The Beck Group is working on two major projects in the Dallas area for the WNBA’s Dallas Wings: a new practice facility in Oak Cliff and a renovation of Dallas Memorial Auditorium, which will be the team’s future home.
The Dallas Wings Practice Facility, which broke ground Sept. 26 at Joey Georgusis Park, will give the team a permanent practice facility when it’s completed in 2027.
Designed by Gensler and built by the Beck Group, in partnership with Azteca Enterprises, the facility combines athletic spaces with community-focused programming.
Beck Group project executive Jeff Helmreich says the project benefits from a simple site and construction system. The facility is a custom prefab engineered metal structure located in an open field with favorable soil conditions, including clay overburden over resistant shale and rock, he says.
Inside, the building will feature workout equipment, including an underwater treadmill and recovery spaces. WSP and MEPCE are serving as M/E/P engineers, and Martinez Moore is the project’s structural engineer.
A rendering of the Dallas Wings’ new practice facility in Oak Cliff, designed to support player development and team operations.
Representation courtesy of the Beck Group
Once completed, it will host vocational training, youth sports and local events.
The project is currently in the post-design development phase, with the team working through budget refinements before presenting the updated plan to the Dallas City Council.
Meanwhile, as the practice facility moves toward construction, Beck Group is also leading the renovation of the Dallas Wings Arena. Formerly known as the Dallas Memorial Auditorium, the historic 1957 Art Deco building was designed by George Dahl, a prominent Dallas architect responsible for such venues as Fair Park and the Cotton Bowl.
The arena is being upgraded to prepare it for WNBA games and other major sports and entertainment events.
Like the practice facility, the arena project is being delivered using a construction-at-risk management approach, with MEP design assistance. Gensler serves as design architect and architect of record.
Matt Leyman, Dallas regional director at Beck Group, says the contractor is refining the budget in the post-design development phase, with substantial completion expected by July 2027.
The renovation includes structural improvements, including reinforcement for new elevators, stairs and accessible entrances to the event bowl. Engineers are also working to reinforce the roof of the arena’s concrete dome to support a new center-hung scoreboard.
The original roof structure uses 70-foot perimeter columns with 45-foot-tall rigid frames that slope inward to support the 204-foot doubly curved concrete dome. This design eliminates the need for interior columns, creating a clear space of about 300 feet and providing the arena with ample, unobstructed space.
“The challenges with reinforcing the concrete dome roof are access to the site because the convention center is connected to two sides of the arena,” says Helmreich.
As part of the project, all MEP systems and smoke evacuation infrastructure will be replaced and a new fire sprinkler system will be installed.
“Maintaining the historic integrity of the 1957 concrete dome while including features for the modern sports and entertainment market is a unique and energizing opportunity for the entire team,” says Helmreich.
The arena renovation is part of an overall revitalization of downtown Dallas that includes the redevelopment of the Kay Bailey Hutchison Convention Center and the surrounding district.
Dallas will host the 2026 FIFA World Cup, and the arena will serve as the event’s global media broadcast center.
RNGD to build $84 million Harvey office project
The State of Louisiana has chosen RNGD as the Construction Manager at Risk for the new Southeast Louisiana State Office Building in Harvey. The $84 million project will offer 116,000 square feet of office space designed by Trapolin-Peer and Gensler.
The company plans to use pre-fabricated exterior wall panels, modular interior systems and MEP assemblies, supported by its 135,000 square meter pre-fabrication facility located 11 miles from the site. RNGD reports schedule reductions of up to 40% on similar projects and a 30% reduction in job site waste through off-site manufacturing.
Driftwood surpasses the $420 million Westin Cocoa Beach Resort
Driftwood Capital marked the structural completion of the Westin Cocoa Beach Resort & Spa, a $420 million development on Florida’s Space Coast. The 502-key complex is 45% complete and is scheduled to open in the third quarter of 2027.
The project broke ground in September 2024 and is being built by KAST Construction, with design by Gensler.
The complex spans 15.7 acres and will feature the largest conference center on the Space Coast, with 72,000 square feet of outdoor venues and 51,500 square feet of indoor meeting space. Amenities include food and beverage outlets, a spa, a surf wave pool, swimming pools, tennis and pickleball courts, a fitness center, retail and an 800-vehicle parking garage.
McKim & Creed acquires Signature Automation
McKim & Creed has acquired Texas-based engineering consulting firm Signature Automation, expanding its presence and service offerings in the state.
Signature Automation, with offices in Dallas, Houston and San Antonio, is known for its expertise in SCADA systems, electrical engineering, instrumentation and controls, control system programming and IT infrastructure design.
The company serves municipal, water/wastewater, correctional and manufacturing customers in Texas and Oklahoma.
