Orange County Convention Center
Encyclopedia
The Orange County Convention Center (OCCC) is the primary public convention center
for the Central Florida
region. The center currently ranks as the second largest convention center in the United States
(the first is McCormick Place
in Chicago
). The OCCC offers 7000000 sq ft (650,321.3 m²) of total space, 2100000 sq ft (195,096.4 m²) of which is exhibit space. The large complex is located on the South end of International Drive
, a major tourist area in Orlando
, Florida
. Solar panels on the roof of the South Concourse provide 1 MW of power.
In its entirety, the Orange County Convention Center features: of exhibition space
In addition to the $1.9 billion dollar annual impact, convention-related businesses and educational events known as "conventions" contribute the following to the Orange County economy:
•More than 25,500 employees are directly or indirectly affected by the OCCC
•More than 1,000 businesses are affected by OCCC activity
•The OCCC's activity yields a tax savings of $87.50 per Orange County household
on hotel room stays, with the approval of the county's voters, for state-approved purposes. In April 1978 in a special election, the voters of Orange County
approved a 2% Tourist Development Tax (the limit set by the state) for the purpose of building a Convention and Civic Center. That August, the Orange County Board of County Commissioners
(BCC) approved a location for the OCCCC in Orlando Central Park, on International Drive, and drew up plans for a 325000 sq ft (30,193.5 m²) gross area facility. In 1979, Orlando Central Park and the BCC came to a deal whereby the Orlando Central Park would donate land for the initial facility, and give the county an option on 45 acres (18.2 ha) additional for future expansion. Orlando Central Park agreed to commit adjacent lands for hotel and tourist development, with an incentive of one cent per taxed dollar of the TDT each year for 30 years.
Phase I was completed in February 1983 at a cost of $54 million. The Boston Pops Orchestra
played at the Grand Opening, and 14,000 people attended the Open House.
In June 1984, the BCC exercised its 45 acres (18.2 ha) option for $2 million and began planning Phase II. The TDT was raised to 3% by a State Law in 1986, and groundbreaking occurred in February 1987 on Phase II. It was completed in January 1989, adding 150000 sq ft (13,935.5 m²) of exhibition space to increase it to 344790 sq ft (32,032 m²) of total exhibition space, and adding an additional 100000 sq ft (9,290.3 m²) of meeting and support space.
That very month, an additional 1% was permitted for the TDT, increasing it to 4% The BCC approved an additional three phases to the OCCCC (Phases IIA, III and IV), and improvements to the Citrus Bowl
, its first non-Convention Center TDT project.
Phase IIA, completed in December 1990, added 100000 sq ft (9,290.3 m²) more support space, used largely for office space and registration. The next month, planning for Phase III was begun. By December 1992, "Civic" was dropped from the name, and the area became the Orange County Convention Center.
Phase III was completed in January 1996, adding 383400 sq ft (35,619 m²) of exhibition space, at a cost of $219.5 million. Phase IV followed that August at a cost of $198.7 million, adding another 367200 sq ft (34,114 m²) of exhibition space and about 100000 sq ft (9,290.3 m²) more meeting space. A retrofit of Phase I, completed in December 1997 at a cost of $32 million, opened up 8200 sq ft (761.8 m²) more. By 1998, the OCCC had 1103538 sq ft (102,522 m²) of exhibition space over a total building space of over 4 million ft².
In June 1998, the BCC got a fifth cent approved for the TDT, partly for a grand Phase V, which would add a total of 3 million ft² of space to the OCCC. That December, they paid Universal Orlando Resort
$69 million for 239 acres (96.7 ha) of land across International Drive from the original OCCC. The Martinez Convention Center Commission, named after then-Orange County Chairman Mel Martinez
, was created to oversee planning and construction of Phase V.
Ground broke on Phase V in August 2000 after a large convention organizer, Reed Expositions, agreed to move 42 conventions to Orlando into the new phase. It opened one month ahead of schedule in September 2003. Today, the first four phases are referred to as the "West Building", and Phase V is referred to as the "North/South Building", as it is divided into North and South Exhibition Halls which can be joined to form one large exhibition space or subdivided into six different halls (North A1, North A2, North B, South A1, South A2, South B). The North/South Building has over 1100000 sq ft (102,193.3 m²) of exhibition space. Around the same time, an elevated walkway was built over International Drive connecting the two buildings.
In 2004, OCCC acted as a staging area for relief operations following Hurricane Charley
, and Frances
and Jeanne
thereafter. Disruptions to convention operations were minimal, and a feared reduction of convention booking did not occur afterward.
In 2009, The Hilton Orlando, a 1400 room luxury hotel, opened which adjoins with the South Concourse of the Orange County Convention Center's North/South Building via an elevated, covered pedestrian walkway. Expansions to the Peabody
are currently underway and will connect directly to the Orange County Convention Center via the elevated pedestrian walkway as well. The elevated walkway currently connects the North, South and West concourses over International Drive
to each other and the Hilton Orlando.
