Ribbon-Cutting-Ceremony-to-Inaugurate-Newly-Renovated-Miami-Beach-Convention-Center
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City of Miami Beach, 1700 Convention Center Drive, Miami Beach, FL 33139, www.miamibeachfl.gov
OFFICE OF MARKETING & COMMUNICATIONS, Tel: 305.673.7575 MEDIA ALERT
Tonya Daniels, E-mail: tonyadaniels@miamibeachfl.gov
Melissa Berthier, E-mail: melissaberthier@miamibeachfl.gov
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
November 28, 2018
Ribbon Cutting Ceremony to Inaugurate Newly Renovated
Miami Beach Convention Center
— Followed by Debut of First Public Artwork Commissioned for the MBCC —
WHO/WHAT: Since openings its doors in 1958, the Miami Beach Convention Center
(MBCC) has hosted some of history’s most iconic moments — from
Muhammad Ali’s first heavy weight championship to both the Republican
and Democratic National Conventions in 1972.
Expecting to usher in a new era of monumental events with the recent
$620 million renovation of the now state-of-the-art center, the City of
Miami Beach is hosting a ribbon cutting ceremony to officially inaugurate
the Miami Beach Convention Center on Tuesday, December 4 at 2
p.m., followed by the unveiling of the center’s first public art installation
— a significant mural entitled About Sand by Franz Ackermann at 3 p.m.
Breaking ground in 2015, the renovation includes the creation of an
elaborate grand ballroom, four junior ballrooms, 84 meeting spaces, and
four exhibition halls featuring cutting-edge technology – bringing the
square footage of the building to 1.4 million square feet of configurable
and contiguous space. Built to feed up to 10,000 guests, its multi-million-
dollar, full-size production kitchen is another amenity aimed at attracting
quality international shows and conventions.
As the convention center significantly expanded, so has its resiliency
efforts. The building is now silver LEED certified as a result of recycling
96 percent of material waste throughout construction, implementing a
rainwater collection system, reducing energy consumption by 20 percent
with the installation of low-flow, high-efficiency water fixtures, mounting
glorious sun-shading fins that line the exterior perimeter of the building,
and much more.
The remodeled convention center will feature $7 million worth of site-
specific public art by six internationally recognized artists. Curated by the
City’s Art in Public Places Program, in collaboration with Miami-Dade
County’s Department of Cultural Affairs, this initiative collectively
represents the largest single commission by municipal percent-for-art
program in the United States. The series debuts with Franz Ackermann’s
About Sand. Located on the southeast corner of the MBCC, this dynamic
hand-painted mural is emblematic of Miami Beach’s multi-culturalism,
We are committed to providing excellent public service and safety to all who live, work and play in our vibrant, tropical, historic community.
international tourism and global urbanism. Join the City for an engaging
conversation with Franz Ackermann led by Chana Sheldon, Executive
Director at the Museum of Contemporary Art North Miami.
WHEN: Tuesday, December 4 at 2 p.m. (West Lobby) &
3 p.m. (Southeast Corner on Washington Avenue and 18 Street)
WHERE: Miami Beach Convention Center
1901 Convention Center Drive
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