Spokane Convention Center facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Spokane Convention Center |
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Exhibit Hall building in 2011
 Spokane
Location in Washington (state)
Spokane
Location in the United States
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| Address | 334 West Spokane Falls Blvd. Spokane, Washington |
| Coordinates | 47°39′40″N 117°24′47″W / 47.661°N 117.413°W |
| Owner | Spokane Public Facilities District |
| Built | 1972–1974 |
| Opened | May 1974, 51 years ago |
| Renovated | 2007 |
| Expanded | 1987–89, 2004–06, 2013–15 |
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Construction cost
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$10.8 million (original) $8 million (1987 expansion) $77 million (2004 expansion) $41 million (2013 expansion) |
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Former names
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Spokane Convention Center and International Agricultural Trade Center (1989–2006) Spokane Convention Center (1974–1989) Washington State Pavilion (Expo 1974) |
| Banquet/ballroom | 2,700 – Grand Ballroom 1,500 – Centennial Ballroom 1,475 – Junior Ballroom |
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Theatre seating
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2,700 (First Interstate Center for the Arts) 270 – Multimedia Theater |
| Enclosed space | |
| • Total space | 500,000 sq ft (46,500 m2) |
| • Exhibit hall floor | 120,000 sq ft (11,100 m2) |
| • Breakout/meeting | 33,080 sq ft (3,070 m2) |
| • Ballroom | 50,750 sq ft (4,710 m2) |
| Parking | 700 spaces (on-site) |
| Public transit access | Spokane Transit Authority |
The Spokane Convention Center is a big building in Spokane, Washington, in the Pacific Northwest part of the United States. It's a place where large groups of people meet for events, shows, and conferences. The center has two buildings connected together, right by the Spokane River in downtown Spokane. It's owned and run by the Spokane Public Facilities District.
The convention center is part of a larger area called Spokane Center. This area also includes the First Interstate Center for the Arts, which is a theater.
Contents
History of the Spokane Convention Center
Starting as the Washington State Pavilion for Expo '74
The first part of the convention center was built between 1972 and 1974. It was designed by a local architecture company. This building was originally the Washington State Pavilion for Expo '74, a big world's fair held in Spokane.
The pavilion was about 117,000-square-foot (10,900 m2) in size. It had two main parts: a large exhibit hall on one side and a theater (opera house) with 2,700 seats on the other. The designers planned it so the exhibit hall could easily be made bigger later on.
Becoming the Spokane Convention Center
After Expo '74 ended, the exhibit hall was changed into a convention center. The theater part became the Spokane Opera House, which is now known as the First Interstate Center for the Arts. The same architects who designed the original building helped turn the exhibit hall into a convention center. This change cost about $2 million.
Over the years, the Spokane Convention Center has been expanded several times to make it even bigger and better.
Adding the Ag Trade Center in the 1980s
A new part, called the Washington State International Agricultural Trade Center, was added starting in 1987. It cost $9.8 million and opened in 1989. This new section was built right next to the existing convention center.
It included a theater with 270 seats, 13 meeting rooms, and another hall for exhibits or banquets. There was even a patio on the roof above the theater.
Growing More from the 2000s to Today
New Exhibit Hall in 2004–2006
In the early 2000s, the Spokane Public Facilities District took over managing the convention center. They were also in charge of building the nearby Spokane Arena, which opened in 1995. In 2002, voters in Spokane County agreed to a plan to build a new, much larger exhibit hall for the convention center.
This new hall, about 100,000 square feet (9,300 m2) in size, was so big it had to be built separately from the old building. It was connected by a walkway. Construction began in 2004 and finished in the summer of 2006.
The new Group Health Exhibit Hall was designed to host big events, like the 2007 United States Figure Skating Championships. It had a large, open space without columns, perfect for setting up a temporary ice rink. This hall is connected to the older parts of the center by a raised walkway along the Spokane River.
After the new hall was finished, the older parts of the convention center were updated. The old exhibit spaces were turned into beautiful ballrooms. This expansion helped Spokane attract even bigger events, like the USA Volleyball Pacific Northwest Qualifier.
Expansion from 2013–2015
In 2012, voters approved another plan to expand the convention center. This $41 million project started in July 2013. It added another 90,000 square feet (8,400 m2) of space to the north side of the Group Health Exhibit Hall.
The expansion included more exhibit space and new meeting rooms. It also improved the Spokane River Centennial Trail, which runs next to the center. This new addition opened in February 2015.
Convention Center Facilities
The Spokane Convention Center has many different areas for events.
- Exhibit Hall
The main "Exhibit Halls" are very large, covering 120,000 square feet (11,000 m2). This space can be divided into six smaller areas. It's mostly used for big trade shows, conventions, and sports events.
- Ballrooms
The center has three ballrooms, which are large rooms for dances, banquets, and other big gatherings. Together, they cover 50,700 square feet (4,710 m2).
- The "Grand Ballroom" is the biggest ballroom in Spokane. It can hold 1,630 people for meals or up to 2,700 for general events. This space used to be the original exhibit hall.
- The "Junior Ballroom" can seat up to 1,475 guests for receptions.
- The "Centennial Ballroom" was added during the 2013–2015 expansion. It can hold up to 1,500 guests for receptions.
- Meeting Rooms
The convention center has 33,080 square feet (3,073 m2) of meeting room space. This includes 14 rooms that can be divided into 30 smaller spaces. There's also a boardroom for smaller, more formal meetings.
- Outdoor Spaces
Even though it's in the city, the Spokane Convention Center has 27,600 square feet (2,560 m2) of outdoor space. This includes roof terraces and lawns that can be used for events.
Getting There (Transportation)
The Spokane Convention Center is served by Spokane Transit Authority buses. You can get there directly using STA route 25. Other routes, like 1, 26, 27, 28, and 39, have stops within one block of the center.
Images for kids
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The Group Health Exhibit Hall opened in 2006.
