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DAVID L LAWRENCE CONVENTION CENTER The David L. Lawrence Convention Center is an exceptional facility which draws many visitors from around the country. Architect Rafael Vinoly designed a building tailored to the City of Pittsburgh with features which balance both aesthetic quality and operational efficiency.
The Convention Center graces the City skyline with a design inspired by the great bridges of Pittsburgh. It is the first convention center in the United States built with a strong commitment to environmental principles such as natural lighting and ventilation, water reclamation and recycling. In November 2003, the Convention Center received a Gold LEED Certification from the United States Green Building Council (USGBC) and became the largest green building in the U.S. The building currently is ranked as the sixth largest green building in the U.S (Source: USGBC).
Key Facts
Features The Convention Center has numerous features which distinguish it. These include the:
Pittsburgh's philanthropic community played a major role in the development of the Convention Center. The following foundations supported the design element of the building by funding a $750,000 design competition.
In February of 1999, Rafael Vinoly Architects was selected by the Southwestern Pennsylvania Convention Center Design Commission. Construction on the building began in February of 2000. To ensure the environmental integrity of the building, the Heinz Endowments provided a $4 million grant to the Green Building Alliance and another $3 million loan to the SEA for the cost of green technologies which helped the Convention Center earn the Gold LEED Certification. Dollar Bank Dollar Bank was the first corporation to provide a major sponsorship to the Convention Center. Founded in 1855 and headquartered in Pittsburgh, this financial institution is a federally chartered mutual savings bank with offices throughout Southwest Pennsylvania and Northeast Ohio. The SEA entered into a twenty-year agreement with Dollar Bank for the naming rights to the Convention Center's Grand Ballroom, which is the largest ballroom in the City of Pittsburgh. With almost 32,000 square feet of space, the Grand Ballroom is capable of seating over 2,500 people banquet style. After holding a regional naming competition, Dollar Bank named this new ballroom "The Spirit of Pittsburgh Ballroom." In addition to the financial institution's monetary contribution, Dollar Bank, through the work of Dymun + Company, Pittsburgh Filmmakers, RPC Video, Inc., PMI, and The Sextant Group developed and installed a "Regional Showcase" using a high definition, multi-media format. This showcase presents the region's history and culture as well as its people, resources and amenities. Installations are located in four sections of the building:
Noresco Noresco LLC is the provider of chilled water that supplies the air conditioning system running throughout the Center and is the sponsor of the third floor riverfront terrace. In the twenty-year term of the sponsorship agreement (beginning 2003) the riverfront terrace will be known as Noresco Riverside Terrace, presented by Noresco. The terrace runs the entire 600-foot length of the third floor and faces the Allegheny River. This area is a popular site for event programming and receptions. Additional Sponsorship Information If you or your company are interested in learning more about the David L. Lawrence Convention Center sponsorship campaign, please contact the SEA at (412) 393-0200. SMG The Convention Center is managed and operated for the SEA by SMG, a Pennsylvania company that specializes in the management of convention centers. The General Manager of the Convention Center is Mark Leahy. For more information please visit the Convention Center website. Levy Restaurants Food and catering services are provided exclusively for the Convention Center by Levy Premium Foodservice Limited Partnership, an Illinois limited partnership. For more information please visit the website for Levy Restaurants. The integration of public art was an important component for the Convention Center. A $2 million Public Art Program was created to maximize community involvement and to facilitate the selection of artists. The purpose of the program was to select artists whose work compliments the unique design of the Convention Center, diversifies the public art forum, and reflects the historic role of art and architecture in Pittsburgh. This program was made possible through the generous support of local foundations. Please see Public Art at the Convention Center for more information. Pittsburgh's Convention Center is the first and largest environmentally friendly building of its kind. In November 2003, the facility received a Gold LEED Certification from the United States Green Building Council (USBGC) and became the largest green building in the United States.The Convention Center remains the largest green convention center in the country. Currently, the Convention Center is ranked as the sixth largest green building in the U.S. (Source: USGBC). Pittsburgh is one of the “greenest” cities in the nation. When the Convention Center was first built, Pittsburgh had four LEED projects totaling over 2.4 million square feet. The Convention Center comprised nearly 60% of the city's total green buildings. No other convention center in the country incorporates so many green technologies. The Convention Center's unique building features include:
Retail spaces are located on Penn Avenue between 10th and 11th Streets. Please contact the SEA at (412) 393-0200 for more information. Events and Parking Please visit the Convention Center website for upcoming events. The Convention Center includes a 715 space garage. Entrances to the garage are located on 10th Street and 11th Street. The garage is managed and operated by ALCO Parking Corporation. For current parking rates for the garage, please visit the Convention Center Parking Garage. For leases contact: Alco Parking Corporation 412-323-4455.
Last Updated 6/9/09
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