After years of discussions, analysis, research, market evolution and political debate, the Volusia County Council has selected Hardin-Peck as the construction management firm/builder to expand the Ocean Center, Volusia County's entertainment, convention and sports complex. A groundbreaking ceremony will be held at the Ocean Center at 11:30 a.m. December 19.

Expansion got the green light April 24, when the County Council approved a 1 percent increase in the convention development tax to 3 percent. Collections began July 1. Revenues will fund design and construction that will double the size of the current Ocean Center from 225,000 square feet to approximately 475,000 square feet. When complete, the Ocean Center will have added a 100,000-square-foot exhibit hall, 40,000 square feet of meeting space and a 30,000-square-foot ballroom.

The Ocean Center will double in size from its current 225,000 square feet.

The Ocean Center is the 21st largest facility in Florida. When complete, the new Ocean Center will be the fifth largest facility in Florida. Only Orlando, Miami, Tampa and Ft. Lauderdale will have facilities bigger than the expanded Ocean Center.

"This expansion is critical to our ability to compete for larger, more lucrative conventions," said Rick Hamilton, Ocean Center Director. "We have done well with social, military, religious and fraternal events, and some business and special interest events. But if we want to compete for larger groups, we must expand our facilities."

County Council Chair Frank Bruno agrees. He led the charge to expand the Ocean Center with a tireless array of appearances at professional, civic and fraternal groups; in news media interviews; and in workshops and meetings. Presenting with Hamilton, Bruno explained the long-term impact on economic development and quality of life. Hamilton outlined competitive factors and the challenges of filling the calendar with meetings, conventions, exhibitions, concerts and sporting events while serving community needs for graduations, club meetings and a wide range of other events.

"It is exciting to be at the threshold of an expanded Ocean Center," said Bruno. "We have been pursuing this dream for a number of years." The first phase is a parking facility. Its size will be determined by a needs assessment that will be commissioned by the City of Daytona Beach, Bill Geary, who is developing the new Boardwalk area, and the Ocean Center. It likely will call for creation of more than 1,000 parking spaces to support new development. The parking facility will be completed within nine months of groundbreaking, Hamilton said. Work then will begin on expansion of the Ocean Center itself. Construction could occur on this phase of the project in the summer 2004 with completion anticipated in late 2006 or early 2007.