Raleigh Convention Center

The Raleigh Convention Center is a convention and exhibition facility located in downtown Raleigh, North Carolina that will open in September 2008. The lead architect was Thompson, Ventulett, Stainback & Associates [ [http://www.newsobserver.com/105/story/1201094.html Charming modesty, an architectural review] ] .

Located at the end of Fayetteville Street, the three-level convert|500000|sqft|m2|sing=on building contains a convert|150000|sqft|m2|sing=on exhibit hall, twenty meeting rooms and a convert|32000|sqft|m2|sing=on ballroom. [ [http://www.raleighconvention.com/index.php/homepage/event-planning/facilities Raleigh Convention Center: Facilities ] ]

The ballroom on the highest level can seat up to 2,715 persons (banquet-style) or 3,630 persons (theater-style). The exhibit hall on the lowest level can hold up to 790 booths or seat up to 6,800 persons (banquet-style) or 9,600 persons (theater-style).

The facility is more than double the size of the older convention center that was erected in 1977, renovated in 1997, and torn down in February 2006. [ [http://abclocal.go.com/wtvd/story?section=triangle&id=3921416 abc11.com: Raleigh's Convention Center Destroyed 2/20/06 ] ] There had been controversy about the older building as well as the site of the new building [ [http://triangle.bizjournals.com/triangle/stories/2002/09/16/story1.html Convention Center site battle] ] [ [http://www.newsobserver.com/news/story/1200883.html The long, winding road to a new center] ] .

The building cost $225 million dollars to construct [ [http://www.wral.com/news/local/story/1074395 Costs For Raleigh's New Convention Center Go Up Again :: WRAL.com ] ] and the city of Raleigh is planning a large celebration to commemorate the opening of the new facility. [ [http://www.wral.com/news/local/story/2458887/ Raleigh Convention Center Looks for Sponsors for Big Opening Bash :: WRAL.com ] ] A new Marriott hotel named Marriott City Center was built to provide lodging for visitors and now connects to the Convention Center. [ [http://www.raleighconvention.com/index.php/homepage/event-planning/Hotels/marriott-city-center Raleigh Convention Center: Marriott City Center ] ]

The west-facing wall of the new convention center boasts a large public art piece called the Shimmer Wall. This wall was sponsored by Cree Inc., a company that manufactures LED lights, and is lit from behind by multi-colored LEDs.

References

External links

* [http://www.raleighconvention.com/index.php/homepage Official website]
* [http://www.rccproject.com/home.asp Project profile]
* [http://earthcam.com/clients/raleigh/index.php Webcam for construction progress]