DUKE ENERGY CONVENTION CENTER

Located in the heart of Downtown Cincinnati, the Duke Energy Convention Center is now 55-years-old and in need of significant updates that will make it more attractive, useful, flexible and environmentally friendly in a way that will last for decades.

At the request of the City of Cincinnati and Hamilton County, 3CDC is leading the effort to reimagine the space. The upgraded building’s exterior design is expected to feature an elongated glass façade while the inside will house 12,000 square feet of modernized, extended exhibit hall space, upgraded meeting and ballrooms, as well as major improvements to building systems and technology making it much more energy efficient. The project also includes an expected two-acre park and outdoor convention space across Elm Street onto the former Millennium Hotel site that was adjacent to the convention center. 3CDC has hired Messer Construction to serve as construction manager who will work in a partnership with TriVersity Construction and Jostin Construction. The organization is currently working to finalize the budget and scope, with plans to break ground on the project in 2024.

The revamped convention center will be complimented by a convention headquarters hotel conveniently located directly across the street, just south of the convention center. Portman Holdings, a developer with experience overseeing many similar projects, has been recommended by stakeholder groups in the Cincinnati region to enter into exclusive negotiations with 3CDC to serve as the developer of the hotel. The hotel could include up to 800 rooms, 60,000 to 80,000 square feet of flexible meeting space, 15,000 square feet of retail, a pool, outdoor amenity deck, plus junior and senior ballrooms. Construction is expected to begin in 2024.