Indiana Convention Center

The Indiana Convention Center is a major convention center located in Downtown Indianapolis, Indiana, United States. The original structure was completed in 1972 and has undergone five expansions.[1] In total, there are 71 meeting rooms, 11 exhibit halls, and three multi-purpose ballrooms. The connected facilities of Lucas Oil Stadium offer an additional 183,000 square feet (20,000 m2) of exhibit space and 12 meeting rooms.[2]

Indiana Convention Center
Indiana Convention Center at Capitol Avenue and Georgia Street in 2020.
Address100 South Capitol Avenue
LocationIndianapolis, Indiana 46225
Coordinates39°45′55″N 86°9′45″W
OwnerIndiana Stadium and Convention Building Authority (State of Indiana)
OperatorCapital Improvement Board of Managers of Marion County, Indiana
Built1969–1972
Opened1972 (1972)
Expanded1984, 1993, 2000, 2011
Former names
Indiana Convention-Exposition Center
Enclosed space
 • Total space937,000 square feet (90,000 m2)
 • Exhibit hall floor566,600 square feet (50,000 m2) (11 halls)
 • Breakout/meeting113,302 square feet (11,000 m2) (71 rooms)
 • Ballroom62,173 square feet (5,776.1 m2) (3 rooms)
ParkingPay parking nearby
Bicycle facilities
Indiana Pacers Bikeshare
Public transit access 8, 24
Website
www.icclos.com

History
The RCA Dome and 1993 convention center expansion
Indiana Convention Center from Maryland Street in 2015

Originally named the Indiana Convention-Exposition Center, groundbreaking for the $26.1 million venue occurred December 8, 1969. Completed in 1972, the original project included one ballroom, three exhibition halls, and 23 meeting rooms encompassing 160,000 square feet (15,000 m2).[1] The first major expansion to the Indiana Convention Center added one ballroom, two exhibit halls, and 16 meeting rooms, increasing total rentable space to 371,000 square feet (34,500 m2)—concurrent with construction of the adjoining 60,500-seat Hoosier Dome (later renamed the RCA Dome)—both completed in 1984.[1] The combined cost was around $94.7 million.[3]

The convention center was expanded again from 1992 to 1993. The $43 million two-story addition increased total rentable space to 419,000 square feet (38,900 m2), with the additions of the Sagamore Ballroom and 16 meeting rooms.[1] The project also included skywalk connections to the Westin Indianapolis and Hyatt Regency Indianapolis (via Plaza Park Garage).[3] Another expansion followed in 2000.[4][5] The addition of a ballroom, two exhibit halls, and seven meeting rooms increased the total rentable space to 539,000 square feet (50,100 m2).[1] The project included a skywalk connection to the Indianapolis Marriott Downtown.

Construction of the 67,000-seat Lucas Oil Stadium began in September 2005 one block south of the RCA Dome. Opening in August 2008, the $720 million stadium contains approximately 183,000 square feet (17,000 m2) of exhibition space.[6] Upon completion of Lucas Oil Stadium, the RCA Dome was demolished. The iconic air-lifted dome was deflated and the implosion of the stadium was completed in December 2008.[6] The convention center's most recent and largest expansion was undertaken from 2008 to 2010, opening in January 2011. A $275 million 400,000 square feet (37,000 m2) addition was constructed on the site of the former RCA Dome.[7] As part of the expansion, an underground walkway along the west side of Capitol Avenue was built to directly connect this new portion of the facility to Lucas Oil Stadium. A skywalk was also built to connect the convention center with the JW Marriott Indianapolis (via the Government Center Washington Street Parking Facility), which was completed in 2011.[8]

Ratio Architects, Inc. was the lead architectural firm for the expansion, assisted by other Indiana companies, BSA LifeStructures, Blackburn Architects, and Domain Architecture Inc. Indianapolis-based Shiel Sexton Co. Inc.[9] was the lead construction manager, in association with Powers & Sons Construction Company Inc.

In addition to its space, the Indiana Convention Center now possesses 49 loading docks, seven drive-in ramps, and three food courts. It is also connected to 12 hotels and 4,700 hotel rooms via skywalks, the most of any U.S. convention center.[10]

In September 2020, Indianapolis City-County Council unanimously approved a $155 million bond measure to build a 50,000 square feet (4,600 m2) ballroom, 93,500 square feet (8,690 m2) of meeting and pre-function space, and two high-rise hotels developed by Kite Realty, totaling 1,400 rooms.[11] The first hotel, branded as a Signia by Hilton, is planned to be completed in 2024. According to the Indianapolis Star and Indianapolis Business Journal, this is the fifth major expansion of the Indiana Convention Center and would push the total rentable space to more than 1,000,000 square feet (93,000 m2).[5][1]

Notable events

The Indiana Convention Center has been the host to a large variety of meetings and conventions. These include:

Annual Events

Past Events

Representing the United States, Michael Bentt comes at his Cuban opponent, Félix Savón, with a right jab during a bout at the X Pan American Games in August 1987.
The Indiana Convention Center hosted the Super Bowl Experience leading to Super Bowl XLVI in 2012.

