Washington Convention Center Washington, District of Columbia
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Washington Convention Center Washington, D.C. Project Type: Other Case No: C033012 Year: 2003 SUMMARY Located in the Mount Vernon Square neighborhood of Washington, D.C., the new six-level convention center is the largest building in the city, covering six blocks and rising 130 feet (39.6 meters) from the ground at its tallest point—higher than most buildings in the height-constrained city. This massive, 2.3 million-square-foot (213,670-square-meter), 38,000-ton steel, limestone, and glass structure features five exhibit halls, 725,000 square feet (67,352 square meters) of exhibit space, 150,000 square feet (13,935 square meters) of meeting space, a 52,000-square-foot (4,830-square-meter) ballroom, a 36,000-square-foot (3,344-square-meter) area for registration, and approximately 44,000 square feet (4,087 square meters) of restaurants and shops. The convention center is among the ten largest in the nation, and both the Washington Monument and the Sears Tower in Chicago would be able to fit inside the structure if laid on their sides. FEATURES The building is constructed to appear as three separate structures in order to enable it to fit more seamlessly into the surrounding neighborhood. Due to site constraints, 2 million tons (2,002,000 metric tons) of earth were removed, enabling one-fifth of the structure to be placed underground. The project was funded through the taxation of area hotels and restaurants, allowing the center to be built in the face of other crucial city needs. Washington Convention Center Washington, D.C. Project Type: Other Volume 33 Number 12 July–September 2003 Case Number: C033012 PROJECT TYPE Located in the Mount Vernon Square neighborhood of Washington, D.C., the new six-level convention center is the largest building in the city, covering six blocks and rising 130 feet (39.6 meters) from the ground at its tallest point—higher than most buildings in the height-constrained city. This massive, 2.3 million-square-foot (213,670-square-meter), 38,000-ton steel, limestone, and glass structure features five exhibit halls, 725,000 square feet (67,352 square meters) of exhibit space, 150,000 square feet (13,935 square meters) of meeting space, a 52,000-square-foot (4,830-square-meter) ballroom, a 36,000-square-foot (3,344-square-meter) area for registration, and approximately 44,000 square feet (4,087 square meters) of restaurants and shops. The convention center is among the ten largest in the nation, and both the Washington Monument and the Sears Tower in Chicago would be able to fit inside the structure if laid on their sides. SPECIAL FEATURES The building is constructed to appear as three separate structures in order to enable it to fit more seamlessly into the surrounding neighborhood. Due to site constraints, 2 million tons (2,002,000 metric tons) of earth were removed, enabling one-fifth of the structure to be placed underground. The project was funded through the taxation of area hotels and restaurants, allowing the center to be built in the face of other crucial city needs. OWNER District of Columbia John A. Wilson Building 1350 Pennsylvania Avenue, N.W. Washington, D.C. 20004 OPERATIONS/MARKETING Washington Convention Center Authority 801 Mount Vernon Place, N.W. Washington, D.C. 20001 202-249-3217 Fax: 202-249-3111 www.dcconvention.com MARKETING Washington, D.C. Convention and Tourism Corporation 1212 New York Avenue, N.W., Suite 600 Washington, D.C. 20005 202-789-7000 Fax: 202-789-7037 www.washington.org ARCHITECTS/PLANNERS Thompson, Ventulett, Stainback and Associates 2700 Promenade Two 1230 Peachtree Street, N.E. Atlanta, Georgia 30309-3591 404-888-6600 Fax: 404-888-6700 www.tvsa.com Mariani Architects Engineers, P.C. 1350 Connecticut Avenue, N.W., Suite 400 Washington, D.C. 20036 202-462-5656 Fax: 202-462-7234 www.marianiarchitects.com Devrouax & Purnell Architects-Planners, P.C. 717 D Street, N.W., Fifth Floor Washington, D.C. 20004 202-483-2878 Fax: 202-347-5829 www.dp-architects.com CONSTRUCTION MANAGER The Clark Construction Group, Inc. 7500 Old Georgetown Road Bethesda, Maryland 20814 301-272-8100 Fax: 301-272-1928 www.clarkus.com Sherman R. Smoot Construction Three Skyline Place 5201 Leesburg Pike, Suite 1100 Falls Church, Virginia 22041 703-998-1100 Fax: 703-998-1120 www.smootconstruction.com ENGINEERS James Madison Cutts Consulting Structural Engineers 2000 L Street, N.W., Suite 840 Washington, D.C. 20036 202-822-8222 Fax: 202-822-8330 www.jmcutts.com Horne Engineering Services, Inc. 2750 Prosperity Avenue, Suite 450 Fairfax, Virginia 22031 703-641-1100 Fax: 703-641-0440 www.horne.com GENERAL DESCRIPTION Located in the Mount Vernon Square neighborhood of Washington, D.C., the new six-level convention center is the largest building in the city, covering six blocks and rising 130 feet (39.6 meters) from