|
Civic
& Convention Center Update
 Anchorage,
Alaska - March 31, 2006 - A world-class convention
facility is about to take center state in Alaska's
largest city, allowing for a major boost to
Anchorage's economy. After years of planning,
Anchorage will break ground for its 215,000 square
foot expanded civic and convention center in
mid-April, weather permitting.
"The
city's civic and convention capacity will soon
increase by 300 percent, which will allow Anchorage
to generate millions of dollars in new convention
meeting and event business," said Bruce Bustamante,
president and C.E.O. of the Anchorage Convention
& Visitors Bureau. "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.
"Our
sales team will boost activities such as blitzes,
sales missions and familiarization tours this year
to increase convention business," Bustamante said.
"ACVB plans to build our sales and service staff as
budget allows to meet the mission of selling more
exhibit and meeting space," he added.
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.
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.
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.
Several
other facilities and locations in the heart of
Anchorage are getting a makeover. The Anchorage
Museum at Rasmuson Center will soon have a new
façade incorporating a winter city design
with new galleries, an Arctic Studies Center,
library, café, a new promenade that connects
6 th and 7 th Avenues and landscaping with a pond
that mimics tidal waters. The $100 million project
is scheduled for completion in 2010. The $8 million
E Street enhancement creates a pedestrian and
shopping-friendly corridor that will incorporate
elements of Alaska Native culture, smart growth
designs and Anchorage's historic past. The trail
along Ship Creek and the Tony Knowles Coastal Trail
will be connected and become a transportation hub
established at the Ship Creek Intermodal
Transportation Center. Two popular recreational
areas, Town Square Park and the Delaney Park Strip,
are also getting upgrades.
"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 half of the bed tax
collected by the lodging association. The other
half goes to the Municipality's general fund. ACVB
receives no state or federal funds. For more
information, explore www.Anchorage.net.
Laura
Tanis, Public Relations Manager
Office:
907-257-2331, email:
ltanis@anchorage.net
Nance
Larsen, APR, Vice President,
Communications
& Marketing Programs
907-276-4118,
email: nlarsen@anchorage.net
Anchorage
Convention & Visitors Bureau
524
West Fourth Avenue, Anchorage, AK 99501
Anchorage:
Gateway to the Alaska Panhandle, North Pacific,
Canada's Yukon and Russian
Siberia
Historical
Flashback. Anchorage
Area: The
first settlers arrived in the area around 4,000 BC.
They were descended from tribes who first migrated
across the land bridge from Siberia over 29,000
years ago. See
history of Anchorage.
|
..
..
.