Construction begins on $1.8 billion addition to the Washington State Convention Center
By David Malone, Associate Editor
Construction of a new 1.4 million-sf expansion on the Washington State Convention Center (WSCC) has begun.
The project, located in downtown Seattle, will feature a new 255,000-sf exhibition hall, 60,000-sf ballroom, and a collective 125,000-sf of meeting rooms. The new areas will be spread across several levels of modular, multi-function spaces that will support a wide variety of uses and event types.
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The addition was deemed necessary due to the demand for more events to be held at the WSCC, which is often booked to capacity, turning away meetings and conventions due to a lack of available space. Once completed, the project is expected to generate $260 million annually in visitor spending and 3,900 direct and indirect jobs. The LEED Gold-targeted building is expected to complete construction in 2021 and open for events in 2022.