George R. Brown Convention Center steelwork shifts to north end

HOUSTON, Texas (December 11, 2002) - Expansion work at the George R. Brown Convention Center has reached a milestone with the completion of major steel erection on the south end of the building. The shift was made official over the weekend when the final 250-ton crane on site was moved to the north end of the facility to complete steel work there.

"With all the big steel pieces in place on the south side, workers can now begin the process of enclosing that end of the building with the familiar white panels that cover the George R. Brown Convention Center," GRBCC deputy director Stephen Lewis said. "We expect work crews to complete the remaining steel installation on the north end by March before they begin putting on the exterior panels there. The entire expanded convention center should be fully enclosed by summer."

Expansion efforts will nearly double the size of Houston's downtown landmark, extending it the length of a football field in each direction. When work is completed in November 2003, the George R. Brown Convention Center will offer more than 1 million square feet of meeting and exhibit space. Three exhibit halls, for a total of seven, and 62 meeting rooms, for a total of 105, will be added. The larger facility will be connected to the 1,200-room Hilton Americas-Houston hotel that is under simultaneous construction.

The added convention space and new hotel will allow Houston to better compete for the world's largest and most lucrative conventions and trade shows, Lewis said.