Sundance Square Plaza Is Now Open!
November 1,2013
Three days of fun and festivities marked the grand opening of the new Sundance Square Plaza. The celebration weekend (November 1-3) was filled with activities ranging from balloon artists to yoga classes to live music from popular rock bands. Hundreds of people gathered throughout the weekend to enjoy the gorgeous fountains, the beautiful weather and the four giant umbrellas that glow with colorful, changing LED lights.
The Plaza
The new centerpiece of Downtown Fort Worth is a vibrant, engaging space that can host a huge variety of events while meeting the everyday needs of workers, residents and tourists. The permanent, multi-purpose stage can be configured for large and small concerts, movies and other activities. The decorative water fountains feature ever-changing waterfalls and cascades. The four giant umbrellas cover more than 6,400 feet and provide shade by day and a gorgeous light display at night. The 55,000-square foot space also features a multi-purpose pavilion, bicycle racks, light and sound, seating and beautiful landscaping.
The Umbrellas
The umbrellas are constructed of a telescopic mast, folding steel frame, and a Teflon membrane structure which was carefully chosen to safely handle the high wind speeds both in open and closed positions. The fabric's weave allows for a specific light transmission level beneath the umbrellas to create a translucent shading vault above the plaza floor. These four umbrellas are intentionally spaced with a narrow gap to get a glimpse of the sky while providing an urban scaled ceiling for Sundance Square.
Surrounding Buildings:
Sundance Square Plaza is surrounded by three Class A buildings that offer space for offices, stores, and restaurants:
• The Westbrook | 425 Houston Street - this six-story, 93,000-square-foot building is named after the Westbrook Hotel, one of the grandest in Fort Worth's history. The handsome facade features a mix of granite, limestone, brick, and decorative aluminum, with a stunning clock tower at the top.
• Commerce Building | 420 Commerce Street - Five stories tall with more than 83,000 square feet, the Commerce Building is broken into three distinct parts, including a center facade featuring four-story, high-arched brick window bays.
• The Cassidy | 407 Throckmorton Street - At 99,000 square feet, The Cassidy is the largest of the three new buildings. The six-story structure has an L-shaped design, with retail and restaurants on the ground floor and luxury apartments on the top floor. The Cassidy is scheduled to open in 2014.
Just opened:
• Del Frisco’s Grille - The two-story Del Frisco’s Grille spans more than 9,000 square feet in the Commerce Building and offers a large patio, perfect for outdoor dining. Del Frisco’s Grille is an exciting new eatery dishing up creative twists on American comfort classics. The menu takes the traditional bar and grill to new heights, using bold flavors, regional ingredients and local flair in many of its dishes.
• RadioShack Concept Store – Located in Sundance Square’s new Commerce Building, the RadioShack Concept Store features the most in-demand products, brands and technology to deliver a more interactive and engaging experience for the consumer.
Coming soon to Sundance Square Plaza:
• Silver Leaf Cigar Bar - Located at 426 Commerce, the cigar bar will occupy 2,105 square feet on the first level of the building facing Commerce Street. It will offer a 351 square foot patio, cigars, humidors, pipes, pipe tobacco and accessories. Featuring an upscale ambiance with a focus on service, Silver Leaf Cigar Bar will cater to guests who enjoy the taste of a good cigar with their favorite drink.
• Starbucks – The Starbucks Coffee Company will move from its current location on Houston Street to the northeast corner of The Westbrook building. The coffee shop will offer outdoor seating and it will feature the Clover Brewing System - a unique machine that brews your delicious, personal fresh cup of coffee.
• Bird café - A new chef-driven concept has flown into the new Sundance Square Plaza. This split-level restaurant features delicious, delectable small plates, more than 6,400 square feet of indoor space, and 2,300 square feet of patio space overlooking the new Sundance Square Plaza.
• Taco Diner – Also coming soon to Sundance Square Plaza, this Taco Diner restaurant will span on 3,000 square feet, with patio seating facing the Plaza. Customers will enjoy delicious, authentic Mexican cuisine in a lively urban cafe that's fun and casual.
Click here to view some pictures from the Opening Ceremony on November 1, 2013.
Additional references:
http://www.wfaa.com/good-morning-texas/Check-Out-the-Brand-New-Sundance-Square-230225271.html
http://www.star-telegram.com/2013/11/01/5297071/confetti-canons-burst-red-gold.html?rh=1
http://www.myfoxdfw.com/story/23849692/updated-sundance-square-opens-in-fort-worth
http://new.pitchengine.com/pitches/d0b0fa38-3b5a-44f3-a4ff-335e6cbc927c
http://fortworthtexas.gov/citynews/default.aspx?id=117860
http://www.star-telegram.com/2013/10/29/5287112/sundance-square-plaza-opens-friday.html?rh=1
http://www.star-telegram.com/2013/10/29/5288667/for-fort-worth-a-new-downtown.html