Project Description: :

Summary Update:

Renovation of the existing areas of the Convention Center was completed in December 2009. 

Background:

The Expansion and Renovation of the Tulsa Convention Center is part of Tulsa’s Vision 2025 program to provide a new Tulsa Regional Events Center and modernize the existing Convention Center.  It is expected that the renovated Convention Center will make Tulsa more competitive with other Tier II Cities for Convention Center venues. As part of Vision 2025, the Convention Center expansion and renovation is also expected to help stimulate the surrounding Downtown areas and encourage private investment.

The expansion provides new ballroom and meeting space for the convention center complex.  The expansion is north of the existing exhibit space that was built in 1984.  The existing north/south gallery was extended north along the east side of the new ballroom to Third Street.  This gallery serves as pre-function space and connects with a new north pre-function space that extends along the north side of the new ballroom and new meeting rooms and then connect to a corridor along the west side that provides public access to the meeting rooms.  There are seven new meeting rooms along the west corridor with restroom facilities at the north and south end.

The Tulsa Convention Center expansion provides the largest single ballroom in Oklahoma at 30,000 SF with a movable stage that can be set up at multiple locations.  The ballroom also allows patrons complete use of the existing exhibit space while performing banquet functions.  The ballroom can be divided into two smaller ballrooms at approx. 20,000 and 10,000 SF.  The 10,000 SF ballroom can also be divided into three large meeting rooms in addition to the seven 1,200 SF meeting rooms mentioned above.  A back-of-house services corridor runs north / south between the ballroom and meeting rooms.  Support spaces are provided south of the ballroom with mechanical space on an upper level above the support spaces.

The ballroom is designed to accommodate a variety of functions such as banquets, proms, trade shows, glass shows, antiques shows, quilt shows, book fairs, bridal fairs, and classroom sessions, etc.

The expansion of the Convention Center to the north enables the creation of a strong entry element for the facility.  This entry not only allows drop off and arrival of patrons, but it is oriented to provide the best view to the BOK Center and downtown Tulsa.  A plaza and landscaped area at the northwest corner of the site serves to further accentuate the new entrance.  A new south entry at the south end of the existing building completes the entry improvements to the facility.

 

Sub Projects:

• Convention Center Renderings