Indiana Convention Center reveals expansion plan

Indianapolis, Ind. -- The design for the proposed expansion of the Indiana Convention Center was unveiled today at the meeting of the Indiana Stadium and Convention Building Authority (ISCBA). William (Bill) Browne, Jr., President/Principal of Ratio Architects Inc., presented the plans for the $275 million project.

Construction of the expansion will start in the summer of 2008 after the demolition of the RCA Dome. When completed in 2010, the expansion – combined with space in the new stadium – will increase the amount of exhibition, meeting room, pre-function space from about 725,000 square feet to about 1.2 million square feet. That includes about 254,000 square feet of exhibition space and 63,000 square feet of meeting room space in the Convention Center addition.

The new convention center/stadium complex will boast 747,000 square feet of exhibition space, 129,000 square feet of meeting room space, 67,000 square feet of ballroom space, plus 296,000 square feet of pre-function space. A pedestrian walk-way will connect the Convention Center expansion with the new Lucas Oil Stadium.

David R. Frick, chairman of the ISCBA, praised the plan for the expansion project. “The architects have designed a building that not only meets the needs for more exhibition and meeting room space, but also adds a dramatic entrance to the Convention Center.” Ratio is the lead architect for the Convention Center expansion, assisted by other Indiana firms, BSA LifeStructures, Blackburn Architects and Domain Architecture Inc. Locally-based Shiel Sexton Co. Inc. will be the lead construction manager, in association with Powers & Sons Construction Company Inc.

According to Bob Bedell, president of the Indianapolis Convention & Visitors Association, “Our tremendous success has driven this need to expand the facility. We expanded in 2001 and were immediately at capacity. For us to be able to maintain our current annual business and attract larger conventions and trade shows -- and more business in the future -- the expansion is needed.” Indianapolis currently competes with cities like St. Louis, Kansas City, Minneapolis, San Antonio, Columbus and Charlotte.

"We currently rank about 33rd nationally in exhibition and meeting space,” said Bedell. "When the expansion is completed, we will rise to 16th in capacity among all cities and second among our 13 primary competitors."

Bedell said the expansion will also make Indianapolis more competitive with larger markets like Chicago, Denver, Atlanta, Philadelphia, Houston and New Orleans. He said the fact that Lucas Oil Stadium and the Convention Center will be connected by an enclosed walkway is an especially attractive asset for the city, complemented by other enclosed passageways tying the Convention Center to several nearby hotels.

Fred Glass -- president of the Capital Improvement Board of Managers of Marion County (CIB), which will manage the facility upon completion -- added his support for the design of the expansion. “State and city representatives have collaboratively worked with the design team to come up with an exciting plan that will permit us to host more convention and trade show business.”

Source: Indiana Stadium and Convention Building Authority