Since opening with much anticipation and fanfare on May 1, 1997, the Atlantic City Convention Center has become "Your Northeast Business Address", hosting a wide array of premier events from large public shows, conventions and trade shows, to meetings and conferences. Erected at a cost of $268 million, the building is one of the largest and most expensive public projects in the city's history, and was built under the auspices of the New Jersey Sports and Exposition Authority (NJSEA). It was the centerpiece of a multi-billion dollar redevelopment plan which included The Walk, a retail and entertainment complex, numerous Casino Reinvestment Development Authority (CRDA)-funded neighborhood partnerships, the Boardwalk Hall renovation, the Grand Boulevard, the Sheraton Convention Center Hotel, and new casino expansion projects.
The Convention Center is managed by SMG and operated by the Atlantic City Convention & Visitors Authority (ACCVA).
The Convention Center, designed to incorporate and reflect Atlantic City's seaside location, won the prestigious "Award of Excellence in Architectural Design" from the Pennsylvania Society of Architects. A regional décor is evident throughout the building, from the wave-inspired carpeting and granite flooring to the atrium's Rock Bar, an attractive setting for any event planner. Visitors entering the building are welcomed by a 90-foot high skylit atrium lobby complete with a lobby concierge, sculptures and art. Artist Jonathan Borofsky created the five flying fish sculptures suspended above the atrium floor. Twenty seven cast stone sculptures, created by Thomas Van Dyke of Prospect Park and cast by American Trim Stone of Haskell, are inset into the atrium walls and represent local sea life such as starfish, crabs and seahorses. The fourth floor showcases artist William Wegman's photographic exhibit entitled Six Scenic Scenes that depicts his famous weimaraners in costume and participating in activities found throughout New Jersey. Both Borofsky's and Wegman's creations were commissioned through New Jersey's Public Buildings Art Inclusion Act of 1978. Wallace Roberts & Todd of Philadelphia, Pa is the architect and landscape architect of the Center, a project undertaken in joint venture with STV Incorporated, Engineers.
The facility contains 500,000 contiguous square feet of space and occupies a site of nearly 31 acres, making it one of the East Coast's largest Convention Centers. Five spacious exhibit halls are located on the building's second level, ranging in size from 29,400 square feet to 199,500 square feet. The rooms can be contracted individually, adjoined or easily configured to meet a client's needs. Hall A, at 29,400 square feet, can be transformed into a ballroom or banquet hall. Services available in each exhibit hall include electric, water, voice/data, exhaust, compressed air, drain, and MATV. A Show Manager's Office, Press Office and securable storage space are also conveniently located adjacent to each exhibit hall.
The Center's 45 meeting rooms surround the expansive atrium lobby and total 109,100 square feet. Room dimensions range from 11,880 square feet to 672 square feet. The rooms' amenities include soundproof panels, assisted listening systems and voice, video and data communications capabilities.
The facility's ample pre-function space, more than 32,000 square feet, is well suited to registration, retail or dining needs. The building is served by 29 covered loading docks, four drive-in doors, mechanical levelators, and 1,400 indoor parking spaces. It is connected with the Atlantic City Rail Terminal that runs the Atlantic City Line from Philadelphia to Atlantic City. Jitneys, buses and taxis queue at the front of the building to provide service to other points within the city. A pedestrian airbridge links the Convention Center to the adjoining Sheraton Hotel. Located within a few hours drive of nearly one third of the nation's population and 20 percent of the country's business addresses, the convention center is easily accessible for convention, trade show and meeting attendees.
The Atlantic City Convention Center is committed to preserving its unique seaside environment while providing a safe, healthy atmosphere for our guests. "Going Green" has consistently been one of the Center's main operating objectives. Several initiatives have already been implemented throughout the facility while others are in the works. Management remains committed to exploring new opportunities to better conserve and reuse our valuable resources through recycling, retrofitting and seeking alternatives to energy.
In June 2008, the ACCVA and SMG announced that it had awarded Pepco Energy Services, a subsidiary of Pepco Holdings, Inc. (NYSE: POM) a 20-year power purchase agreement with the Atlantic City Convention Center (ACCC) to install the largest single roof-mounted solar array in the United States. Under the 20-year contract, Pepco Energy Services will build, own, operate and maintain the 2.36-megawatt solar array for the Atlantic City Convention Center. Construction was completed by December 31, 2008. The solar panel project is the first in a series of initiatives the ACCVA and SMG are planning, including participation in the Convene Green Alliance. The ACCVA was invited to participate as a founding member of the Convene Green Alliance, a grass-roots, industry initiative spearheaded by several associations that seek to affect positive environmental practices through national, regional and local outreach and education. As a Convene Green Alliance member, Atlantic City is one of only four destinations including: Charlotte, NC; Nashville, TN; and Richmond, VA.
The Atlantic City Convention & Visitors Authority, a division of the New Jersey Casino Reinvestment Development Authority (CRDA) serves as the destination's principal marketing arm, stimulating economic growth through convention, business and leisure tourism development. The Authority oversees the management of the Atlantic City Convention Center and Boardwalk Hall. The Authority is the first in New Jersey to achieve Destination Marketing Accreditation by the Destination Marketing Association International. The Authority is among an elite group of 47 accredited convention and visitor bureaus throughout the United States. For complete Atlantic City information, visit www.doatlanticcity.com.
Since 1977, SMG has provided management services to more than 220 public assembly facilities worldwide, including arenas, stadiums, theatres and performing arts centers, equestrian facilities and convention, congress and exhibition centers, science centers and a variety of other venues. Across the globe, SMG manages more than 14 million square feet (1.4 million square meters) of exhibition space and more than 1.5 million arena and theatre seats. As the recognized global industry leader, SMG provides venue management, sales, marketing, event booking and programming, construction and design consulting, and pre-opening services. SMG also offers food and beverage operations through an in house catering company SAVOR, currently servicing more than 100 accounts worldwide. For more information about SMG, call 610-729-7900 or visit www.smgworld.com.
As the catering company for the Convention Center, Ovations Food Services is a company whose purpose is to deliver fresh food and beverage with exceptional services to public assembly facilities throughout the United States and Canada. Ovations has been recognized for attention to outstanding quality service, consistently providing record breaking per capita spending, and as the only national food services company in which the principals work directly with facility managers. Ovations specializes in providing services to stadiums, arenas, convention centers, fairgrounds, expo-centers, auto racing, casinos, performing arts centers and amphitheaters.
Atlantic City Convention Center Electrical provides power supply, outlets and plumbing connections to exhibit areas and booths.
Presentation Services Audio Visual (PSAV) offers clients the latest in audio-visual service and assistance with the center's technological capabilities.
The UPS Store, conveniently located on premises, showcases a full line of products and services including document finishing, faxing, color and black and white copying, cellular phone rental, packaging and package shipping and receiving, and a generous range of office and sundry supplies.