Birmingham–Jefferson Convention Complex

The Birmingham–Jefferson Convention Complex (BJCC) (formerly Birmingham–Jefferson Civic Center) is a sports, convention and entertainment complex located in Birmingham, Alabama. It consists of a 17,000 seat arena, a 3,000 seat concert hall, a 220,000 square foot (20,440 m²) exhibition hall, a 1,000 seat theater and various banquet and meeting rooms and other facilities.

Design

The Birmingham–Jefferson Civic Center was designed by Geddes Brecher Qualls Cunningham, the winner of what was, at the time, the largest open architectural competition ever organized by the American Institute of Architects. The original facility was built between 1974 and 1976 for approximately US$104 million.

A critical component of the competition program was making a viable connection across the elevated I-59/I-20 highway from the Civic Center facility to the existing administrative and cultural facilities surrounding Linn Park to the south. No satisfactory solution to that problem has ever been carried out.

Part of Birmingham's "City Center Master Plan" envisions replacing the existing elevated highway with a below-grade corridor which would simplify interstate access to the downtown area, mitigate the noise and visual effects of highway traffic, and allow for a landscaped plaza to bridge over the highway. If carried out, this plan would finally create the connection between the BJCC and Linn Park.

A major expansion of the BJCC is currently underway. Ground breaking was held on July 21, 2009 for a new multi-purpose convention facility/stadium. On December 17, 2008 the Civic Center Authority Board unanimously chose Populous (formerly HOK Sport Venue Event) to design the city's $550 million facility. The stadium is tentatively scheduled for a 2014 opening.Groundbreaking for Birmingham's dome facility

Arena

The arena, which seats 17,654 for sporting events and up to 19,000 for concerts, was the home of the Birmingham Bulls of the WHA from 1976-1979. It was also the home of the basketball program of the UAB before it moved into an on-campus arena in 1988, and was also home to the Alabama Steeldogs arena football team. Although the arena stands ten stories tall, it actually measures only 75 feet (23 m) from floor to ceiling.

It is also the site of major concert tours, Disney on Ice, American Idol Live!, the Ringling Brothers and Barnum and Bailey Circus, WWE Raw, the PBR Built Ford Tough Series, and other events, including trade shows, and contains an oval-shaped 24,200-square-foot (2,244.5 m²) (110' by 220' (33.5 x 67 m)) arena floor. The arena also contains several luxury suites and a press box. Backstage there are 2 locker rooms and 6 dressing rooms as well as a press room and a VIP Reception area. The arena can accommodate 8 trucks backstage—3 on truck docks and room for 5 more. The arena's four-sided center-hung scoreboard, designed by Daktronics, measures 18' by 18' (5.5 x 5.5 m) on each side. Also on each side is a 7.5'-by-8'8" ProStar 16.5 mm video display.

The BJCC has hosted four Southeastern Conference men's basketball tournaments between 1979 and 1992, five Sun Belt Conference men's basketball tournaments in 1982, 1983, 1984, 1986, 1990 and the 1999 Conference USA men's basketball tournament. It has also hosted the NCAA college basketball tournament serving as first and second round host in 1984, 1987, 2000, 2003, and 2008. The BJCC has been a regional site six times - 1982, 1985, 1988, 1995, and 1997. It was also the site of ECW Guilty as Charged and WWE Armageddon 2000.

In 2009 it hosted the first round tie of the 2009 Davis Cup between the United States and Switzerland. Several tennis stars participated including Andy Roddick, James Blake, Mike and Bob Bryan, and Stanislas Wawrinka.

Three episodes of WCW Monday Nitro (on September 23, 1996; August 18, 1997; and May 1, 2000) WCW Thunder on July 8, 1998. Four episodes of WWE Raw (on February 15, 1999; March 21, 2005; March 6, 2006; and June 1, 2009). Seven episodes of WWE Smackdown ECW (WWE) and WWE NXT (on October 12, 1999; August 1, 2000; July 10, 2001; September 9, 2003; May 1, 2007; January 15, 2008; January 11, 2011). WWE Live Events in May 20, 2002; February 28, 2004; January 16, 2010

Concert Hall

The 3,000-seat Concert Hall was the home of the Alabama Symphony Orchestra before moving to UAB's state of the art Alys Stephens Center. Concerts and touring Broadway and family shows are also held here. It features a 84-foot (26 m)-by-88-foot (25.5-x-27-m) stage with a 24-foot-(7.3 m)-tall proscenium. Its grid height of 105 feet (32 m) makes the concert hall the tallest building in the complex. There is also a pipe organ at the Concert Hall, and backstage there are 2 chorus rooms and 12 dressing rooms, as well as two rehearsal areas and a VIP Reception Room.

Exhibition Hall

The 220,000-square-foot (20,000 m²) Exhibition Hall is used for Birmingham's largest trade shows and conventions. It is divisible into three smaller halls and can accommodate 1100 exhibit booths.

Theater

The 1,000-seat Theater is used for operas, ballets, and smaller concerts and stage shows, and is also home to the Birmingham Children's Theatre, the nation's largest children's theater. The theater contains a 46-by-70-foot (14-by-21-meter) stage and a grid height of 58 feet (17.5 m). There are 2 rehearsal areas, 2 chorus dressing rooms and 6 dressing rooms, including a star's dressing room.

Other facilities

The complex contains 64 meeting rooms totaling 100,000 square feet (9,300 m²) of meeting space, including a 16,000-square-foot (1,500 m²) ballroom that can seat up to 1,200 for banquets.

The ten-story Medical Forum, with meeting space, a 275-seat auditorium, classrooms, conference space, and offices, is also located here.

The adjacent 838-room Sheraton Birmingham Hotel provides a large ballroom and other convention and meeting facilities nearby.

See also

• List of concert halls

References

• Adams, Les, editor (1969) Birmingham-Jefferson Civic Center National Architectural Competition. Birmingham, Alabama: Birmingham-Jefferson Civic Center Authority.
• Geddes, Robert L. (1986) Principles and Precedents: Geddes Brecher Qualls Cunningham. Process Architecture No. 62. Tokyo: Books Nippan. ISBN 4-89331-062-3

External links

• Birmingham–Jefferson Convention Complex