Pennsylvania Convention Center – Overview

Whether it’s a professional conference, a colorful display of flowers, an impressive lineup of shiny new cars, or a sports event, the Pennsylvania Convention Center is ready to host the hundreds attendees that pass through its doors on an annual basis.

Visitors to the Pennsylvania Convention Center will not only experience an outstanding venue, but spend time in Philadelphia. Arguably the most important city in United States history, Philadelphia is a huge destination for millions of tourists, historians, professionals, students, educators, and more. The Pennsylvania Convention Center is a well-known structure in this inherently American city, and blends its modernity with history.

Location and history: The Pennsylvania Convention Center is located right in the center of Philadelphia’s historic downtown, a place with tremendous historical importance. Philadelphia was the birthplace of America’s independence. It also served as the first capital of the United States, and was once the largest city in the country. World-famous landmarks are within a short walk of the Pennsylvania Convention Center’s front doors. It offers unbeatable views of the outstanding City Hall. This building was completed in 1901 and serves as the government seat for Philadelphia to this day. It’s also less than a mile from Independence Hall, the birthplace of both the Declaration of Independence and U.S. Constitution. Rittenhouse Square, one of the original squares planned for the city by William Penn, is less than a mile away from the Pennsylvania Convention Center. If that isn’t enough, the convention center sits right in Philadelphia’s vibrant, colorful, and beloved Chinatown. The Philadelphia Convention Center is surrounded by history, yet uniquely modern. It serves as an example of Philadelphia’s duality: a modern city built around some of the oldest, most historical places in the country. Those attending conferences at the Pennsylvania Convention Center won’t have to leave the building to experience some of Philadelphia’s past. Architects designed the convention center as part of the historic Reading Terminal, which dates back to 1892. Reading Terminal was once a hub for long-distance and regional passenger trains, many of which still exist under the SEPTA Regional Rail system. The terminal’s train shed is now Pennsylvania Convention Center’s Grand Hall, the most striking and impressive part of the building. The Pennsylvania Convention Center isn’t the only establishment that has taken up residence in the former Reading Terminal. Reading Terminal Market, an incredible, bucket-list destination for foodies, is located inside the structure as well.
Size: At a grand total of one million square feet, The Pennsylvania Convention Center occupies four city blocks. It reached this impressive size after an expansion in 2011, which increased the convention center’s size by more than 60%. The Pennsylvania Convention Center is the 14th largest facility in the nation. It includes 679,000 square feet of exhibit hall space, 87,408 square feet of ballroom space, the 34,960-square-foot Grand Hall, and meeting rooms that add up to a total of 240,542 square feet. The 87,408 square foot figure is comprised of two ballrooms: the Grand Ballroom, which is 32,000 square feet, and the Terrace Ballroom, which is 55,408 square feet. The Terrace Ballroom is the largest in the northeast and can accommodate 6,000 attendees. It’s the size of a football field and is conveniently partitionable, enabling the flexibility to host events of any size.
Meeting rooms: The Pennsylvania Convention Center features 82 meeting rooms, the layouts of which have been approved by the Philadelphia Fire Marshall. There are four different styles that the rooms can be set up in: theater, classroom, banquet, or conference room. Event planners can visit the Pennsylvania Convention Center’s website to learn more about the specifics of each setup.
Advertising: Events that would benefit from event promotion can take advantage of the Pennsylvania Convention Center’s advertising opportunities. The venue has promotional spaces on their website, video display boards and 10 way-finding kiosks throughout the building, and 18 cell phone charging stations with digital screens on top. All of these locations are available to share information about your event and potentially reach thousands of people. Advertising within the venue provides added legitimacy and compliments any promotional materials that have already been released.
Events: The Pennsylvania Convention Center hosts hundreds of events a year, such as cultural showcases, sports events, job fairs, comic conventions, annual meetings, professional trainings, and expositions for various industries. The venue also has recurring keystone events, including the Philadelphia Auto Show, which attracts 250,000 attendees each year, and the Philadelphia Flower Show, the largest and oldest flower show in the world. The Philadelphia Flower Show is by far the most popular event the venue hosts. Created in 1829 by the Pennsylvania Horticulture Society, the show still attracts hundreds of attendees from all over. The Philadelphia Flower Show includes breathtaking garden displays, world-renowned competitions, floral presentations, and arranging demonstrations. The International Festivals & Events Association named the Philadelphia Flower Show the best event in the world, beating out major events like the Kentucky Derby, Indianapolis 500, and other celebrations around the globe.
Art: After the Pennsylvania Convention Center’s expansion in 2011, the budget for fine art was increased to welcome more pieces. Before this, the convention center had an existing collection of fine art. But this additional funding expanded opportunities for Pennsylvania artists to be featured and seen by thousands in one of the largest facilities in the country. The collection of art is now known as the Pennsylvania Convention Center Art, or PCC Art. The pieces on display represent a wide range of styles, techniques, and mediums, and displayed for all attendees to enjoy.
Theatre: Those hosting an event in a theater have the opportunity to utilize the Michael A. Nutter Theatre, named after the 98th mayor of Philadelphia. This 600 seat, multi-purpose theater contains a G4 film screen, a 4K cinema projector, and 7.1 surround sound. With this set up, your presentation will be state-of-the-art.
Sustainability: The Pennsylvania Convention Center has prioritized sustainability for decades. They began using safe cleaning products long before any kind of award or recognition was given. The venue also focuses on reduced water use, energy efficient LED lighting, expanded recycling options, and a reflective roof. Reflective roofs are especially beneficial in the summer, redirecting the sunlight and heat to cut down on air conditioning costs. This sustainable choice provides increased energy efficiency and less fossil fuel consumption.
Giving back: The Pennsylvania Convention Center is committed to giving back to the community by strengthening education programs around the city of Philadelphia. The center contributes to the training of future hospitality professionals by donating $1.5 million a year to Philadelphia Academies Inc., Mercy Career & Technical High School, and Philadelphia Opportunities Industrialization Center.These three vocational high schools focus on preparing students to achieve their career aspirations by combining education with job readiness. The schools provide students a practical, project-based curriculum that fosters necessary skills needed for career readiness. Schools such as these are especially created to assist under served and disadvantaged youth. Not only does the Pennsylvania Convention Center prepare future professionals to enter the field, but host hospitality career fairs to support the employment of local Philadelphians. Large hotel chains, such as the Four Seasons Hotel Philadelphia, have hosted massive job fairs for hospitality professionals at the Pennsylvania Convention Center. In addition to supporting future professionals, The Pennsylvania Convention Center has made a commitment to supporting businesses owned by minorities, women, and disadvantaged and underutilized individuals. Philadelphia is an incredibly diverse city, thus conducive to expanding inclusion programs.

