Phoenix Convention Center – Overview

Phoenix, Arizona, welcomes roughly 16 million tourists annually. Many of those visitors are headed to the Phoenix Convention Center, located in the heart of Downtown Phoenix. Phoenix is the cultural center in the state. With an emphasis on the importance of the arts, the convention center department manages multiple venues, like the Symphony Hall and Orpheum Theatre, which gives citizens and tourists alike places to come together, grow, and learn.

Expansions have been done to the convention center because the goal is to keep it up to date and culturally pertinent. The most recent expansion to the Phoenix Convention Center was a multi-phase project that cost $600 million. It tripled the size of the venue, making it one of the leading convention centers in the United States. With its massive size, the Phoenix Convention Center can host national and regional conferences, trade shows, tournaments, and theatrical productions. To make sure your visit to the Phoenix Convention Center runs smoothly, you’ll want to read up on this rundown.

 

Overview

  • Three buildings of nearly 900,000 square feet combined: The Phoenix Convention Center is comprised of three buildings: North, West, and South. The North and West buildings are the bigger of the three buildings, and these two buildings are connected by an enclosed sky bridge. The Phoenix Convention Center buildings are LEED Silver certified as well.
  • Over 584,000 square feet of exhibition space: In the North building, there are 190,000 square feet of exhibition space. On the lower level of the Phoenix Convention Center, the West building’s exhibit space is combined with the North building and is a total of 312,500 square feet. Separately, the South building has 82,000 square feet of exhibition space.
  • Three ballrooms totaling over 119,800 square feet: Each building has a ballroom. The largest ballroom is located in the North building at 45,600 square feet. Only slightly smaller is the ballroom in the West building, which is 45,200 square feet. The West building’s ballroom also has riser seating for 1,200 people. The smallest of the ballrooms is in the South building at 28,000 square feet.
  • 146,200 square feet of meeting space: With 99 meeting rooms spread throughout the three buildings, there is a total of 146,200 square feet of meeting space available. To break down this space by building, there is a total of 86,000 square feet of meeting rooms in the North building, just over 27,000 square feet in the West building, and 33,000 square feet in the South building. The meeting rooms can be used for small or large groups because they are all divisible.
  • 21,000-square-foot executive conference center: Exclusively in the West building is an executive conference center. This space is designed for high-end, professional meetings. There is also a 192-seat lecture hall. It meets all International Association of Conference Centers standards.
  • 10,500-square-foot outdoor ballroom terrace: This outdoor terrace is found at the South building of the Phoenix Convention Center. It is an option for guests that want to use additional space and enjoy the warm, sunny Arizona weather.
  • Over 140,000 square feet of pre-function space: The North and West buildings at the Phoenix Convention Center have pre-function space available. In the West building, there are 22,850 square feet of pre-function space. The attached North building has just over 159,000 square feet of possible pre-function space to use.
  • ADA compliant: The Phoenix Convention Center works with organizers to make sure all those who need accommodations are taken care of properly. For example, the venue will work to provide large print materials, Braille, and sign language and oral interpreters. All elevators, meeting rooms, and restrooms have Braille and raised characters. The facility also has power assisted doors and elevators throughout the three buildings. Additionally, guests can bring service animals as long as they are on a harness and with the owner at all times.

 

Tips

  • There is a dedicated stop at the Phoenix Convention Center on the Metro Light Rail. This is a very convenient way to get to the venue from the airport as well. It is also a very budget-friendly way to get around Downtown Phoenix. A ticket for one trip is only $2. A ticket for a full day is $4.
  • There are parking garages managed by the Phoenix Convention Center Department. Visitors can use the following parking garages: East Garage, West Building Garage, North Building Garage, Orpheum Parking, Heritage Square Garage, and Regency Garage. All are within walking distance to the venue.
  • Give yourself extra time when driving to the Phoenix Convention Center. It isn’t uncommon for there to be roadwork happening in a city. Some guests have mentioned road closures in Downtown Phoenix, making it take a bit longer to drive to the convention center. If driving, make sure you’re giving yourself a little wiggle room.
  • There are dedicated pick-up and drop-off areas for rideshare services. If you don’t plan on driving and are going to use rideshare services instead, the Phoenix Convention Center has made it really simple for guests to use Lyft or Uber to get to and from the venue. There are specific areas for pick-up and drop-off. Sometimes those areas may change due to certain events, so keep an eye out.
  • Biking is also a great way to get to the Phoenix Convention Center. The convention center promotes the GRID Bike Share program. Visitors can find these bikes at Third Street and Washington. Racks for bicycles are located in various areas near the convention center, including the East Garage and Heritage Garage.
  • Even though Arizona averages high temperatures, you should bring a sweater. It might sound weird to hear someone tell you that you need to bring a sweater to Arizona, but you should if you plan on visiting the Phoenix Convention Center. Due to the typically hot weather, the venue runs the air conditioning to keep everyone cool and comfortable. This might make some guests get too cold, however. It is advised to bring a cover-up to stay comfortable.
  • Wi-Fi is available throughout the facility. In any public area of the convention center, guests can use free Wi-Fi. If additional services are needed, visitors can purchase more options from the venue’s exclusive telecommunications provider, Smart City.
  • No outside food or drink is allowed in the Phoenix Convention Center. All food is provided by an exclusive vendor, Aventura Catering, so guests cannot bring in outside food or drink. Single-use water bottles are an exception to this rule. There are multiple areas to grab food in the three buildings, such as the Metro Marché food court, exhibit hall concessions, vending machines, and Starbucks. Starbucks is located only in the West building.
  • An information desk can be found in the main lobby of all three buildings. The information desks provide visitors with useful information about the Phoenix Convention Center and the surrounding area. Additionally, the Visitor Information Center is located in the West building and will give guests helpful tourism resources and guides.

 

Trivia

  • Around $3.2 million was spent on artwork for the Phoenix Convention Center. The artwork is a key feature of the convention center’s decor. There were 10 artists hired to come and create new artwork for the North and West buildings. Two pieces were created for the West Building, titled Art is a Guaranty of Sanity and Million Colors. Eight pieces of art were installed in the North building.
  • The new design of the Phoenix Convention Center is meant to reflect its surrounding environment of canyons and deserts. A slot canyon is represented in the West building by the glass and stone atrium. The Sonoran Desert and the desert sky is captured through the colors, textures, and finishes used. Steel canopies are used to create shadows.
  • The South building underwent an $18 million renovation. All of the building’s rooms were remodeled. The ballroom, exhibit hall, and every meeting room received new lights, carpets, and paint. Wi-Fi availability was also extended to this building.
  • Before the completion of the Phoenix Convention Center, events used to be held in outdated school auditoriums. The realization that a venue was needed for theatrical events and trade shows, for example, came about as early as 1959. Those in Phoenix realized that the creation of a convention center would create a great deal of revenue. It was a citizen group that formed to study how to go about creating a convention center for the city.