News Release
Anchorage Breaks Ground for its Expanded Convention Facility
Anchorage, Alaska – April 17, 2006 – A world-class convention facility is taking center state in Alaska’s largest city, allowing for a major boost to Anchorage’s economy. After years of planning, Anchorage broke ground for its 215,000 square foot expanded civic and convention center April 17, 2006. The groundbreaking ceremony took place on Block 80, located behind City Hall between the Atwood and ConocoPhillips buildings.
Mayor Mark Begich, Bruce Bustamante, president and C.E.O. of the Anchorage Convention & Visitors Bureau (ACVB), representatives from the construction and design firms, tourism officials, business leaders, and others witnessed this important event.
“Tourism is the second largest industry in the state of Alaska, and we are very optimistic about the future of Anchorage,” said Bustamante. “This expanded convention center will position Anchorage to grow our convention business and meet our future civic event needs. The ACVB and our members now have the ability to market to larger convention groups and accommodate multiple organizations that choose to meet during the same time period.”
The city’s civic and convention capacity will soon increase by 300 percent, allowing Anchorage to generate millions of dollars in new convention meeting and event business. The expanded facility will highlight Anchorage’s sophistication as a modern, international meeting destination, while showcasing the city’s exotic appeal to visitors from around the world.
The $103 million facility is designed to be the most significant convention facility in the far northern portion of the United States. Both the William A. Egan Civic & Convention Center and the expanded facility will offer substantial meeting space for groups up to 5,000. The facility, designed by Rim Architects and LMN, will showcase Anchorage’s spectacular scenery while taking advantage of the low sun angle during the winter and the drawn out sunsets during the summer.
“We took advantage of the unique lighting we have at this latitude, together with the broad vistas of Anchorage and the Chugach Mountains, and brought that into the expanded facility,” said Rolland Reid, senior vice president of Rim Architects.
Throughout the various levels of the facility, architects have taken cues from Alaska’s four seasons and worked them into the wall finishes and the color of the carpets. One level embraces fall landscapes and the changing colors of the high country, while another takes visitors into the summer landscape. Highly reflective materials and cooler hues will be used as visitors move into the winter landscape.
Other features include protected vestibule entrances and a roof designed to prevent snow shedding. Architects have also designed upgraded heated sidewalks lined with trees, canopies and lighting. The sidewalks will link the expanded facility to the William A. Egan Civic & Convention Center and the Alaska Performing Arts Center. The overall goal is to create an exceptional winter city design solution.
“The exterior custom concrete panels will capture the light and create unique shadows,” Reid added. “The windows in the north facing lobby allow a large amount of light in, providing the facility and the downtown area with a feeling of vitality.”
During construction, the Anchorage Convention & Visitors Bureau (ACVB) will be working hard to generate a high number of sales leads to fill the expanded complex by utilizing shared databases and qualifying prospective leads. ACVB’s strategy also includes collaborating with local representatives of national associations to target specific industries. ACVB’s sales team will boost activities such as blitzes, sales missions and familiarization tours this year to increase convention business.
Organizations that have booked convention space in Anchorage through 2010 include the Western Association of Students Financial Aid (April 25 – 28, 2009), with 500 delegates and an estimated economic impact (EEI) of $723,305; the Western States Communication Association (March 5 – 10, 2010), with 600 delegates and an EEI of $693,523; and IEEE International Conference on Robotics (May 4 – 7, 2010), with 1,100 delegates and an EEI of $1,313,858.
“We’re in discussions right now with several other organizations that have previously held conventions in Anchorage, including the International Association of Household Goods Forwarders and the National Defense Transportation Association,” Bustamante said. “Only the reality of a larger convention center would position ACVB to approach these three organizations again.”
When it’s completed in Fall 2008/Spring 2009, the expanded center’s 26,000 square foot ballroom will have the capacity for 140 booths, 2,000 banquet seats and 2,800 theatre style. The exhibit hall will accommodate 250 trade show booths, 3,500 banquet seating and 5,000 theatre space. The flexible space will expand as needed, providing 11,300 square feet of meeting rooms.
According to a study by Northern Economics, Inc., the level of economic activity generated by the Egan Center and the expanded facility will increase by more than $133 million dollars annually during the complex’s fifth year of operation, totaling $250.6 million. Bed tax revenues returned to the Municipality of Anchorage are anticipated to grow by more than $20 million by 2018. The project is expected to generate about 1,300 construction jobs and 1,900 new direct and indirect jobs once its opens in Fall 2008/Spring 2009.
Other exciting changes unfolding in Anchorage include capital improvements planned for the William A. Egan Center during the next three years. Three million dollars in revenue bonds will pay for several upgrades including improvements to the Explorer Hall roof, renovations to the lower level restrooms and the replacement of the lower level audio system and the existing water lines.
“It’s very exciting to be part of the dynamic changes Anchorage is about to see,” said Bustamante. “Partnering with community leaders, civic organizations, ACVB members and other businesses is the key to achieving an expanding, robust economy.”
The Anchorage Convention & Visitors Bureau’s mission is to attract and serve visitors to the Municipality of Anchorage. ACVB’s marketing functions are funded by 1/3 of the bed tax collected by the lodging association. One-third goes to the Municipality’s general fund and 1/3 goes to the Anchorage Civic and Convention construction project. ACVB receives no state or federal funds. For more information, explore www.Anchorage.net.
Media Contacts:
Laura Tanis
Public Relations Manager
Anchorage Convention & Visitors Bureau
ltanis@anchorage.net
(907) 257-2331 direct
(907) 250-5285 cell
(907) 222-3752 fax
Nance Larsen, APR
Vice President, Communications & Marketing Programs
Anchorage Convention & Visitors Bureau
nlarsen@anchorage.net
(907) 276-4118 direct
