Fort Worth

Local Update:
Construction continues on new facilities for the Kimbell Art Museum, designed by the Renzo Piano Building Workshop. When the $125 million expansion opens in 2013, it will double the Kimbell's gallery space and serve visiting shows, enabling the original facility to spotlight the permanent collection of artists like Vincent Van Gogh, Frida Kahlo and Pablo Picasso.

Two new restaurants opened last fall at the Will Rogers Memorial Center, in partnership with downtown's Reata Restaurant: Reata at the Backstage and La Espuela Mexican Cantina. The center's Amon G. Carter Jr. Exhibits Building offers approximately 100,000 square feet of contiguous exhibit space.

The 350,000-square-foot Fort Worth Con­vention Center now offers free Wi-Fi service in all public areas, which includes the concourse, hallways and prefunction areas. The new amenity comes via the facility's partnership with Smart City Networks. Two-tiered Internet connectivity still is available for a fee for those who need more bandwidth.

Next month, Spirit Airlines will begin offering nonstop service to Dallas/Fort Worth International Airport from Denver International Airport. Daily service will commence on May 3, and a second flight will be added May 17. Meanwhile, Emirates Airlines inaugurated daily service to Dallas-Fort Worth from Dubai in February.

Following the Main St. 2012 Fort Worth Arts Festival, being held this month, construction will begin on three towers in Sundance Square. While these buildings will feature residences, offices and retail space, plans also call for a new public plaza.