- Los Angeles Convention Center
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Los Angeles Convention Center 
Los Angeles Convention Center Annex, South Hall entrance at Pico and FigueroaAddress 1201 South Figueroa Street
Los Angeles, CaliforniaCoordinates 34°02′23″N 118°16′13″W / 34.039737°N 118.270293°WCoordinates: 34°02′23″N 118°16′13″W / 34.039737°N 118.270293°W Built 1969 Opened 1971 Expanded 1993
1997Enclosed space Total space 720,000 sq ft (67,000 m2) Website www.lacclink.com The Los Angeles Convention Center (LACC) is a convention center in the southwest portion of downtown Los Angeles. The LACC hosts annual events such as the Greater Los Angeles Auto Show and Anime Expo, and is best known to video games fans as host to E3. Its newest major events are the Primetime Emmy Awards' Governors Ball, Microsoft WPC, Abilities Expo, and frequent TV show and movie filmings. On September 15, 2008, the Los Angeles Convention Center achieved a historical mark by becoming the first U.S. convention center and first Los Angeles City building of its age and size in the U.S. to be awarded the highly sought after certification in Leadership of Energy and Environmental Design for Existing Buildings (LEED-EB) from the United States Green Building Council (USGBC).
Contents
History
The Convention Center, designed by architect Charles Luckman, opened in 1971 and expanded in 1993 and 1997. It was originally built as a rectangle building, between Pico Boulevard and 11th Street (now Chick Hearn Ct.) on Figueroa Street. The northeast portion of the Center was demolished in 1997 to make way for the Staples Center. The Convention Center Annex of green glass and white steel frames, mainly on the south side of Pico, was designed by architect James Ingo Freed.[1]
The area in front of the Convention Center is known as the Gilbert Lindsay Plaza, named for the late councilman who represented the Downtown area of Los Angeles for many years. A 10-foot (3.0 m)-high monument honoring "The Emperor of the Great 9th District" was unveiled in 1995.[2] The drive between Figueroa Street and the Convention Center building is also named after Councilman Lindsay.
On March 1, 1983, a tornado caused damages to the roof and upper-level panels. The building was repaired and new Convention Center lettering signs were installed at a total cost of $3 million.[3]
The convention center hosts the pre-telecast portion of the annual Grammy Awards (whose main telecast takes place at the Staples Center) as well as the MusiCares Person of the Year tribute two nights prior to the Grammy Awards. It has hosted the MusiCares tribute since 2005.
Features
The LACC is one of the largest convention centers in the United States with over 720,000 sq ft (67,000 m2) of exhibition space, 147,000 sq ft (13,700 m2) of meeting space, and a 299 seat theater.[4]
The lobby floors in the north half of the building feature two large 140,000 sq ft (13,000 m2) multicolor maps of inlaid terrazzo. The project was installed by artist Alexis Smith in 1993. A map of the world centered on the Pacific Rim covers the entire floor of the main lobby, while a map of the constellations around the north celestial pole covers the floor of the upstairs lobby.
- South Hall (Tom Bradley (Mayor) Exhibit Hall, 347,000 square feet)[5]
- Kentia Hall (beneath South Exhibit Hall, can be converted into a 415-car parking garage)
- West Hall (Sam Yorty (Mayor) Exhibit Hall, 210,000 square feet)
- Petree Hall
- Concourse (two-story meeting room bridging over Pico Boulevard)
- 3 food courts
- On-site parking for 5,600 vehicles including electrical charge stations
Development
In 2010, Farmers Field, a US$1 billion proposal to build a combination football stadium and convention center was made by the Anschutz Entertainment Group (AEG) and businessman Casey Wasserman to attract the return of professional NFL football back to the Los Angeles area.[6] The retractable-roof center would be able to host other major events, such as the Final Four basketball tournaments and World Cup championship games.
Events
- Adobe MAX, October 24–27, 2010
- Video Game Awards, December, 2010[7]
- Anime Expo 2012, June 29–July 2, 2012
- California Gift Show, January 21–24, 2011
- Barneys New York Outlet & Warehouse Sale, February 10–21, 2011
- LA Auto Show, November 18-27, 2011
- Electronic Entertainment Expo, June 7–9, 2011[8]
See also
- William M. Hughes, Los Angeles City Council member, 1927–1929, urged conventions to come to Los Angeles
References
- ^ Angels Walk LA - Figueroa, Self-guided Historic Trails, Angeles Walk LA, 2006
- ^ Larry Gordon, Monument in the Image of 'the Emperor' - Tribute: A huge artwork honors the late Gilbert Lindsay, who was a powerful player on the City Council for 27 years, Los Angeles Times, March 31, 1995
- ^ Gary Hart, The Los Angeles, California, Tornado of March 1, 1983, National Research Council (U.S.). Committee on Natural Disasters, National Research Council (U.S.)
- ^ Welcome to the official site of the Los Angeles Convention Center
- ^ LACC Center At-A-Glance
- ^ Sam Farme (4 November 2010). "Tim Leiweke says L.A. stadium could be ready for 2016 Super Bowl". The Los Angeles Times. http://www.latimes.com/sports/la-sp-1105-la-football-stadium-20101105,0,6259292.story. Retrieved 12 September 2011.
- ^ Video Game Awards
- ^ E3
External links
Downtown area, Los Angeles Districts and
neighborhoodsArts District · Bunker Hill · Chinatown · Civic Center · Fashion District · Financial District · Gallery Row · Historic Core · Jewelry District · Little Tokyo · Skid Row · South Park · Old Bank District · Toy District · Wholesale District
Points of
interestAngels Flight · Broadway · City Hall · Convention Center · L.A. Live · Music Center · Olvera Street · Pershing Square · Staples Center · Union Station
Downtown · Eastside/Northeast · Harbor Area · Greater Hollywood · Westlake/Silver Lake/Los Feliz · San Fernando and Crescenta Valleys · South Los Angeles · Westside · Wilshire
Electronic Entertainment Expo (E3) Electronic Entertainment Expo E3 Media and Business Summit Related Entertainment Software Association · Los Angeles Convention CenterCategories:- Convention centers in California
- Buildings and structures in Los Angeles, California
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