With massive renovations to its convention
center and airport nearing completion, Ohio’s
capital and largest city is majorly increasing
its appeal as a convention destination. The
projects are just two of many reasons why
major events like the 2018 NCAA Women’s
Final Four and Girl Scouts of the USA’s 2017
National Council Session/54th Convention
are choosing the Arch City.
2015 was a big year for the city’s centerpiece convention facility, the SMG-managed
Greater Columbus Convention Center (GCCC).
The Columbus CEO Best of Business 2015
awards chose it as the best meeting space
in the city, on top of other accolades from
Facilities & Destinations, Columbus Business
First, and Trade Show Executive . Centerplate
also became the facility’s new exclusive
caterer. And perhaps the biggest piece of
news, in September the facility kicked off a
much anticipated $125-million expansion and
renovation, which is due for completion in
July 2017. Not only will the project increase
the building’s footprint from 1. 7 to 1. 8 million
square feet, it will earn LEED certification for
the GCCC.
One of the biggest components of the
expansion is the addition of 37,000 square
feet of ne w exhibit space, which will bring the
GCCC’s grand total to 373,000 square feet of
contiguous exhibit space, or a total of 447,000
square feet when the 74,000-square-foot
Battelle Grand multipurpose ballroom is
included. The project will also increase the
GCCC’s total number of meeting rooms from
65 to 74, with the addition of a 10,000-square-
foot, two-level meeting space near the north
entrance. Other new spaces being added
include an executive boardroom, second-
floor VIP show offices overlooking the exhibit
hall, and concierge spaces.
Guided by the input of a customer advisory board, the renovation portion of the
project will update meeting and public spaces with ne w art work, wall coverings, ceilings,
carpeting, lighting, wayfinding, technology,
sound systems, social seating areas, and
connectivity stations. New merchants have
Columbus
This under-transformation Midwest city is on everyone’s radar
Big moves The Greater Columbus Convention Center is deep into its $125-million renovation and
expansion. Upon completion in mid 2017, the facility expects to earn LEED certification.
