In preparation for excavating a foundation 45 feet below ground level and beginning construction on a $600 million expansion project at the downtown Phoenix Civic Plaza Convention Center, workers this weekend will deconstruct a 15,000-sq.-ft. tent on Symphony Hall Terrace. The terrace will be the home of the new Civic Plaza West Building, which will be constructed during the first phase of the expansion and will provide just under 150,000 sq. ft. of space on four levels. The new meeting and conference facility will be ready for groups in time for 2006.

�The time has come to begin construction on quite possibly the most exciting thing to happen to Phoenix Civic Plaza in the last 20 years � the start of construction on expansion that will triple the size of the convention center and put Phoenix on the map as the premier meeting destination of the Southwest,� said Scott Sumners, deputy director of the facility.

The Symphony Hall Terrace is located across the street from the current convention center. The 2,500-seat Symphony Hall will be closed for one year to complete interior renovations aligned with the construction schedule for the West Building.

The pre-construction and construction timeline for the West building is as follows: January-April 2004: archeological survey, utility relocation, installation of access ramp, installation of terrace structure, removal of tent on Symphony Hall Terrace; May-June 2004: installation of access ramp, utility relocation; June-October: terrace demolition.

The first floor is below grade and will provide a 65,000-sq.-ft. exhibit hall. The street-level and second floors will provide a total of 47,000 sq. ft. of meeting space, including a conference center component, while the third level will feature a 46,000-sq.- ft. multi-purpose room that can be used for ballroom functions, exhibits or meetings.

As part of the construction�s first phase, the existing South Building will be connected to the new West Building, providing an additional 143,000 sq. ft. of space that can be utilized entirely for exhibits or for meeting and exhibit space.

The pre-construction and construction timeline for the West building is as follows: January-April 2004: archeological survey, utility relocation; April 2004: installation of access ramp, installation of terrace structure, removal of tent on Symphony Hall Terrace; May-June 2004: installation of access ramp, utility relocation; June-October: terrace demolition.

A large atrium, located just across the street from the Hyatt Regency, will be added as part of the first phase. The atrium will connect the new West Building to Symphony Hall and the new North Building, which will be built in the second phase. In addition to adding an aesthetic and functional centerpiece that will serve as a welcoming area for receptions and other activities, the enclosed and air-conditioned atrium will move Civic Plaza�s �front door� even closer to existing downtown hotels.

The entire expansion project will be completed in three phases, increasing total rentable space from 302,000 to more than 900,000 square feet. All construction on the new spacious, high-tech and client-friendly facility will be complete in mid-2009.

The construction phases of the expansion will be completed with the intent of minimizing impact on meetings. The Phoenix Civic Plaza Convention Center will remain open and functional for the duration of the construction project.

The City of Phoenix is working to develop at least 1,000 additional downtown hotel rooms to open concurrently with the expanded convention center.

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Media Contact: Brian Bujdos (602) 452-6255 www.visitphoenix.com or www.phoenixconventioncenter.com