HEN IT COMES to innovation and creativity, San Jose — the casual, culture- rich hub of Cal- ifornia’s Sili- con Valley — is no stranger to
what’s new and what’s next. And there’s plenty new to discover in this ever-evolving city. First up, the San Jose Convention Center will undergo a $120-million facelift, set to debut in 2013. The expansion and renovation will add 125,000 square feet of flexible meeting and ballroom space to the center’s existing 425,000 square feet. The project will take a Public Works–led, design-build approach, similar to the award-winning Mineta San Jose International Airport’s successful $1.3-billion terminal-modernization project. Another local venue sporting a new look is the
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ROCK STEADY: The his- toric San Jose Civic, a Spanish Mission–style concert hall that has for decades served as a major touring stop for bands, has completely revamped its space to better accommodate meetings and special events.
San Jose Civic, a historic landmark dating back to 1936 that recently underwent an $11-million floor-to-ceiling renova- tion. Playing host to major musical acts from the Rolling Stones to Barbra Streisand since the 1960s, the San Jose Civic is the area’s go-to concert venue as well as a favorite for special events. Conve- niently located across the street from the San Jose Convention Cen- ter in downtown San Jose, the Civic accommodates groups of up to 3,000 and partners with Nederlander Concerts for live music and out-of-the-box entertainment for private events. The venue’s recent renovations have also upgraded the meeting and special-event experience with new state-of-the-art sound and HD video systems, exterior and interior lighting, renovated restrooms and concessions, and a new elevator. Since both the San Jose Civic and the San Jose Convention Center are within walking distance of downtown bars, restaurants, shops, and art galleries, an event at either venue is con- venient for groups looking for a night out on the town. The area’s event venues aren’t the only new experiences for
meeting attendees in San Jose; multiple hotels in the area have freshened up their spaces as well. The Crowne Plaza Hotel will undergo a $7-million renovation of its 239 guest rooms and pub- lic spaces and will reopen as Hyatt Place Downtown San Jose in January 2012. The hotel, owned and managed by DiNapoli Capital Partners, will operate as the Independent Convention Plaza Hotel
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while it undergoes the renovation, which began in August 2011. The 214-room Dolce Hayes Mansion, with 33,000 square feet of meeting and function space, debuted a newly expanded Palm Plaza Lounge in September, and the 805-room Fairmont San Jose, with 65,000 square feet of meeting space, recently completed a revamp of its legendary lobby lounge. n
AT A GLANCE
Convention facilities:When completed in 2013, the San Jose Con- vention Center expansion will add 125,000 square feet of new, flex- ible space to its existing 425,000 square feet of meeting space. Hotel rooms within walking distance: 2,100, with 8,900 total rooms citywide Attractions: A lively dining scene, comedy clubs, galleries, ultra- lounges on Santana Row or around SoFA (downtown’s South of First Area), Tech Museum of Innovation, Winchester Mystery House
For more information: Mark McMinn, Team San Jose, 408 Almaden Blvd., San Jose, CA 95510; (408) 792-4521 or (800) SAN-JOSE; mmcminn@sanjose.org; www.sanjose.org