The
$76-million expansion of the
county-operated Ocean Center is
heading toward the finish line
—on time and on budget. About
100 community leaders recently
got a walking tour sneak preview
of the massive expansion
project and they offered a
collective: “Wow!”
When complete late this year, the Ocean Center
will be the fifth- largest convention/exhibit/arena complex in Florida and the
only one with an oceanfront door step. The construction
is being managed by Volusia County
Government through its onsite representative
OCORP.
The recent tour and snapshot of the project
was given to a variety of community leaders representing
the Tourist Development Council,
tourism officials, business and chamber professionals
and elected leaders.
Volusia County Chair Frank Bruno, a longtime
champion of the project, welcomed the group.
“The expansion of the Ocean Center, along
with the creation of Daytona Live!, across from
Daytona International Speedway and other projects
are adding to the appeal of Volusia County and
attracting more and more people to conventions
here,” said Bruno. “The new Ocean Center has the
potential to attract 5,000 to 10,000 convention
delegates to the area at any given time.”
Bruno added that he is seeking sponsors to
fund the cost of major grand-opening events that
will present the expanded complex to the community
and to the nation’s meeting, convention and
event planners.
Volusia County Manager Jim Dinneen likened
the planned grand opening to an economic development
prize.
“This is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to
command the attention of convention planners,”
said Dinneen. “Through careful planning and
great design, they will see the Ocean Center not
just as a building with a $76 million addition, but
as a $200million complex that is versatile, technologically
advanced and within a few steps of the
Atlantic Ocean.”
Dinneen went on to say the grand opening ceremonies
will recognize the visionaries who
brought the project to life and will roll out the welcome mat
for residents, who can take great pride
in this very valuable community asset.
Noting that the promotional material for the
Ocean Center presents the complex as being “at
the corner of yesterday and tomorrow,” Dinneen
proclaimed “tomorrow starts today” and that the
Ocean Center has been designed carefully to
meet the needs of today’s and tomorrow's meeting
planners.
Ocean Center Director Rick Hamilton presented
the nuts and bolts of the expansion before guiding many
of those in attendance on a hard-hat tour
of the complex. He began by stating the expansion
part of the project is 90 percent complete. Walls are
being painted and terrazzo floor coverings and carpet
are being installed. Renovation of the existing
structure includes interiors that match those of the
expansion, seamlessly blending the two buildings.
While conducting the tour, Hamilton pointed
out numerous features that will make the Ocean
Center a favorite among meeting planners and
operations people.
The entrance features a grand design and the
receiving areas are cavernous, with massive pillars
flanking the exhibit areas and meeting rooms.
Many “back of the house” features are designed for
easy load-in and load-out. The self-leveling receiving
docks are high and wide and access for semi trailers
is generous. Custom double-decker
door/walls elevate vertically, providing impressive
clearance for moving large objects and
exhibits about.
All switches controlling lights in the meeting
rooms, while high tech, are designed for ease of
use. Wireless Internet access is available throughout
the complex. Connecting hallways have been
methodically designed so caterers can serve an
event discreetly without guests seeing delivery
carts and other staging materials. Recessed hooks
have been set into the ceilings so event planners
can hang oversized banners, vehicles or anything
in between, adding visual intrigue to any event.
The complex is designed for energy efficiency
and will be among the “greenest” in Florida.
And with a grant of $3million from the ECHO program,
the Ocean Center will dedicate 55,000
square feet to the presentation of area cultural
information and will display works from the county’s
“Arts in Public Places” program.
The expanded Ocean Center will have 164,000
square feet of interior exhibit space, augmented by
100,000 square feet of outdoor exhibit space. The
banquet hall will have 14,000 square feet and can
handle banquet seating for 1,000. The arena will
have seating for 10,000.Meeting rooms will offer
54,000 square feet of space.
“Considering the design, the flow patterns, the
amenities and services and the location, the Ocean
Center is competing at an entirely new level,”
said Hamilton. “It’s safe to say tomorrow has
arrived.”
