Convention Center Expansion Fact Sheet
Location
Indianapolis, Indiana -- on a downtown site bounded on the north by Maryland Avenue, on the west by West Street, on the east by Capitol Avenue and on the south by Lucas Oil Stadium.
Description
A two-level addition that will provide 254,000 square feet of additional exhibit space, 63,000 square feet of meeting rooms, 103,000 square feet of pre-function and registration space and a three-story glass enclosed entry pavilion at the intersection of Capitol and Georgia Streets. The expansion also will include a completely enclosed connector between the Convention Center and Lucas Oil Stadium.
Purposes
The expansion is designed to keep Indianapolis competitive among its peer group of cities as a major site for conventions, exhibitions and other types of meetings. When completed, the $275 million expansion – coupled with Lucas Oil Stadium – will increase the amount space for convention/meeting uses from about 725,000 square feet to more than 1.2 million square feet.
Developer
The expansion is a project of the Indiana Stadium and Convention Building Authority (ISCBA), an agency created by the Indiana General Assembly. When completed, operation and management of the facility will be assumed by the Capital Improvement Board of Managers of Marion County.
Architect
Ratio Architects is the lead architect for the project, assisted by Blackburn Architects and Domain Architects. All three are headquartered in Indianapolis.
Contractor
Shiel Sexton Co. Inc. of Indianapolis and Powers & Sons Construction Company Inc. of Gary have formed a joint venture to be the Construction Manager on the project. The project ws constructed by dozens of trade contractors, mostly from Central Indiana.
Timetable
The expansion began in early 2008 with utility relocations and other preparations for the demolition of the RCA Dome. The RCA Dome was imploded in December 2008, and removal of the debris began immediately. In the spring of 2009 construction of the expansion began. The Expansion was substantially completed in January 2011.
Financing
The project’s $275 million cost is being financed with funds raised jointly by the State of Indiana and the City of Indianapolis through special taxes. Marion County has raised taxes for food and beverage sales, auto rental taxes, innkeeper’s taxes and admission taxes for its share of the costs. A small increase in food and beverage taxes in six “donut” counties completes the total.
Benefits
The expansion is necessary to raise Indianapolis about 33rd to 16th place among America’s major convention cities in meeting space available – and second only to Atlanta among its customary 13 peer cities. Combined with Lucas Oil Stadium, the projects are expected to generate $2.25 billion in economic benefits over 10 years and create about 4,200 new permanent jobs. The combined projects also are expected to generate about $26 million in new tax revenues over the same period.
Indiana Convention Center – Old vs. New
| Existing | Anticipated New | Net Total | |
|---|---|---|---|
| EXHIBITION SPACE Convention Center Dome/Stadium* Sub-Total |
310.370 S.F. 96,556 S.F. 406,926 S.F. |
254,000 S.F. 183,000 S.F. 437,000 S.F. |
564,370 S.F. 183,000 S.F. 747,370 S.F. |
| MEETING ROOMS Convention Center Dome/Stadium* Sub-Total |
52,966 S.F 28,853 S.F. 81,819 S.F. |
63,000 S.F.. 13,000 S.F. 76,000 S.F. |
115,966 S.F. 13,000 S.F. 128,966 S.F. |
| BALLROOMS |
66,761 S.F. | 0 S.F. | 66, 761 S.F. |
| PRE-FUNCTION SPACE Convention Center Dome/Stadium* Exhibition Plaza Sub-Total |
147,460 S.F. 21,425 S.F. 0 S.F. 168,885 S.F. |
103,000 S.F. 15,000 S.F. 31,000 S.F. 149,000 S.F. |
250,460 S.F 15,000 S.F. 31,000 S.F. 296,460 S.F. |
| TOTAL | 724,391 S.F. | 662,000 S.F. | 1,239,557 S.F. |
* Please note that the Dome/Stadium space listed in column 1 (Existing) will be eliminated once the RCA Dome is demolished. The Net Totals in Column 3 reflect the new Lucas Oil Stadium plus the new space in an expanded Convention Center (Anticipated New).
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