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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 BSA LifeStructures, Blackburn Architects and Domain Architects. All four 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. 

Timetable

The expansion project will get under way in late 2008 upon completion of Lucas Oil Stadium and the demolition of the RCA Dome, scheduled for the Summer of 2008. Construction is targeted for completion in the Fall of 2010.

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).

© 2005-2007. Indiana Stadium and Convention Building Authority. All rights reserved. No copies or distribution permitted absent written permission.


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