walkthrough of the forthcoming Center. A glowing “Intention Tree” invited aspirations of Austin’s future. A massive wooden table, destined for reincarnation in the new space, let attendees literally leave their mark. Overhead, a 15-foot LED chandelier draped in greenery lit the way - evoking the green-space inspired design of the new ACC. The vibe was reverent, radiant, and ready for what’s next.

solution.

Copy of Copy of 868A9666 ACC Skyline.png

The event served as a love letter to Austin and a launchpad for what’s ahead. With hundreds of organic Instagram impressions in just 24 hours and comments like “Excited for the next evolution of ACC!” and “The best is yet to come,” the message landed. Partners across Austin’s creative, culinary, and hospitality scenes came together to build something meaningful. Most importantly, attendees left with a sense of pride and curiosity, and a feeling that the new Austin Convention Center will be worth the wait.