Convention center
A convention center is a large building that is designed to hold a convention, where individuals and groups gather to promote and share common interests. Convention centers typically offer sufficient floor area to accommodate several thousand attendees...
for the Central Florida
Central Florida
Central Florida is a regional designation for the area surrounding Orlando in east central Florida, United States. The area represents the third largest population concentration in Florida, after the South Florida and Tampa Bay regions, respectively....
region. The center currently ranks as the second largest convention center in the United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
(the first is McCormick Place
McCormick Place
McCormick Place is the largest convention center in the United States. It is made up of four interconnected buildings sited on and near the shore of Lake Michigan, about 4 km south of downtown Chicago, Illinois, USA. McCormick Place hosts numerous trade shows, including the Chicago Auto Show,...
in Chicago
Chicago
Chicago is the largest city in the US state of Illinois. With nearly 2.7 million residents, it is the most populous city in the Midwestern United States and the third most populous in the US, after New York City and Los Angeles...
). The OCCC offers 7000000 sq ft (650,321.3 m²) of total space, 2100000 sq ft (195,096.4 m²) of which is exhibit space. The large complex is located on the South end of International Drive
International Drive
International Drive is the main tourist strip of Orlando, Florida, located several miles southwest of proper Downtown Orlando in the southernmost limits of the city...
, a major tourist area in Orlando
Orlando, Florida
Orlando is a city in the central region of the U.S. state of Florida. It is the county seat of Orange County, and the center of the Greater Orlando metropolitan area. According to the 2010 US Census, the city had a population of 238,300, making Orlando the 79th largest city in the United States...
, Florida
Florida
Florida is a state in the southeastern United States, located on the nation's Atlantic and Gulf coasts. It is bordered to the west by the Gulf of Mexico, to the north by Alabama and Georgia and to the east by the Atlantic Ocean. With a population of 18,801,310 as measured by the 2010 census, it...
. Solar panels on the roof of the South Concourse provide 1 MW of power.
Facility Overview
The Orange County Convention Center consists of two buildings joined together by a covered pedestrian sky-bridge. The West Building, completed in four phases between 1983 and 1996, is located on the south side of International Drive. The North/South Building, located on the north side of International Drive, was completed in 2003.In its entirety, the Orange County Convention Center features: of exhibition space
- Two 92000 square feet (8,547.1 m²) general assembly areas
- 74 meeting rooms/235 breakouts
- The 2,643-seat Chapin Theater
- A 200-seat Lecture Hall
- The 62000 square feet (5,760 m²) multi-purpose Valencia Room
- Three full-service restaurants/8 food courts
- Three business centers
- In-house electric, plumbing, rigging and technical services, plus wireless mobility throughout the complex
- On-site parking for 6,227
- Three covered loading docks/173 truck bays
Economic Effect
On average, the Orange County Convention Center (OCCC) hosts approximately one million delegates annually and provides a $1.9 billion dollar total economic impact annually to the Central Florida economy, all at no cost to Orange County Citizens.In addition to the $1.9 billion dollar annual impact, convention-related businesses and educational events known as "conventions" contribute the following to the Orange County economy:
•More than 25,500 employees are directly or indirectly affected by the OCCC
•More than 1,000 businesses are affected by OCCC activity
•The OCCC's activity yields a tax savings of $87.50 per Orange County household
History
Originally the Orange County Convention and Civic Center (OCCCC), it was an idea born out of a 1977 law passed by Florida's State Legislature that permits counties to collect a "Tourist Development Tax" on top of regular sales taxSales tax
A sales tax is a tax, usually paid by the consumer at the point of purchase, itemized separately from the base price, for certain goods and services. The tax amount is usually calculated by applying a percentage rate to the taxable price of a sale....
on hotel room stays, with the approval of the county's voters, for state-approved purposes. In April 1978 in a special election, the voters of Orange County
Orange County, Florida
Orange County is a county located in the U.S. state of Florida and is part of the Orlando-Kissimmee-Sanford Metropolitan Statistical Area . As of 2010 U.S. Census, the county had a population of 1,145,956....
approved a 2% Tourist Development Tax (the limit set by the state) for the purpose of building a Convention and Civic Center. That August, the Orange County Board of County Commissioners
Orange County Board of County Commissioners
The Board of County Commissioners is the governing body of Orange County, Florida. It runs in the manner of a county commission...
(BCC) approved a location for the OCCCC in Orlando Central Park, on International Drive, and drew up plans for a 325000 sq ft (30,193.5 m²) gross area facility. In 1979, Orlando Central Park and the BCC came to a deal whereby the Orlando Central Park would donate land for the initial facility, and give the county an option on 45 acres (18.2 ha) additional for future expansion. Orlando Central Park agreed to commit adjacent lands for hotel and tourist development, with an incentive of one cent per taxed dollar of the TDT each year for 30 years.
Phase I was completed in February 1983 at a cost of $54 million. The Boston Pops Orchestra
Boston Pops Orchestra
The Boston Pops Orchestra is an American orchestra based in Boston, Massachusetts, that specializes in playing light classical and popular music....
played at the Grand Opening, and 14,000 people attended the Open House.