Tips

Review the Pennsylvania Convention Center’s safety procedures. Philadelphia is the second-largest city on the east coast, so it’s only responsible to review all protocol in place. Your event will most likely not need to act on this information, but it’s important to be aware. Plus, the convention center makes it so easy to access, understand, and share this information.
Take advantage of the free Wi-Fi. Free wireless internet access is available for Pennsylvania Convention Center guests on all concourses and the Overlook Café area. The WiFi is capable of supporting the maximum amount of attendees permitted in each room.

Trivia

At the time of its construction, the train shed was one of the largest structures containing a single-span, arched roof. Single-span indicates that the roof is only held up on either end, and doesn’t have supports in the center to prop it up throughout. Arched roofs are impressively self-supporting, provide increased space, improve acoustics, and resist strong winds and rain. The majority of Victorian-era train sheds had arched roofs with clear panels, creating a well-lit, spacious atmosphere. Many modern train stations feature curved roofs for the same effect.
The Readington Terminal’s train shed is the only remaining Victorian-era train shed in the country. Because of its history, the government named the train shed a National Historical Landmark in 1972. It’s now one of 62 National Historic National Landmarks in Philadelphia. Other landmarks include Christ Church, Edgar Allan Poe’s former home, First Bank of the United States, and Philadelphia City Hall.