Grapevine Convention & Visitors Bureau Sets Groundbreaking Event for New Headquarters and Museum Complex
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MEDIA CONTACT: FOR RELEASE ON MAR. 2 AFTER 11 A.M.
Lisa A. Samuel-McCowan
Office 817-410-3195 / Cell 817-504-0079
LSamuel-Mccowan@GrapevineTexasUSA.com
Grapevine Convention & Visitors Bureau Sets Groundbreaking Event for New Headquarters and Museum Complex
GRAPEVINE, TEXAS (Mar. 2, 2010) - The Grapevine Convention & Visitors Bureau (CVB) has set a groundbreaking event for its new headquarters and museum complex on Tuesday, Mar. 2, 2010 at 10 a.m., at the corner of Hudgins and Main Streets in Grapevine. The beginning of the 15-month construction project will be marked symbolically on Texas Independence Day.
The historic infill structure represents the architectural period of significance from the 1870s through 1915, and will anchor the southern entrance to the Grapevine Historic District. The complex consists of six storefronts, each representative of a significant period in Grapevine development.
Architexas, a nationally recognized preservation architecture firm, has designed the structure, and T.S. Byrne Construction, who has performed many major restoration projects in Tarrant County, will provide construction management.
The building will provide offices for the staff of the Grapevine Convention & Visitors Bureau, which currently employs 55 full-time staff members. The staff currently offices in six structures around town, and this facility will bring the CVB team under one roof. They will occupy approximately 35% of the structure, with the majority of space utilized by museums, galleries, and meeting/function space. The 40,000-sq. ft. structure will also house the Grapevine Visitor Information Center.
This project, built entirely from funds provided by hotel occupancy taxes, provides Grapevine citizens with a direct benefit from tourism revenue. This public facility will greatly enhance Grapevine's artistic and museum offerings for its citizens and visitors alike.
Undoubtedly the most popular and exciting aspect of the new complex will be a clock tower extending some 120-feet above Main Street, and housing two glockenspiel-like Grapevine Prairie frontiersmen, who will emerge each day at noon and 6 p.m. to settle a dispute. Scores of visitors and residents are expected to gather daily to witness this exciting tribute to Texas history.
Grapevine officials took great care in ensuring the new complex would be responsibly "green" throughout. The previous building that had stood on this spot was carefully deconstructed, and much of its building materials were used elsewhere, such as the interior sheetrock being used by Habitat for Humanity. Rainwater will be harvested from the new building's roof and used for supplemental purposes. Careful design of window placement throughout the facility will provide extensive natural light throughout the structure, while shielding the building and its occupants from winter cold and summer heat, reducing the energy consumption of the building.
The new complex is expected to attract many visitors, and will be instrumental in building existing businesses on South Main Street, and also lead to new businesses being introduced.
An architectural rendering of the new building will be on display at the groundbreaking event. The project is slated to be complete in spring of 2011.
Members of the news media are invited to attend the groundbreaking on Mar. 2. For more information, please call Lisa A. Samuel-McCowan at 817-504-0079 or e-mail
LSamuel-McCowan@GrapevineTexasUSA.com.
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