LITTLE ROCK — After closing July 1, 2014, for extensive renovations, restoration and an expansion, Little Rock’s Robinson Center is scheduled to reopen November 10, with brand-new conference facilities overlooking the Arkansas River and featuring a grand ballroom and outdoor terrace.
Renovations completed during the $70 million project include enhanced acoustics, updated interior finishes, technology upgrades, and expanded public lobbies and restrooms. Other new additions include an on-site box office, a centrally located grand staircase to link multiple lobby levels, public drop-offs and parking garage vestibules.
Little Rock Convention and Visitors Bureau president and CEO Gretchen Hall said she is incredibly proud to note that the project is being delivered on time and on budget.
“When working on a construction project of this magnitude with as many unknown variables regarding the structural integrity of a 76-year-old building, we are exceedingly grateful that we did not encounter significant unforeseen conditions and [are] very indebted to the team of architects, engineers and construction professionals that have worked on this project.”
The project’s new design combines historic significance with dramatic new modern additions that take advantage of the building’s location on the banks of the Arkansas River. The exterior envelope of the original building has been restored and is now visible in multiple areas inside the new conference center addition.
