In recent months, the Knoxville skyline has been transformed with the raising of the grand steel beams of the lobby of the new Knoxville Convention Center. The Knoxville Convention Center, scheduled to open in July 2002, will be located at the World's Fair Park, site of the 1982 World's Fair.
The first phase of construction on the facility began in June 1999. Plans for the new center include 119,922 square feet of exhibit space, a 27,300 square foot divisible ballroom, 14 functional meetings rooms, three luxury conference rooms and a 415-seat lecture hall.
SMG, the largest private operator of public facilities in the country, will manage the convention center. The Knoxville Public Building Authority (PBA) is working with Thompson, Ventulett, Stainback and Associates (TVS&A), nationally-known convention center architects, and McCarty, Holsaple, McCarty (MHM), a Knoxville architectural firm, on the final interior design. Construction of the convention center is a joint venture between Clark Construction Group of Tampa, Fl. and Denark-Smith Inc. of Knoxville.
Knoxville Convention and Visitors Bureau President/CEO Michael J. Carrier said a first-class convention center will help Knoxville to "target more conventions, increase our hotel occupancy and in turn generate a tremendous economic impact for the area."
"This is a really exciting project for us which planners can see as it is being built by visiting our website, www.knoxville.org, and clicking on our convention center webcam," Carrier said.
The $160 million project includes the new convention center, renovation of the World's Fair Park, a parking garage and the cost to re-locate an electrical substation.
Highlights of the new Knoxville Convention Center:
Total square footage: 500,545
More than 200,000 square feet of rentable space
Exhibit space: 119,922 sq. ft., can be divided into two areas
Ballroom: 27,300 sq. ft., can be divided into six areas
(Plus 12,000 sq. ft. pre-function space outside of ballroom)
Meeting Rooms:
14 functional meetings rooms seat 100 to 480 attendees in theater style
Three luxury conference rooms
Lecture Hall:
415 seats
Other amenities:
Business Center
Full service banquet kitchen
Underground exhibit hall loading area with nine truck bays and drive-on access via two ramp doors.