Grand Wayne Convention Center facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Grand Wayne Convention Center |
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Façade of the Grand Wayne Center, looking east from West Jefferson Blvd.
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| Address | 120 West Jefferson Boulevard |
| Location | Fort Wayne, Indiana, United States |
| Coordinates | 41°4′35″N 85°8′25″W / 41.07639°N 85.14028°W |
| Owner | Fort Wayne–Allen County Convention and Tourism Authority |
| Built | 1983–1985 |
| Opened | January 1985 |
| Renovated | 2003–2005 |
| Expanded | 2003–2005 |
| Enclosed space | |
| • Total space | 225,000 square feet (20,900 m2) |
The Grand Wayne Center is a very large building in downtown Fort Wayne, Indiana. It is a special place called a convention center. This means it's designed to hold big meetings, shows, and events. People come here for conferences, trade shows, and even fun gatherings.
The center was built between 1983 and 1985. It first opened its doors in January 1985. Later, from 2003 to 2005, it got a huge update and became much bigger. Now, the Grand Wayne Center covers a massive area of 225,000 square feet (20,900 m2). That's like having more than four football fields of space!
Exploring the Grand Wayne Center
The Grand Wayne Center has many different rooms and halls for all sorts of events. On the first floor, you'll find the main convention hall. This hall is huge, with 50,000 square feet (4,600 m2) of space. It's perfect for big exhibitions or large gatherings.
Also on the first floor is the Anthony Wayne Ballroom. This fancy room has 10,000 square feet (930 m2) of space. It's often used for banquets, dances, or special dinners. There are also two other meeting areas, the Harrison and Jefferson Meeting Rooms. Together, they offer nearly 10,000 square feet (930 m2) for smaller meetings or breakout sessions.
Upstairs Spaces
If you go up to the second floor, you'll discover the Calhoun Ballroom. This ballroom is 6,000 square feet (560 m2) in size. It's another great spot for events. Next to it is The Gallery, which is 1,680 square feet (156 m2). This area might be used for art displays or as a reception space.
The outside of the Grand Wayne Center is also very impressive. The north and south sides have 1,830 floor-to-ceiling windows. This means lots of natural light comes in. There are also two beautiful waterfalls outside the building. You can see them where West Jefferson and West Washington Boulevards meet Harrison Street.
Staying Near the Center
The Grand Wayne Center is very convenient because it's connected to two hotels. This makes it easy for people attending events to stay close by.
One hotel is a nine-floor Hilton Hotel. It has 244 rooms and is directly attached to the east side of the Grand Wayne Center. The other hotel is a six-floor Courtyard by Marriott. It has 250 rooms and is connected to the center by a special bridge. This bridge lets people walk safely and easily between the hotel and the convention center.
