New Robinson Conference Center booking events, outdoor terrace added back to project
by March 23, 2016 11:50 am 408 views
The Little Rock Convention & Visitors Bureau (LRCVB) says it is now booking events for the under-renovation Robinson Conference Center, which will reopen in November.
For booking information, interested parties are encouraged to call 501.255.3323.
According to a LRCVB press release, the city’s Advertising and Promotion Commission approved the addition of a 5,800 sq. ft. outdoor terrace to the $70 million project. The terrace was part of the original project plans, but it was removed in 2014 during contract negotiations due to budget constraints. Officials said the project is now doable and will not impact the expected November completion date.
“We are so pleased with the progress of this complex project. Our project team, including architects Polk Stanley Wilcox and Ennead, construction manager CDI/Hunt joint venture, owner’s representatives Mike Steelman of SCM architects, and a host of sub-contractors, have continued to provide meticulous attention to detail and countless effort to this project. The all-new Robinson Center is going to be a show-piece for Little Rock and all of Central Arkansas,” said Gretchen Hall, President & CEO of LRCVB.
The historic Robinson Auditorium has long been a landmark in Central Arkansas since 1939. The structure was a WPA (Works Progress Administration) project, and is an example of the Art Deco style architecture of the time.
The building was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 2007. The facility is owned by the City of Little Rock and managed by the Little Rock Convention & Visitors Bureau.
In 2013, voters approved financing for the project to dedicate the existing 2% Advertising & Promotion (A&P) tax to pay for the 28-month renovation project.
The LRCVB also provided some construction data about the project in its release on the terrace addition and ability to book events.
• Over 10,878 tons of material have been recycled, representing 90% of the waste material diverted
• 1,800 tons of steel has been erected
• 3,000 cubic yards of concrete has been placed
• 1,104 individuals have gone through CDI/Hunt Safety Orientation
• 75% of the project subcontractors are local
• 250,000 +/- man hours have been utilized to date