Architectural Designs and Details for Renovated Benton Convention Center Presented to City Officials

"Winston-Salem, N.C. - The $17.5 million renovation of the Benton Convention Center achieved another milestone when the Winston-Salem City Council reviewed the architectural design plans presented at the Special Meeting of the Winston-Salem City Council last night. Slated to begin January 2016 with completion by May 2017, the multi-phased renovation project includes significant structural, design and technological upgrades to the interior and exterior of the 100,000-square-foot building. Key design elements will create more open, flexible meeting space and incorporate architectural nods to Winston-Salem's historic arts, tobacco and textile roots. The plans also include filling in the sunken garden, extending the front façade closer to 5th Street to repurpose the area into more practical, pre-function space. More windows and skylights will be added to give the Convention Center a more contemporary, open and inviting aesthetic. Mayor Allen Joines said that the updated convention center will be catalyst for economic growth. "The additional conventions and events that come to Winston-Salem as a result of this modernization will bring more business to area hotels and restaurants, increase visitor spending, create jobs and grow our tax base," said Mayor Joines. "Combined with other downtown development initiatives, the Benton Convention Center renovation project enables Winston-Salem to more effectively compete for meeting and convention business," said Richard Geiger, president of Visit Winston-Salem. The City of Winston-Salem along with Visit Winston-Salem, Twin City Quarter and the architectural/design firms are developing a comprehensive, multi-phased renovation program so that the Benton Convention Center remains operational during all phases of the renovation. "We will continue to work closely with our customers and clients to keep them involved and up-to-date on this important project. We value their business and are working diligently to minimize the impact of the renovation to their events," said Geiger. "There is certain infrastructure that requires updating and renovating. Our Convention Center is that type of infrastructure. The renovation will remake a city landmark into a new venue that will attract new tourism dollars to our city and show groups and organizations that our Convention Center facilities are in line or better than other facilities in the southeast, " said Denise D. Adams, Winston-Salem City Council Member, North Ward.

About Architectural Design Associates Architectural Design Associates, PLLC (ADA) based in Winston-Salem, will provide day-to-day project management and act as liaison between the stakeholders and the design team.  Bobby Patterson, ADA co-founder, has completed 20 projects for the City of Winston-Salem.  Working in tandem with ADA is tvsdesign, an internationally recognized architectural design firm specializing in designing world class convention centers.  The tvsdesign team is headed up by principal, Robert Svedberg, AIA director of convention center practice.  Svedberg is an award-winning architect who has led design teams for national and international convention centers including Raleigh and Charlotte. About Visit Winston-Salem (visitwinstonsalem.com) Visit Winston-Salem is the official sales and marketing agency for the Winston-Salem and Forsyth County tourism industry. For additional information, contact Marcheta Cole Keefer, director of marketing and communications at Marcheta@visitwinstonsalem.com or phone her at 336.728.4211." - A Press Release