LVCVA Board Approves Design Team for Las Vegas Convention Center Expansion Project

November 15, 2017

The Las Vegas Convention and Visitors Authority Board of Directors has approved a recommendation to retain tvsdesign/Design Las Vegas to provide design services for the Las Vegas Convention Center District Phase Two $860 million expansion project.

“The selection of tvsdesign/Design Las Vegas for the expansion project signals an exciting new era for conventions and convention business in Southern Nevada,” said Rossi Ralenkotter, LVCVA president and CEO.

He continued, “Our destination thrives on evolution and reinvention, and this design team will allow us to continue providing the world class experience our guests and clients have come to expect. Tourism is the engine that drives southern Nevada’s economy and one of our greatest opportunities for continued growth is business travel. By starting the process of expansion and renovation, we will not only retain our status as the No. 1 conventions city, we will ensure the economic future of our entire destination.”

In a process that started in mid-June and included review of qualifications and proposals from numerous globally recognized design teams, the LVCVA Committee, a sub-committee of the LVCVA Board of Directors and the Oversight Panel for Convention Facilities in Clark County, received presentations on Oct. 25 by the three finalists competing to become the designer for the Phase Two Expansion project.

The presenting design finalists were RV Architecture/Friedmutter Group; tvsdesign/Design Las Vegas, and Populous/Klai Juba Wald/LGA/ZimmerRay, with each finalist given one hour to present their design, followed by a question and answer session.

The presented designs focused on the LVCCD’s 1.4 million-square-foot expansion, which will include at least 600,000 square feet of new exhibit space. LVCVA staff worked in partnership with Cordell Corporation principal Terry Miller, the agency’s contracted owner’s representative, to develop the vision for the expansion and renovation project.

During its Nov. 7 meeting, the LVCCD Committee received a recommendation from LVCVA staff of tvsdesign/Design Las Vegas as the preferred designer for the project, a recommendation that was approved and moved to the full Board of Directors for approval on Nov. 14.

“The three finalists each presented outstanding design concepts and it was a difficult decision,” Ralenkotter said.

He continued, “We are excited to move forward with tvsdesign/Design Las Vegas to create an iconic design for the Las Vegas Convention Center that represents the incredible destination that Las Vegas is. We are eager to get started on the project to provide our clients with a great new facility and our community with a tremendous economic impact.”

According to LVCVA officials, the LVCCD Expansion (Phase Two) and Renovation (Phase Three) are expected to support nearly 14,000 construction jobs and nearly 7,800 full-time permanent jobs upon completion.

The project will generate an additional $2.1 billion in economic activity during construction and upon completion will have an annual incremental economic impact of $810 million while attracting more than 600,000 additional visitors each year. Not only will the project allow the LVCVA to pursue new business opportunities but also also grow the shows currently taking place in the destination.

To be completed in a phased approach with a projected completion date of 2023, construction of the Phase Two expansion is projected to be complete by the end of 2020, with the complete renovation of the existing 3.2 million sq. ft. facility as the next phase to follow. This phased approach will ensure that no business will be displaced during the construction and renovation.

“What gets us out of bed in the morning is doing big, complex projects that are important and have a meaningful impact on people’s lives,” said Robert Svedberg, project executive and principal of tvsdesign.

He added, “The Las Vegas Convention Center expansion is just that: big, intricate and positioned to deliver a positive impact on many lives. We are thrilled about the opportunity to create an iconic design for the world’s greatest convention city.”

