Phoenix Rising
New State-of-the-Art Facility Takes Inspiration from Local Landscape
by Carolyn S. Baragona | Published in November 2006 Focus on Event Sites
With its awe-inspiring, eight-story atrium and 90-foot-tall mirror sculpture, the Phoenix Convention Center’s recently opened West Building sets a new tone for meetings and events.
The building, completed in the first phase of a two-phase development plan, was designed by public assembly architecture firm HOK Venue. It hosted its first events in July of this year and is already booking dates well into January 2009. At that time, the second phase of construction will be complete, tripling the convention center’s exhibit and meeting space to nearly 900,000 rentable square feet.
Every last detail has been created to symbolize Arizona — colors, textures, angles, glass and shadows in the atrium give the feeling of entering one of Arizona’s signature slot canyons; light shifts and plays through the angled walls of windows.
The spacious Arcade corridor gives attendees access to the Herberger Theater Center and to ground-floor meeting spaces. The doors to each meeting space are clearly marked by kiosks with the room number in large font. Each kiosk also boasts a screen on which messages ranging from the title of the session to corporate branding can be displayed. The carpet incorporates Arizona-inspired colors and angles.
Also found in the Arcade is video projection artist Tony Oursler’s “Million Colors.” From five separate installations, his video/audio art is projected onto the walls, floors and ceilings of the Arcade.
Other unique features of the convention center include:
- A wall of push-button, theater-style seats that can be moved from the wall of the ballroom into the space to seat 1,200 people
- Ergonomically designed chairs in the conference center rooms and lecture hall
- A lecture hall fully equipped to handle attendees’ technical equipment needs, including translation booths
- State-of-the-art technology throughout the venue
- Numerous “green” features such as chairs made of recycled materials and carpeting that can be replaced by the square yard
- Conference rooms with hidden service areas so that meetings are not interrupted by waitstaff, and comfortable seating and incandescent lighting to promote productivity
- Exhibition halls with 10-foot by 10-foot booth spaces scored into the floor
- Ten truck bays below street level, complete with docking canopies that allow the flow of air conditioning into the trucks during loadings
- Thirty-two-foot ceilings with rigging points every 3 feet
- Aventura catering and cuisine
- Outdoor terraces for events or networking
- Numerous plasma screens to replace usual signage
- State-of-the-art air walls for maximum sound control
- Complimentary WiFi in public spaces
From the anticipation the entrance to this striking new property creates to the execution of meetings and events, the Phoenix Convention Center delivers just what you need for an exceptional, memorable event.
For more information, visit www.phoenixconventioncenter.com.
AT a Glance
By the Numbers
Lower Level: 64,000-sq.-ft. Exhibition Hall
100 Level: 26,000-sq.-ft. Meeting Rooms
200 Level: 21,000-sq.-ft. Conference Center
300 Level: 46,000-sq.-ft. West Ballroom
Prime Exhibit Space: 253,000 sq. ft. (689,000 in 2009)
Meeting Space: 80,000 sq. ft.
Breakout Rooms: 55
Conference Boardrooms: 8
About the author: Carolyn S. Baragona
Carolyn S. Baragona is the vice president of Event Solutions.
Contact: carolyn@event-solutions.com