The David L. Lawrence Convention Center (DLLCC) is a 1,500,000-square-foot (139,000 m2) convention, conference and exhibition building in downtown Pittsburgh in the U.S. state of Pennsylvania. Completed in 2003, it sits on the southern shoreline of the Allegheny River. It is the first LEED-certified convention center in North America and one of the first in the world.[1] It is owned by the Sports & Exhibition Authority of Pittsburgh and Allegheny County[2]
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Abstract
Designed by Rafael Viñoly Architects, P.C., Dewhurst MacFarlane & Partners and Goldreich Engineering P.C., the $354 million riverfront landmark contains 313,400 sq ft (29,100 m2) of exhibit space (236,900 sq ft (22,000 m2) of which is column-free), 76,500 sq ft (7,100 m2) of additional exhibit space, a 31,610 sq ft (2,940 m2) ballroom, 51 meeting rooms, two 250-seat lecture halls, teleconference and telecommunications capabilities and 4,500 sq ft (420 m2) of retail space (currently in development). The architect, Viñoly, began the design with a goal in mind of achieving the status of a "green" building. In 2003, the building was awarded Gold Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) certification by the U.S. Green Building Council, making it the first such convention center in the U.S. and the largest "green" building in the world.[1]
The current building replaced the former convention center of the same name that was constructed in 1981. The old convention center was 131,000 sq ft (12,000 m2). and lacked a ballroom. All of the old building was demolished to make way for the current structure which was built on the same site.
The building won the 2004 Supreme Award for structural engineering excellence from the Institution of Structural Engineers.
The convention center is home to prominent conventions, such as Anthrocon, the Pittsburgh RV Show, Pittsburgh Boat Show, Pittsburgh Home and Garden Show, Piratefest, and the acclaimed Pittsburgh International Auto Show.
Naming
David Leo Lawrence (June 18, 1889—November 21, 1966) was an American politician who served as the Democratic Governor of Pennsylvania from 1959 to 1963. He is to date the only mayor of Pittsburgh to be elected Governor of Pennsylvania. Previously, he had been the mayor of Pittsburgh from 1946 through 1959. He was Pennsylvania's first Catholic Governor.
Collapses
Fatal collapse
On Tuesday, February 12, 2002, less than two weeks before its scheduled opening[3], a 165-ton truss that was under construction collapsed, killing one man and injuring two other workers.[4] The truss was part of the second phase of construction, scheduled for opening in 2003, and therefore did not delay the February 23 opening of phase one.
Partial collapse
On February 5, 2007 , a section of concrete floor from the second floor loading dock collapsed under the weight of a tractor-trailer and fell onto the water feature area below.[5] There were no injuries. The building remained closed until investigations by the contractors were completed on March 9, the fault was repaired, and the convention center reopened.
Event history
2003
- Urban League Convention July 26-30. President George W. Bush attended.
2004
- National Rifle Association Convention[6] April 15-18. Vice President Dick Cheney and Ted Nugent attended.
- Election Rally July 31st President George W. Bush attended.
- United Methodist Church National Conference April 27-May 7.
2006
- All-Star Fanfest July 16-17.
2007
- Women’s Health & the Environment Conference April 20. Fran Drescher and Teresa Heinz among others attended.
2008
- Alliance for American Manufacturing convention April 14. Hillary Clinton and Barack Obama attended.
- U.S. Chess Federation Nationals May 8-15
- Democratic Party Platform Convention, August 9th: Governors Janet Napolitano, Howard Dean and Deval Patrick among others attended.
2009
- Annual March Meeting for the American Physical Society March 16-20.
- Eighth International Conference on Bipolar Disorder June 28-29.
- Forrest L. Wood Cup Family Fun Zone and Awards Ceremony July 30-August 2.
- American Philatelic Society's StampShow August 6-9
- Netroots Nation convention Aug. 13-16: President Bill Clinton and former DNC Chairman and Vermont Governor Howard Dean among others attended.
- National Truck Driving Championships August 21st.
- AFL-CIO Convention[7], Sept 13-Sept 17.: President Barack Obama and Caroline Kennedy attended.
- G-20 Convention September 24-25. President Barack Obama and several other world leaders attended.
- BMES National Conference
2011
- National Rifle Association Convention April 29-May 1.
Fictional portrayals
- Three Rivers, the CBS medical drama, used the convention center for some scenes depicting the hosptial.[8]
- Fire in the Hole, the FX Network drama, used the center for interior shots of the "airport".[9]
References
- Book
- Toker, Franklin (2007). Buildings of Pittsburgh. Pittsburgh: Chicago: Society of Architectural Historians; Santa Fe: Center for American Places ; Charlottesville: In association with the University of Virginia Press. ISBN 0-8139-2650-5.
- Web
- ^ a b "David L. Lawrence Convention Center.". David L. Lawrence Convention Center. http://www.pittsburghcc.com/cc/. Retrieved October 10, 2009.
- ^ "HISTORY". www.pgh-sea.com. Sports & Exhibition Authority of Pittsburgh and Allegheny County. 9/1/09. http://www.pgh-sea.com/history.htm.
- ^ Authority director tries to calm public's fears after convention center fatality - post-gazette.com Saturday, February 16, 2002
- ^ Cause of collapse unknown, official says - The Pittsburgh Tribune-Review Saturday, February 16, 2002
- ^ [1] - KDKA.com
- ^ Freedom's Steel 2004 (Annual Meeting 2004) - The National Rifle Association of America
- ^ AFL-CIO 2009 Convention - AFL-CIO | American Federation of Labor - Congress of Industrial Organizations
- ^ PRESS TOUR JOURNAL: 'Three Rivers' set visit - post-gazette.com Jul 31 2009, 11:15 PM
- ^ FX pilot based on Elmore Leonard's "Fire in the Hole" filming in region - post-gazette.com Monday, June 15, 2009
External links
- Official website
- U.S. Green Building Council
- G-20 to Meet at David L. Lawrence Convention Center in Pittsburgh, PA - DEXIGNER Design News
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Coordinates: 40°26′45″N 79°59′47″W / 40.44583°N 79.99639°W
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