the ground at its tallest point—higher than most buildings in the height-constrained city. This massive, 2.3 million-square-foot (213,670-square-meter), 38,000-ton steel, limestone, and glass structure features five exhibit halls, 725,000 square feet (67,352 square meters) of exhibit space, 150,000 square feet (13,935 square meters) of meeting space, a 52,000-square-foot (4,830-square-meter) ballroom, a 36,000-square-foot (3,344-square-meter) area for registration, and approximately 44,000 square feet (4,087 square meters) of restaurants and shops. The new development is already a proven success—the center has nearly 200 major national events booked into the space through 2013, as well as 200 small, regional, and corporate events. DEVELOPMENT PROCESS Originally known as the Northern Liberty Market, the first structure in the District of Columbia to serve as an exhibition center and hall was built in 1874 and occupied a site lying two blocks northeast from the newly constructed facility. The District’s second convention center, the recently replaced facility, opened in 1983 but became virtually obsolete soon after. The rapid growth in both the number and size of convention centers across the country and the ensuing competition for booking events resulted in the need for a new center. As one of the smallest in the nation, falling from the fourth largest with 800,000 square feet (74,320 square meters) to the 30th by 1997, this facility was unable to attract national and international conventions to the nation’s capital. The site for the new convention center was chosen in 1997, and after a ground-breaking ceremony held in 1998, construction of the project progressed into the early part of the next decade. The center celebrated its grand opening in March 2003, with the existing facility closing just prior to the event. The center site and building remain not quite 100 percent finished, though the significant construction activities have been completed—with the exception of the covers for the canopies and louvers—allowing for full use of convention facilities. Work continues on the other less integral components of the project. The restaurant and retail spaces remain in buildout under the obligation of the food services contract. Facets include room for a food court as well as a business center. Leasing of these spaces, to be opened in October, is ongoing, although no contracts have yet been signed. A mix of rental rates will be assigned to the spaces as the city works to incorporate smaller, community-based businesses into the building program. Due to the project’s location in the heart of downtown, the Washington Convention Center Authority (WCCA) sought to accommodate neighborhood needs. It provided grants to local businesses to help offset losses during construction. In addition, the authority furnished the National Trust for Historic Preservation (NTHP) with a $1 million fund to improve the historic properties in the area and to mitigate any damages. As the administrator of the fund, NTHP is providing money and support for exterior rehabilitation of properties, as well as streetscape improvements throughout the surrounding areas. WCCA also allocated $1.25 million to the Office of Economic Development in the District of Columbia for project funding to expand job and business opportunities for D.C. residents, and roughly $290 million to Local Small Disadvantaged Business Enterprises (LSDBEs), certified by the District of Columbia’s Local Business Opportunity Commission to give local and/or small businesses the opportunity to compete. Other efforts of the authority included sponsorship of the Shaw Comprehensive Job Training Academy and the Step-Up Pre-Apprenticeship Program. Additional programs include the Mount Vernon Business Alliance as well as the crossing guard program, further attempts to mitigate problems and disruptions for area businesses and residents. The center is estimated to attract 3 million visitors annually. In addition, it is projected to generate 17,000 jobs and $1.4 billion a year through tax revenue and delegate spending once fully operational. Revenue estimates for food and beverage, electrical, telecommunications, and other services are also predicted to exceed $14 million by 2004. FINANCING Although the District of Columbia possesses some limited taxing powers, most of its major public improvements are funded through federal appropriations. The convention center, however, received no federal aid and was funded instead through bonds secured by the District’s dedicated tax receipts. The project budget was $834 million and the WCCA was authorized to issue bonds to finance the construction of and equipment costs for the new center. In September 1998, it issued $524.5 million in senior lien dedicated tax revenue bonds. The bulk of this, $507 million worth, was backed by a 4.45 percent tax on the city’s hotel and restaurant industry.