New date chosen for convention center design release

After the city of Springfield recently postponed the release of an initial design for the proposed convention and events center, a new date is set for this week.

City officials and project architect Kansas City-based Populous Inc. have scheduled the design reveal for the proposed facility at 4 p.m. Thursday, March 19, at the Discovery Center of Springfield, 438 E. St. Louis, according to a news release. The event originally was scheduled for March 13 but was delayed at the request of the architect, according to past Springfield Business Journal reporting.

“I’m excited that we have reached this point in the process of reimagining the Springfield Expo Center as a true civic center, and how it can serve our community now and in the years to come,” said Tim Rosenbury, director of quality of place initiatives for the city of Springfield, in the release. “I want to thank those who offered their time so far to participate in the community visioning to date. Their participation and input are helping us create an initial concept and vision that we think incorporates your voices, wishes and dreams, and ensures that this facility would be future-proofed for generations to come.”

The city and Populous have held three visioning workshops on the convention and events center, and officials have said the existing Expo Center could be part of the finished project.

On April 7, voters will decide whether to approve 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, which Gov. Mike Kehoe has the sole authority to release before June 30.