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New $60 million center with arena and food hall to dock at Port San Antonio

The innovation center will feature an arena, museum, food hall, and more.

Courtesy of Port San Antonio

A $60 million innovation center — including an esports arena, a food hall, and the new home of the San Antonio Museum of Science and Technology — is on tap for Port San Antonio.

On Thursday, August 13, the board of directors of Port San Antonio approved the 130,000-square-foot project. Construction is set to begin this summer, with completion scheduled for early 2022.

Highlights of the innovation center include:

A 2,500-seat technology arena for esports competitions, concerts, product launches, training programs, conventions, and conferences.
The new, larger home of the San Antonio Museum of Science and Technology. Since 2017, the museum has occupied a 16,000-square-foot former military chapel on the Port San Antonio campus.
Classrooms and meeting spaces.
A research and development lab for tech companies and research groups.
A full-scale food hall.
A 24-hour electronic gaming area.

Tempe, Arizona-based Sundt Construction is the general contractor, and San Antonio-based RVK Architects is leading the design work. Once it’s completed, Los Angeles-based ASM Global will manage the center.

The port’s president and CEO, Jim Perschbach, says the project will fuel job growth and overall economic growth in San Antonio.

“The innovation center will be a venue that is exciting, as it inspires, teaches, and helps people connect with new career and business opportunities — from global companies to San Antonio’s small business owners who need a place to develop their ideas and market them to the world,” Chris Alderete, chair of the Port San Antonio board, says in a release.

The 1,900-acre Port San Antonio campus, just east of Joint Base San Antonio, encompasses a large portion of the former Kelly Air Force Base. Currently, more than 14,000 people work for employers in industries like aerospace, cybersecurity, defense, and robotics.

technology

leading the way

CultureMap founder David Gow named CEO of Houston policy nonprofit

Photo by Daniel Ortiz

David Gow will begin his new role in September.

A nonprofit organization dedicated to leading Houston into the future has named its next leader.

The Center for Houston’s Future named David Gow as president and CEO, succeeding Brett Perlman, who was announced in April to be remaining at the Center with a focus on the Center’s hydrogen initiative. Gow is the founder and chairman of Gow Media, CultureMap's parent company. His role is effective September 3.

“I am excited to step into this opportunity with the Center and work with the team, the board and many other stakeholders to help shape Houston’s future,” Gow said in a statement. “The Center presents an exciting opportunity to cast a vision for our region and identify initiatives that will make an impact.”

Gow — whose portfolio includes CultureMap, its sister sites, and ESPN Radio's Houston affiliate — is a board member of Goose Capital and chair of MSAI, an entity he formed through a SPAC acquisition. Before he founded Gow Media, he served as CFO and CEO of online watch retailer Ashford.com. Prior to Ashford, Gow was director of corporate strategy at Compaq Computers and a consultant at McKinsey & Co. He received his master’s in public policy from Harvard and his bachelor's in economics from Williams College.

“David’s portfolio of experiences and skills, record of innovation and success, and deep commitment to the Houston community make him the perfect fit to lead the Center as we chart and execute on our next set of initiatives focused on ensuring a bright future for all residents in the Houston region,” adds Center for Houston’s Future Board Chair Cindy Yeilding.

In his new role, Gow will lead the Center’s next effort, Vision 2050, which plans to identify the city's key issues, gaps, and opportunities.

“Today’s announcement also reflects the success of the Center’s clean hydrogen program,” Yeilding continues. “On behalf of the Center’s board, I’d also like to recognize Brett for launching and building such a successful and important effort as well as his overall leadership and record of achievement at the Center these past seven years.”

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This article first appeared on our sister site InnovationMap.

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