convention connections

Pennsylvania Convention Center

New spaces, new amenities, and new experiences in Philadelphia

In the spring of 2011, the Pennsylvania Con- vention Center celebrated the opening of its $786-million renovation and expansion — a project that increased the center’s footprint by 62 percent and pushed its total space beyond one million square feet. The facility is now home to the Northeast’s largest con- tiguous exhibition space (five halls totaling 528,000 square feet) and its largest ballroom space (55,408 square feet), as well as a unique collection of new spaces and amenities. Two large conventions can now use the facility at the same time, and the latest in meeting technology, from full-perimeter security to one gigabyte of Wi-Fi available for attendees, makes the center the total package for meet- ings of every size and shape. “We want our visitors to know that our

building understands and delivers on their needs for a productive meeting,” said Ahmeenah Young, president and CEO of the center. “We want our visitors to feel very welcome, very comfortable, and very ready to come back again and again. We are laser- focused on customer service.” In early 2013, the facility will continue to

Explore more Philadelphia’s Convention Center District is chock full of new hotels, excellent shopping, and plenty of cultural arts and entertainment options along Benjamin Franklin Parkway and the Avenue of the Arts. The Pennsylvania Convention Center’s new entrance on North Broad Street directly connects visitors with the Pennsylvania Academy of the Fine Arts and its new Lenfest Plaza.

add amenities — a new tasting kitchen for VIP clients, chef’s tables, and special events; the installation of new artwork done in coop- eration with the Pennsylvania Academy of Fine Arts and other local arts organizations; as well as improvements in the Convention Center District’s parking access. Exhibitors also will find new advertising opportunities throughout the center, and attendees can easily discover nearby cultural offerings with a new arts and culture tab on the center’s wayfinding machines. When it's time to switch to play mode,

exhibitors and attendees will find plenty to do close to the center. Arts enthusiasts can

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