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Los Angele Convention Center
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).
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.
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. 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.
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.
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)
* 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. 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
* 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 19–28, 2010
* Electronic Entertainment Expo, June 7–9, 2011
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