In a joint venture between the City of Los Angeles Department of Convention and Tourism and AEG Plenary Conventions Los Angeles, the Los Angeles Convention Center could soon receive a 700,000 square-foot renovation. Currently, the project is on its way to the Los Angeles City Planning Department after plans were recently presented to the Downtown Neighborhood Council.
Expansion plans for the center, located 1201 S. Figueroa Street, calls for the construction of a New Hall. The New Hall would connect the existing South and West Halls at the Convention Center, and add up to 193,400 square feet of exhibit space and 60,000 square feet of additional meeting space. In addition, a new 98,500 square foot multi-purpose hall would be constructed at the top level of the New Hall expansion. The multi-purpose space would feature flexible dividers, allowing the space to be converted into smaller conference and meeting rooms or remain as a large banquet space. The expansion would also include up to 338,000 square feet of additional space, including a lobby, support space and food service area.
As well as the indoor additions, an outdoor terrace would include up to 10,000 square feet of outdoor event space. Gilbert Lindsay Plaza, which is directly outside the convention center between Pico Boulevard and 12th Street, would also be redesigned to accommodate additional open space. According to project plans, the plaza’s existing bus drop-off area would be relocated along with the vehicle drop-off area to accommodate additional amenities at the site. These include a café, an amphitheater area and potential retail space.
“The plaza would be designed to function as both a public space and an exterior event space that could accommodate a wide variety of event programming, with space designed to host large receptions and dining functions, large exhibits and exhibit structures, community events, and other similar uses,” project plans state.
Currently, the Los Angeles Convention Center consists of 1.5 million square feet of event and entertainment space between the existing West Hall, South Hall and Concourse Building. Project plans for the addition of the New Hall were built upon previous expansion efforts dating back to 2010.
In 2012, plans for a 100,000 square-foot event center were approved at the site. However, in revisions including the New Hall, the event center will no longer be constructed. Instead, the approved square-footage would be allocated to the New Hall. In addition, two previously approved parking garages would turn into one parking garage offering 939 parking spaces.
Located in downtown Los Angeles, the project site is in close proximity to other entertainment and performance venues. Immediately north of the site is L.A. LIVE, an entertainment, hotel and residential complex, which includes the Microsoft Theater, JW Marriott, Ritz-Carlton, Ritz-Carlton Residences, an ESPN broadcast facility, Regal Cinemas and more. Also neighboring the convention center is the 22,000-seat STAPLES Center, which is home to the Los Angeles Lakers, Clippers and Kings.
“The New Hall and related improvements would be designed to create a functional, visual and marketable synergy with the L.A. LIVE campus and surrounding community. The project design is intended to enhance the site as a convention destination to compete with other convention centers in California, and to create an elevated multi-purpose space on a civic scale,” plans state.
The City of Los Angeles declined to comment at this time.
