Orange County Board of County Commissioners Selects Populous + C.T. Hsu, a Joint Venture for Expansion
The Orange County Board of County Commissioners (BCC) has authorized its staff to begin contract negotiations with Populous + C.T. Hsu, a Joint Venture to provide architectural and engineering design services for the Orange County Convention Center’s (OCCC) North-South Building Expansion. The selection was made at the Aug. 6 BCC meeting.
“The growth and innovation at the Orange County Convention Center speaks to the strength of our region’s tourism and business corridors,” said Orange County Mayor Jerry L. Demings. “This enhancement continues to sharpen our competitive edge and maintains our position as a dynamic location for conventions, tradeshows and guests from around the globe.”
In July 2018, the Orange County BCC approved a $605 million Capital Improvement Project for two proposed Campus Master Plan projects. Those projects are the Convention Way Grand Concourse and the Multipurpose Venue.
Convention Way Grand Concourse is an enclosed connection between the North and South concourses that includes an additional 60,000 square feet of additional meeting room program and an 80,000-square-foot ballroom. It provides a new grand entry to the North-South Building along Convention Way.
The Multipurpose Venue is a 200,000-square-foot, flexible, divisible, column-free space with a combination of retractable and floor seating to accommodate between 18,000 to 20,000 guests. This project will also incorporate connectivity between the North and South concourses.
These projects will vastly improve the OCCC’s North-South Building, create greater flexibility in booking events, and will keep North America’s second-largest convention center at the forefront of the convention industry. The expected completion of both projects is the fourth quarter of 2023.
"We are pleased to begin work with Populous + C.T. Hsu, a Joint Venture on a project that will significantly improve the convention center as we continue to meet the growing needs of our clients," said OCCC Acting Executive Director David Ingram. "Populous + C.T. Hsu, a Joint Venture has a long-standing partnership with our community that will be advantageous in planning and implementing these projects."
C.T. Hsu + Associates is an award-winning architectural planning and design firm recognized as a past “Firm of the Year” winner by the American Institute of Architects - Florida Association. The Orlando, Fla.-based firm focuses on a mix of projects in the education, civic, transportation and mixed-use development sectors. Its multidisciplinary approach ranges from urban planning and design to architecture and interiors.