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Partner Voices
Less than six months ago, Lisa Messina joined the Las Vegas Convention and Visitors Authority (LVCVA) as the first-ever chief sales officer after leading the sales team at Caesars Entertainment. A 12-year Las Vegas resident, Messina is a graduate of Cornell University’s School of Hotel Administration and serves on MPI International’s board of directors. TSNN had a chance to catch up with this dynamic leader and talk to her about her vision for the new role, current shifts in the trade show industry, creating more diversity and equity within the organization, and advice to future female leaders. Lisa Messina, Chief Sales Officer, LVCVA With Las Vegas becoming The Greatest Arena on EarthTM, what are some of the things you’re most excited about in your role? Our team was at The Big Game’s handoff ceremony earlier this month, and I couldn’t help but think, “We’re going to crush it next year!”  These high-profile events and venues not only drive excitement, but also provide unmatched opportunities for event planners. Allegiant Stadium hosts events from 10 to 65,000 people and offers on-field experiences. Formula 1 Grand Prix will take place in Las Vegas in November, after the year-one F1 race, the four-story paddock building will be available for buyouts and will also offer daily ride-along experiences that will be available for groups. And, of course, the MSG Sphere officially announced that it will open in September, ahead of schedule, with a U2 residency. It’s going to be the most technologically advanced venue as far as lighting, sound, feel, and even scent, and it will be available for buyouts and next-level sponsorships inside and outside. There’s no ceiling to what you can do when you’re doing events in Las Vegas.  Allegiant Stadium As the trade show and convention business returns to the pre-pandemic levels, what shifts are you noticing and how do you think they will impact the industry going forward? Our trade show organizers are very focused on driving customer experience. Most of our organizers are reporting stronger exhibitor numbers and increased numbers of new exhibitors, with trade shows proving to be almost or above 2019 levels. Now our organizers are really doubling down on driving attendance and focusing on the data to provide that individualized, customized experience to help attendees meet their goals and get the best value. Some companies continue to be cautiously optimistic with their organizational spend when it comes to sending attendees, but I think it will continue to improve. As the U.S. Travel Association makes more progress on the U.S. visa situation, we also expect a growing influx of international attendees. What are some innovative ways the LVCVA helps trade show and convention organizers deliver the most value for their events? We focus on customer experience in the same way that trade show organizers are thinking about it. We got rave reviews with the West Hall Expansion of the Las Vegas Convention Center (LVCC), so over the next two years, we will be renovating the North and the Central halls, which will include not just the same look and feel, but also the digital experiences that can be leveraged for branding and sponsorship opportunities.  Vegas Loop, the underground transportation system designed by The Boring Company, is also a way we have enhanced the customer experience. Vegas Loop at the LVCC has transported more than 900,000 convention attendees across the campus since its 2021 launch. Last summer, Resorts World and The Boring Company opened the first resort stop at the Resorts World Las Vegas , with plans to expand throughout the resort corridor, including downtown Las Vegas, Allegiant Stadium and Harry Reid International Airport. The LVCVA also purchased the Las Vegas Monorail in 2020, the 3.9-mile-long elevated transportation system that connects eight resorts directly to the convention center campus. This is the only rail system in the world that integrates fares directly into show badges and registration. For trade show organizers, these transportation options mean saving time, money and effort when it comes to moving groups from the hotels to LVCC and around the city. Also, the more we can focus on building the infrastructure around the convention center, the more it supports the customer experience and ultimately supports our trade show organizers. Scheduled to debut in Q4, Fontainebleau Las Vegas will offer 3,700 hotel rooms and 550,000 square feet of meeting and convention space next to LVCC.  What are some of the plans for advancing DEI (diversity, equity and inclusion) within your organization? We’re currently partnering with instead of working with a leading consulting firm, to lay the foundation and create a solid DEI plan and be the leader when it comes to DEI initiatives. The heart of that journey with the consulting firm is also talking to our customers about their strategic approaches to DEI and driving innovation in this space.  What are your favorite ways to recharge? My husband and I have an RV and we’re outdoorsy people. So, while we have over 150,000 world-class hotel rooms and renowned restaurants right outside our doorstep, one of my favorite things to do is get out to Red Rock Canyon, the Valley of Fire, and Lake Mead. Five of the top national parks are within a three-hour drive from Las Vegas, so there’s a lot you can do. We love balancing the energy of Las Vegas with nature, and we’re noticing that a lot of attendees add activities off the Strip when they come here.  Valley of Fire What advice would you give to women following leadership paths in destination marketing? I think it’s about being laser-focused on what you want to accomplish; building a team around you that lifts you and helps you achieve your goals; and being humble and realizing that you do it as a group. No one gets this done alone. Thankfully, there are a lot of women in leadership in this organization, in our customers’ organizations, and in this city that we can be really proud of. We’re a formidable force that is making things happen.   This interview has been edited and condensed. This article is exclusively sponsored by the Las Vegas Convention & Visitors Authority. For more information, visit HERE.