Georgia World Congress Center facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Georgia World Congress Center |
|
|---|---|
 |
|
| Address | 285 Andrew Young Intl Blvd NW |
| Location | Atlanta, Georgia |
| Coordinates | 33°45′31″N 84°23′54″W / 33.758652°N 84.39841°W |
| Owner | State of Georgia |
| Opened | 1976 |
| Expanded | 1985, 1992, 2002 |
| Enclosed space | |
| • Total space | 3,900,000 sq ft (360,000 m2)(90 Acres) |
| • Ballroom | Yes |
| Parking | Over 5,600 spaces |
| Public transit access | Dome / GWCC / Philips Arena / CNN Center (MARTA station), Peachtree Center (MARTA station) |
The Georgia World Congress Center (GWCC) is a very large building in Atlanta, Georgia, USA. It's a place where big meetings, shows, and events happen. Imagine a space as big as 90 football fields – that's how much room it has!
The GWCC is one of the biggest convention centers in the United States. It opened in 1976 and was the first one owned by a state government. The state of Georgia runs it through a group called the Georgia World Congress Center Authority. This group also helped build other famous places nearby, like the Georgia Dome (which is now gone) and the Mercedes-Benz Stadium.
The GWCC hosts many different events. It's not just for business meetings. For example, it hosts the SEC Football Fanfare every year for football fans. It has also hosted events for WrestleMania and even the TV show Family Feud has filmed there!
You can find the GWCC in downtown Atlanta. It's right next to the CNN Center and State Farm Arena. You can easily get there by public transport using the MARTA train.
What's Inside the GWCC?
The GWCC is actually made up of three connected buildings: Building A, Building B, and Building C. Together, they have lots of space for different activities.
- Exhibit Halls: There are twelve huge halls where big shows and displays can be set up.
- Meeting Rooms: Over 100 smaller rooms are available for meetings and workshops.
- Ballrooms: There are two large ballrooms, perfect for dances, banquets, or big gatherings. Building B has the Thomas B. Murphy Ballroom, and Building C has the Georgia Ballroom.
The center also has many helpful services. You can find coffee shops, a gift shop, and places to get internet access. There's even a special desk to help visitors.
A Look Back in Time
The GWCC first opened its doors in 1976. Over the years, it has grown bigger with new parts added in 1985, 1992, and 2002.
During the 1996 Summer Olympics held in Atlanta, the GWCC was a very important place. It hosted many Olympic sports, including handball, fencing, judo, table tennis, weightlifting, and wrestling. It was also where all the world's media set up their offices to report on the Games.
In 2008, a tornado hit downtown Atlanta and caused some damage to the GWCC. The roof and water pipes were affected. But the center was quickly repaired. It was ready in time to host big events like the FIRST Robotics World Championship and conferences for student groups like DECA and FBLA-PBL.
More recently, in 2020, part of the GWCC was turned into a temporary hospital. This was done to help treat patients during the COVID-19 pandemic. It helped local hospitals by taking care of patients with milder symptoms.
| Preceded by London Palladium |
Miss World Venue 1991 |
Succeeded by Sun City |
