The Monroe Convention Center expansion project is moving into the final design phase. Architects presented updated renderings and floor plans of the project at Wednesday’s Capital Improvement Board meeting.
The refinements help get the project within budget. The close to $51.5 million cost estimate includes the expansion and renovation of the current building.
The expansion amounts to about 61,000 square feet, a few thousand square feet larger than a football field. The existing convention center is 40,000 square feet.
CIB member Eric Spoonmore reported city council approved the CIB’s budget of $899,400 for next year.
Project Manager Lisa Gomperts from Schmidt Associates said the final design phase includes site design such as utilities and foundations.
“We’ll also start talking about more about the interior of the building,” she said. “We spent a lot of time talking about the exterior and now we’re going to start digging into kind of what are those finishes and what it’s going to look inside.”
The final design phase leads to a construction document phase in February, bidding in March, and construction in June of 2025. The expansion project is scheduled to be done in January of 2027.
CIB President John Whikehart addressed concerns from residents and store owners in the southern portions of the project. Some are worried the project would extend further south, taking over their leases.
“I’m telling you that there is no intent on the part of the CIB to expand this project to the south,” he said. “There is no intent on the part of the hotel to move to the south. So no one here is talking about going into the spaces you occupy and lease.”
Read more: CIB wrapping up schematic design, recommends hotel developer
The next board meeting is Wednesday, Nov. 13.
