IN BRIEF CONVENTION CENTER WATCH
DETROIT, MI — TCF Center has been awarded LEED Gold Certification. Spanning 2.4 million sq. ft., the convention center is now the largest LEED-certified building in the state of Michigan. TCF Center’s $279 million renovation in 2015 included significant upgrades in energy-saving HVAC equipment, water-saving fixtures and a living green roof. With a grant from the Smart Buildings Detroit Energy Conservation Program, the venue also installed overall energyreduction enhancements. They included $9.9 million in insulation, computerized mechanical and lighting controls, induction lighting in all exhibit halls, enclosed loading docks and energyefficient escalators.
TCF Center GM Claude Molinari (left) receives the LEED Gold Certification plaque from Mahesh Ramanujam, President and CEO of the USGBC.
HONOLULU, HI — On Oct. 1, the LEED Gold-certified Hawaii Convention Center hosted its first-ever zerowaste event, the Pacific Building Trade Expo. The Center worked with the Expo to organize the zero-waste efforts, helping 6
to divert 1,283 pounds of waste from the landfill. This process included reducing, reusing, sorting and recycling, as well as sending items to H-POWER, the Honolulu Program of Waste Energy Recovery. “Not only are we reducing the amount of waste sent to the landfill, thereby cutting air, soil and water pollution, but we are also recovering valuable resources that can be repurposed for other uses. This will serve as a springboard for future zero-waste events,” commented Teri Orton, General Manager of the Hawaii Convention Center, managed by ASM Global. LAS VEGAS, NV — On Oct. 24, the Las Vegas Convention and Visitors Authority (LVCVA) marked a construction milestone for the Las Vegas Convention Center’s 1.4 million-sq.-ft expansion, with more than 50 percent completed. “We’re excited to show off the unobstructed views of the new 600,000-sq.-ft. West Hall,” said Lori NelsonKraft, Senior Vice President of Communications and Government Affairs. “When completed, this will feature the largest column-free space in North America.” The expansion is expected to be completed in December 2020. Renovation of the existing 3.2 million-sq.ft. convention center will begin in summer 2021, and the entire $1.52 billion development is expected to be completed in 2024.
LAS VEGAS, NV — Construction of a $52.5 million underground people mover, designed by Elon Musk’s The Boring Company, is under way at the Las Vegas Convention Center campus. The people mover will include three passenger stations connecting the existing 3.2 million sq. ft. of convention space with the Center’s new 1.4 millionsq.-ft. West Hall, currently under construction. When completed in January 2021, the people mover will be comprised of two vehicular tunnels of approximately one mile each, allowing passengers to traverse the 200-acre campus in about one minute. The system will have the potential to expand and link key attractions including Downtown Las Vegas, the Las Vegas Boulevard Resort Corridor and McCarran International Airport. LAS VEGAS, NV, and STAMFORD, CT — Last month, Centerplate was awarded the long-term contract with World Market Center Las Vegas to provide hospitality and food service at the newly enhanced venue, following a competitive bidding process. The contract grants Centerplate management of catering, food and beverage, and concessions services at the venue. World Market Center Las Vegas maintains a five million-sq.-ft. campus with three buildings, and The Expo at World Market Center Las Vegas is slated to open In July 2020. Offering 194,785 gross sq. ft. of exhibit space, the new facility will host tradeshows as well as corporate and private events. “We are
honored and ecstatic to be chosen for this new and exciting venue, a market we know well,” said Steve Pangburn, Centerplate Chief Executive Officer. “Our team stands ready to provide outstanding guest experiences through a focus on quality and customer service, partnerships with premium local, regional and national partners, and innovative new design.” PORTLAND, OR — The Oregon Convention Center has completed a $40 million, 14-month renovation that imparted a Pacific Northwest motif to the carpets throughout the building, including the 25,000-sq.-ft. ballroom and pre-function area. The former’s ceiling design now resembles a forest canopy, while the latter displays a topographic representation of the Cascade Mountain range. The ballroom was also engineered for maximum sound absorption. In addition, the plaza at the north end of the convention center now includes an amphitheaterlike area for outdoor concerts, receptions and other events. TUCSON, AZ — In August, the Rio Nuevo Board of Directors unanimously approved a $65 million improvement plan for the Tucson Convention Center campus. Projected to last two years, the renovation will include upgrades to the Tucson Music Hall, the Leo Rich Theater and the Eckbo Plaza and Fountain. The plan includes $14.7 million in convention center upgrades and a $9.2 million meeting room expansion.
FACILITIES & DESTINATIONS 2019-2020 WINTER