Public art

See also

References
  1. Shuey, Mickey (August 28, 2020). "Tourism experts disagree on wisdom of planned convention center expansion". Indianapolis Business Journal. Retrieved November 1, 2020.
  2. "Indy Convention Planning Guide". Visit Indy. Retrieved November 17, 2015.
  3. Bodenhamer, David; Barrows, Robert, eds. (1994). The Encyclopedia of Indianapolis. Bloomington & Indianapolis: Indiana University Press. p. 734.
  4. Maurer, Katie (September 22, 2010). "Indiana Convention Center might need yet another expansion". Indianapolis Business Journal. Retrieved September 18, 2020.
  5. Pak-Harvey, Amelia (September 13, 2020). "Indy says expanding convention center amid pandemic is worth the risk. Others are unsure". The Indianapolis Star. Retrieved September 17, 2020.
  6. "ISCBA: Home". in.gov. Archived from the original on October 27, 2006.
  7. Schoettle, Anthony (September 21, 2015). "Expand the Indiana Convention Center again?". Indianapolis Business Journal. Retrieved September 19, 2020.
  8. "JW Marriott Indianapolis Downtown". The Skyscraper Center. Council on Tall Buildings and Urban Habitat. Retrieved March 28, 2017.
  9. "Shiel Sexton". shielsexton.com.
  10. "Connected Hotels in Indianapolis". Visit Indy. Retrieved March 31, 2016.
  11. Quinn, Samm (September 14, 2020). "City-County Council approves financing plan for convention center expansion". Indianapolis Business Journal. Retrieved September 18, 2020.
  12. Schoettle, Anthony (July 7, 2017). "Hotels, restaurants expect record payoff from 50th anniversary of Gen Con". Indianapolis Business Journal. Retrieved September 19, 2020.
  13. "State helps city lock up FFA convention until 2024". Indianapolis Business Journal. July 15, 2015. Retrieved September 19, 2020.
  14. Schoettle, Anthony (December 11, 2014). "Visit Indy negotiating to keep huge auto show until 2021". Indianapolis Business Journal. Retrieved September 19, 2020.
  15. Schoettle, Anthony (December 6, 2012). "Deal to save racing show had many twists, turns". Indianapolis Business Journal. Retrieved September 19, 2020.
  16. Bella, Timothy (April 7, 2015). "Looking at Indianapolis' unofficial LGBT history". Al Jazeera America. Retrieved August 10, 2020.
  17. "Pan Am Games Schedule". United Press International, Inc. July 29, 1987. Retrieved April 19, 2020.
  18. Sikich, Chris (April 9, 2014). "Convention City: Convention Center's growth vaults Indy into upper tier". The Indianapolis Star. Retrieved September 18, 2020.
  19. "Celebration III Set for Indy". Star Wars: Community. January 23, 2004. Archived from the original on August 14, 2007. Retrieved April 19, 2020.
  20. Waddle, Brian (June 11, 2003). "Out of the Woods: Gary native competing at USA Wrestling World Team Trials in Indy next week". Northwest Indiana Times. Retrieved April 19, 2020.
  21. Britton, Bonnie (April 21, 2005). "'Star Wars' lands in Indy: Fans from around the world descend for 4-day event". The Indianapolis Star. p. A1. Retrieved April 19, 2020.
  22. "Final Four Bracket Town puts you in the game". Indiana Office of Tourism Development. March 21, 2010. Retrieved April 19, 2020.
  23. "Have a Super experience downtown". The Torch. January 2012. Retrieved April 19, 2020.
  24. Sikich, Chris (April 3, 2019). "NRA convention expected to draw 80,000 to Indianapolis; Trump, Pence scheduled to speak". The Indianapolis Star. Retrieved April 19, 2020.
  25. Penner, Diana (November 21, 2013). "23,000 to attend National Catholic Youth Conference in Indianapolis". The Indianapolis Star. Retrieved September 25, 2020.
  26. "Free Money, Female Tourist, Male Tourist". Arts Council of Indianapolis. Retrieved September 18, 2020.
  27. "King at Rest". Arts Council of Indianapolis. Retrieved September 18, 2020.
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