In June 1984, the BCC exercised its 45 acres (18.2 ha) option for $2 million and began planning Phase II. The TDT was raised to 3% by a State Law in 1986, and groundbreaking occurred in February 1987 on Phase II. It was completed in January 1989, adding 150000 sq ft (13,935.5 m²) of exhibition space to increase it to 344790 sq ft (32,032 m²) of total exhibition space, and adding an additional 100000 sq ft (9,290.3 m²) of meeting and support space.
That very month, an additional 1% was permitted for the TDT, increasing it to 4% The BCC approved an additional three phases to the OCCCC (Phases IIA, III and IV), and improvements to the Citrus Bowl
Citrus Bowl
The Florida Citrus Bowl is a stadium in Orlando, Florida, USA, built for football, which currently seats around 70,000 people....
, its first non-Convention Center TDT project.
Phase IIA, completed in December 1990, added 100000 sq ft (9,290.3 m²) more support space, used largely for office space and registration. The next month, planning for Phase III was begun. By December 1992, "Civic" was dropped from the name, and the area became the Orange County Convention Center.
Phase III was completed in January 1996, adding 383400 sq ft (35,619 m²) of exhibition space, at a cost of $219.5 million. Phase IV followed that August at a cost of $198.7 million, adding another 367200 sq ft (34,114 m²) of exhibition space and about 100000 sq ft (9,290.3 m²) more meeting space. A retrofit of Phase I, completed in December 1997 at a cost of $32 million, opened up 8200 sq ft (761.8 m²) more. By 1998, the OCCC had 1103538 sq ft (102,522 m²) of exhibition space over a total building space of over 4 million ft².
In June 1998, the BCC got a fifth cent approved for the TDT, partly for a grand Phase V, which would add a total of 3 million ft² of space to the OCCC. That December, they paid Universal Orlando Resort
Universal Orlando Resort
Universal Orlando Resort is a theme park resort in Orlando, Florida. It is wholly owned by NBCUniversal and its affiliates. The resort consists of two theme parks , Universal CityWalk , and three Loews Hotels...
$69 million for 239 acres (96.7 ha) of land across International Drive from the original OCCC. The Martinez Convention Center Commission, named after then-Orange County Chairman Mel Martinez
Mel Martinez
Melquíades Rafael Martínez Ruiz, usually known as Mel Martinez , is a former United States Senator from Florida and served as Chairman of the Republican Party from November 2006 until October 19, 2007, the first Latino to serve as chairman of a major party...
, was created to oversee planning and construction of Phase V.
Ground broke on Phase V in August 2000 after a large convention organizer, Reed Expositions, agreed to move 42 conventions to Orlando into the new phase. It opened one month ahead of schedule in September 2003. Today, the first four phases are referred to as the "West Building", and Phase V is referred to as the "North/South Building", as it is divided into North and South Exhibition Halls which can be joined to form one large exhibition space or subdivided into six different halls (North A1, North A2, North B, South A1, South A2, South B). The North/South Building has over 1100000 sq ft (102,193.3 m²) of exhibition space. Around the same time, an elevated walkway was built over International Drive connecting the two buildings.
In 2004, OCCC acted as a staging area for relief operations following Hurricane Charley
Hurricane Charley
Hurricane Charley was the third named storm, the second hurricane, and the second major hurricane of the 2004 Atlantic hurricane season. Charley lasted from August 9 to August 15, and at its peak intensity it attained 150 mph winds, making it a strong Category 4 hurricane on the...
, and Frances
Hurricane Frances
Hurricane Frances was the sixth named storm, the fourth hurricane, and the third major hurricane of the 2004 Atlantic hurricane season. The system crossing the open Atlantic during mid to late August, moving to the north of the Lesser Antilles while strengthening. Its outer bands affected Puerto...
and Jeanne
Hurricane Jeanne
Hurricane Jeanne was the deadliest hurricane in the 2004 Atlantic hurricane season. It was the tenth named storm, the seventh hurricane, and the fifth major hurricane of the season, as well as the third hurricane and fourth named storm of the season to make landfall in Florida...
thereafter. Disruptions to convention operations were minimal, and a feared reduction of convention booking did not occur afterward.
In 2009, The Hilton Orlando, a 1400 room luxury hotel, opened which adjoins with the South Concourse of the Orange County Convention Center's North/South Building via an elevated, covered pedestrian walkway. Expansions to the Peabody
The Peabody Orlando
The Peabody Orlando is a hotel located next to the Orange County Convention Center in Orlando, Florida. The 28-storey, 891-room hotel was originally constructed in 1986. Opened in late 2010, a $450 million renovation of the hotel added a 34 story building and resort amenities...
are currently underway and will connect directly to the Orange County Convention Center via the elevated pedestrian walkway as well. The elevated walkway currently connects the North, South and West concourses over International Drive
International Drive
International Drive is the main tourist strip of Orlando, Florida, located several miles southwest of proper Downtown Orlando in the southernmost limits of the city...
to each other and the Hilton Orlando.
External links
- Orange County Convention Center - official website
- OCCC History