Eastern Pennsylvania
-
The expansion of the Pennsylvania Convention Center (215.418.4700) in Philadelphia opened in early March, increasing meeting and exhibit space by almost 60 percent to more than 1 million square feet. Exhibit hall space was increased from 440,000 to 679,000 square feet, meeting rooms were increased from 50 to 79, and a 55,400-square-foot ballroom was added.
-
The $150 million National Museum of American Jewish History (215.923.3811) at Philadelphia’s Independence Mall held its grand opening last November. Billed as the nation’s only museum dedicated to chronicling the American Jewish experience, it includes 25,000 square feet of gallery space, an education center, a 200-seat theater and more than 20,000 square feet of event space.
-
Sands Casino Resort Bethlehem (877.726.3777) in the Lehigh Valley will open a 304-room hotel in May that will feature more than 5,000 square feet of meeting space handling groups of up to 200. The casino opened on the site of the former Bethlehem Steel plant in May 2009.
-
The 65,000-square-foot ArtsQuest Center at SteelStacks (610.332.1300) will open in May in Bethlehem. The 65,000-square-foot, four-story, multiuse performing arts center will also feature three outdoor performance venues.
-
The Inn at Pocono Manor (570.839.7111), which opened in 1902, plans to complete a $4 million renovation of its historic main lodge in late spring. The project will include enhancements to 181 of the resort’s 237 guest rooms, along with the entrance, lobbies, meeting rooms and restaurants.
Central Pennsylvania
-
The 75-room Cork Factory Hotel (717.735.3856) opened in downtown Lancaster last spring with more than 6,000 square feet of meeting and event space. A Historic Hotels of America member, it is part of a mixed-use project in industrial buildings dating to 1865.
-
Harrisburg’s Pennsylvania Farm Show Complex & Expo Center (717.787.5373), which has almost 1 million square feet of indoor space, recently completed a $9 million upgrade project.
Western Pennsylvania
-
The LEED Gold-certified CONSOL Energy Center (412.642.1800) debuted in Pittsburgh last August with a grand opening concert by Paul McCartney. Home to the NHL’s Pittsburgh Penguins, the $321 million multipurpose arena replaces the Penguins’ former Mellon Arena. Meeting space includes four areas accommodating up to 160 guests.
-
Stage AE (412.229.5483) concert complex, opened in December next to Pittsburgh’s Heinz Field. Named after its sponsor, Pittsburgh-based American Eagle Outfitters, the new venue has outdoor seating for up to 5,500 and up to 2,400 seats for indoor concerts.
-
The $16.2 million Monroeville Convention Center (412.373.7300) recently opened with more than 100,000 square feet of space accommodating up to 5,400 attendees. The state-of-the-art facility is located 12 miles east of downtown Pittsburgh. Adjacent to the center is the completely renovated, 191-room Doubletree Pittsburgh/Monroeville Convention Center (412.373.7300).
-
The Erie Art Museum (814.459.5477) opened an expansion last October. The project combines 10,500 square feet of new construction with 15,000 square feet of renovated space in historic buildings. The addition triples gallery space and includes a new temporary exhibits gallery, a new 250-person performance space and new public meeting space.
- The $79 million, 150,000-square-foot Kovalchick Convention and Atletic Complex (724.357.5222) opened in March adjacent to Indiana University of Pennsylvania in Indiana.