Puerto Rico Convention Center

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The Puerto Rico Convention Center (PRCC), in San Juan, Puerto Rico.

The Puerto Rico Convention Center (PRCC) (or Centro de Convenciones de Puerto Rico in Spanish) is a convention center located in San Juan, Puerto Rico owned by the Puerto Rico Convention Center District Authority, a government agency of Puerto Rico, and managed by SMG. Designed by Thompson, Ventulett, Stainback & Associates, it is the largest convention center in the Caribbean and the most technologically advanced throughout both the Caribbean and Latin America.

1 History
2 Location
3 The PRCC District
4 Facilities and Services
5 External links

[edit] History

The Puerto Rico Convention Center was conceived during the mid-1990s under the administration of Governor Pedro Rosello (PNP) ,started construction under the administration of governor Sila Calderon(PDP) and opened November 2005 under the administration of governor Anibal Acevedo Vila (PDP) at a cost of $188 million. The Center is part of a government initiative to invest heavily in tourism related projects. Other notable projects include the Pan American Port Terminal for cruise ships (located near the PRCC), the Condado Trio Renovation Project, and the Coliseum of Puerto Rico.

It was designed to be the architectural icon of Puerto Rico by the 2002 AIA Architecture Firm Award winning firm of Thompson, Ventulett, Stainback and Associates, along with local Architect of Record Jimenez-Rodriguez Barcelo. The Convention Center has a signature roof imitating a wave, whose theme continues throughout the facility from the 30,000 sq/ft chandelier to the custom designed carpets and door pulls.

[edit] Location

The PRCC is located in the San Juan Peninsula of what once use to be a US Naval Base in Isla Grande. The PRCC is strategically located next to the Isla Grande Airport and the Pan American Port Terminal in order to facilitate guest travel to the Center. The PRCC is minutes away from Old San Juan, the Condado district, the San Juan Central Park (Parque Central in Spanish) and Plaza Las Américas, the largest shopping mall in the Caribbean and Latin America.

The PRCC main entrance.

[edit] The PRCC District

The PRCC is only one part of the planned Puerto Rico Convention Center District (master planned by Sasaki Associates), which consists of a hotel, a residential building with 96 units, office buildings with 50,000 feet of commercial space, a retail and entertainment complex, a cinema, waterfront cafes, restaurants and walkways. The main project is the anchor hotel, which began construction on August 28, 2006 and is projected to open in 2009. The hotel was designed under the idea of an "urban resort", and will feature a casino, ballrooms, a music hall, restaurants and will have 500 rooms. Its main feature will be a rooftop pool with cabanas, tropical gardens and views of Old San Juan and the harbor. The Puerto Rican government selected Starwood Hotels & Resorts Worldwide, under its Sheraton flag, to operate the reported $209 million facility.

[edit] Facilities and Services

Front view of the PRCC. Landscaping is still under construction.

The convention center is able to accommodate groups of up to 25,000 people with a total space of 580,000 square feet (53,882 m²) and 152,700 sq ft (14,186 m²) of total exhibit space subdivided into three halls, all on one level. The center has adjacent parking lots with a total capacity of 1,800 vehicles, although this may be increased in the future.

The facility was designed and constructed to be the most technologically advanced center in Latin America. It can provide broadband and wireless Internet connectivity at high speeds, video conferencing, and simultaneous language translations, among others throughout the center. All meeting rooms and ballrooms are equipped with Ethernet connection and capabilities. It also has a Business Center which assists business guests and attendees by providing computer and typewriter rental, printing, secretarial service, copying, fax transmission and receipt, package shipping, office products, and other services. A Central Security Office is located within the center, and provides 24 hour security and medical assistance, and modifies it services depending on the activities' and organizers' needs. The Center also has inhouse catering, concessions and cleaning services for any and all activities.