Venue

Overview

We are excited to host this year’s conference at the Commons Learning Center. The center has a variety of modern, well-equipped classrooms that will provide excellent spaces for learning. It also has a large central space that will be perfect for meals, vendor exhibitions, and hallway-track discussions.

Location

The Commons Learning Center is located near The Domain, a shopping center in North Austin. The address is:

* Please note that Google has a different address for the center, but rest assured that it is the same location.

Features

The Commons Learning Center has many useful amenities and features:

• On-site cafe (Thursday and Friday only)
• On-site staff
• Mother’s room
• Unisex & accessible bathrooms
• Ample on-site parking (paid for by the conference), including accessible parking spaces
• ATM
• Fast WiFi for all attendees

Parking

While some nearby hotels are walking distance, and some offer shuttle service, you may need to drive to the venue. The image below shows the best parking lots for accessing the Commons Learning Center.

You will need to print a parking permit before arriving, which we will provide via email shortly before the conference.

Accommodations

There is no official hotel for conference attendees. Please see a list of nearby hotels, including ones with shuttle service to the conference center, at the Commons Learning Center website.

Rideshare + Transit

If you’re flying in, a rideshare trip from the airport to the venue costs about $30, from your choice of Ride Austin, Lyft, or Uber, with Lyft’s Shared option available to and from the airport for about 20% less.

The Commons Learning Center has its own CapMetro bus stop, served by MetroRapid route 803. The next stop to the north on the same route is in the northeast part of The Domain. To get to the venue from the airport:

1. Download the Transit app (Android || iOS) to get real-time route info, and the CapMetro app (Android || iOS) to buy/use your e-ticket.
2. Buy a $2.50 Local Day Pass. Day passes last 24 hours from activation, which you do post-purchase. CapMetro’s $1.25 single-trip tickets don’t allow transfers.
3. Walk out of the airport at the Arrivals (lower) level and look for the guitar-shaped bus shelter on the right side of the island; you’ll need to cross one traffic lane to get there.
4. Activate your day pass, then get on Route 20 (which departs every 15 minutes), showing your pass to the bus driver as you enter.
5. Get off at the 4th and Lavaca stop. Turn right and walk down the block to the red Republic Square MetroRapid station.
6. Get on Route 803, which arrives every 10, 15, or 20 minutes depending on time of day. You can show your pass to the driver as before, or switch the app to show a QR Code, which can be scanned near either door.
7. Get off at the UT Research Campus stop, which is a couple minutes after the Crossroads stop. The venue be in front of you to the right as you exit the bus.

The reverse route is similar, though the southbound Republic Square station is a block west of the Northbound one. Once you exit the 803, turn left and walk down the block to the MetroBus area to get on Route 20.