Courtesy Albuquerque CVB
ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. — Albuquerque Mayor Richard J. Berry and tourism officials tossed a shovel of dirt into the air in mid-October to mark the start of 10 months of work to upgrade the west side of the Albuquerque Convention Center.
The nearly $13 million project is the second phase of improvements at the center and includes a 5,600-square-foot expansion that will add a large entrance vestibule, a small retail space and an outdoor deck.
Inside, new flooring, wall and ceiling finishes, LED lighting and a gas fireplace in the atrium will be added. A traffic way will be reconstructed to improve pedestrian flow between the center and the Civic Plaza outdoor event space.
“We are excited to see phase two of this project break ground as it will transform the look and aesthetic of the convention center,” said Rob Enriquez, vice president of convention sales, services and sports at the Albuquerque Convention and Visitors Bureau.
“Having the center showcase the unique Southwestern architectural elements will ensure that the local flavor of Albuquerque is infused into meetings held at the facility.”
The renovation should be done by late summer. Booked events will go on as planned, and disruptions should be minimal.
Lighting upgrades during the project’s first phase have improved energy efficiency. Energy savings from the convention center, coupled with previous energy savings, equates to more than $316,000 in energy-efficiency rebates.
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