THE WILMINGTON CONVENTION

CENTER

Background
The Wilmington Convention Center will be located on the historic riverfront in downtown Wilmington . The facility will serve as an economic catalyst for the region, with construction expected to begin early next year.

The convention center will be built and operated without property tax dollars. State legislation devotes funds from the city’s 3% hotel room tax to build the convention center. Armada Hoffler of Virginia Beach, VA, a nationally known development firm, will operate, maintain and repair the convention center at their expense and will assume all profits or losses. 

Design concepts
Armada Hoffler has engaged RTKL Architects of Washington, D.C. to design the convention center. The public, City Council, and various stakeholders have had an opportunity to provide input and RTKL will now move to finalize their design by the end of this year.

Design inspirations
As an inspiration for the preliminary design, RTKL saw how the skylines of port cities had historically been defined not by the buildings, but by the masts of the ships in port. Their design therefore uses shapes and materials suggestive of masts, sails, and hulls of ships to emphasize our legacy as a port city.

Basics

• 120,000 square-foot convention center on North Front Street
• 270 room Marriott Hotel beside convention center
• Convention Center funded by 3% hotel room tax
• Hotel paid for privately by developer

Timeline

• Design completed by the end of this year
• Expect to break ground in early 2006
• Expect to open center in early 2008