Expanded Pasadena Convention Center Now Open

Pasadena, Calif., (March 1, 2009) - The wait is over!  The Pasadena Convention Center’s much anticipated $150 million expansion is now complete.  From small meetings and corporate galas to large trade shows, the Convention Center can host an array of events with 55,000 square feet of exhibit space, 29 breakout rooms, a 25,000-square-foot ballroom and the always enticing 3,000-seat Pasadena Civic Auditorium.

With increasing pressure to make environmentally friendly business decisions, the meetings and events industry has heeded the call. More and more convention centers around the country are going green, and the Pasadena Convention Center is no exception. 

The expanded Center is implementing a host of “go green” initiatives in the areas of water use, electricity, recycling and traffic reduction. Because of its commitment to responsible environmental practices, it is anticipated the facility will receive a minimum of LEED (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design) Silver certification from the United States Green Building Council.

“This is all very fitting, considering Popular Science named Pasadena ‘one of America’s greenest cities’ in 2008,” said Michael Ross, CEO of the Pasadena Center Operating Company. “We know our clients are looking forward to hosting events in a facility that is actively protecting our precious resources.”

The expansion nearly doubles the Convention Center’s original space to provide a total of 108,000 square feet of flexible meeting and exhibit space. The 25,000-square-foot Grand Ballroom can be divided into 10 separate meeting rooms.  A unique feature allows the ballroom to be combined with the adjacent exhibit hall to create a flexible event space of up to 80,000 square feet. These rooms are equipped with state-of-the-art audio systems.

Pre-function space totaling 25,000 square feet surrounds the dedicated exhibit space. Registration areas are provided adjacent to the exhibit hall, ballroom and meeting spaces.  A new 8,500-square-foot, state-of-the-art kitchen has also been added. 

A business center in the Exhibit Hall Building offers computers with Internet access and printing capabilities. All meeting and exhibit rooms are hard wired for the Internet, with future plans for WiFi access.

In addition, 7,500 square feet of administrative office space was added to the perimeter of the Conference Center Building. The offices house the Convention Center staff, the Pasadena Convention and Visitors Bureau, and a new Visitor Center.

The design for the project was conceived by Fentress Architects. Especially pertinent to Pasadena, Fentress has extensive experience in designing buildings surrounded by historical structures, just as the Pasadena Convention Center flanks the renowned Pasadena Civic Auditorium. Using a well-known Italian Renaissance architect as inspiration, Fentress created a design that complements the Civic Auditorium by using arcade spaces similar to those found at Pasadena City Hall, as well as details that have been taken directly from the Civic Auditorium’s classical design. 

“Our goal was to tie the buildings together so the Civic Auditorium and the newly designed plaza, conference building and exhibition hall act in unity, as a family,” said Fentress CEO Kurt Fentress. 

The Pasadena Center Operating Company is a nonprofit organization responsible for managing the Pasadena Convention Center, Pasadena Civic Auditorium and Pasadena Convention & Visitors Bureau.  For more information, contact the Pasadena Convention & Visitors Bureau at (800) 307-7977 or go to pasadenacenter.com.