Convention center initial design release postponed

The city of Springfield has delayed the release of an initial design for the proposed convention and events center.

"At the request of the architect, the design reveal event at 10 a.m. Friday for the proposed reimagined Springfield Expo Center is being postponed to a later date," city officials said in an announcement this morning. "That date will be communicated once determined."

Kansas City-based Populous Inc. is the project architect. The city and Populous have held three visioning workshops on the convention center, and officials have said the existing Expo Center could be part of the finished project.

On April 7, voters will consider an additional 3% tax on hotel, motel and short-term rental accommodations to help pay for the convention and events center.

The convention center's cost is estimated at $175 million, and additional land acquisition expenses would bring the total up to $205 million. The city is awaiting a $30 million state allocation, for which Gov. Mike Kehoe has the sole authority to release before June 30.