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This Just In

Groundbreaking Held for Major Expansion of Washington State Convention Center

HIL ANDERSON, SENIOR EDITOR

SEATTLE – Ground was broken Aug. 14 for a new addition to the Washington State Convention Center (WSCC) that will nearly double the exhibit space at the downtown Seattle facility.

The ceremony symbolically launched the construction of a new building adjacent to the existing center that will create a combined 443,650 square feet (sf) of prime exhibit space. The new building will be known as the Summit, while the existing center will be rechristened as the Arch. Jeff Blosser, President & CEO of the WSCC, told Trade Show Executive (TSE) that construction would cause no disruptions to events taking place in the original building.

The current WSCC features 236,700 sf of prime space, according to the TSE World’s Top Convention Centers (WTCC) report. The expansion would move the WSCC from the 60th spot on the WTCC rankings to 37th, just behind the Greater Columbus Convention Center.

“This additional facility is a game changer for our ability to give meeting planners additional dates and space with the opportunity to book their events in Seattle,” said Blosser. “We look forward to the opening in 2022.”

The $1.7 billion project will also give the WSCC complex a total of 298,360 sf of meeting space, compared to the current 138,320 sf.

Moreover, the overall plan includes major upgrades to sidewalks, streets and mass transit around the new building. In addition, new hotel construction will add 2,500 more rooms to the neighborhood by the time the Summit is completed.

Reach Jeff Blosser at (206) 694-5010 or jeff.blosser@wscc.com

TSE Data Center