Phase One

Four levels of brand-new convention center opened in July 2006 on a 2.5-acre site north of Symphony Hall, between the Convention Center North (under construction with completion slated for December 2008) and the Hyatt Regency. In total, Phase One offers 156,000 square feet of meeting and exhibition space.

The signature design element of Phase One is a stunning, glass and stone atrium that will connect the convention center's prefunction areas to Phoenix Symphony Hall. Designed to represent the unique angles and light of a deep Arizona slot canyon, the atrium is 90-feet high from street level and 140 high from the underground prefunction area.

The Lower Level features 62,000 square feet of underground exhibition space, divisible into two halls, with columns on a 90-foot-by-90-foot grid. A large prefunction/registration area and café are located at the base of the atrium.

Street Level features 16 meeting rooms with 27,000+ square feet, connected by an arcade. This arcade also links Symphony Hall, the atrium and the Herberger Theater. The area surrounding the building includes a business center, visitor's center, main box office and retail space.

The Conference Center Level offers 21,000 square feet of high-level corporate meeting space. In addition to 16 meeting rooms, a 190-seat lecture hall has data and power outlets at each work station, plus four translation booths. In addition to state-of-the-art technology, other key features include ergonomic seating, comfortable breakout areas and refreshments available at all times.

The Upper Level offers a 45,300 square-foot, column-free ballroom that, with telescopic seats, a 250-PSF floor and Hummer-sized freight elevator, also can be used as exhibition or meeting space.

Special features:

• All exhibition-hall floors scored on a 10-foot-by-10-foot grid, coordinated with the 30-foot-by-30-foot utility grid, to reduce the amount of time and labor needed to set up each event.



• $3 million in new public art in and around the West Building and the North Building.



• Downtown location adjacent to theaters, museums, arena and ballpark, and 10 minutes from nation's 5th-largest airport.



• Joining the existing downtown hotels, a new, 1,000-room Sheraton will be one block away from the new convention center in 2008.



• Two light rail stations will be adjacent to the new convention center in 2008.