Meeting News - February 25, 2008 - (Page 12)

Convention Centers Engineering Consultants Cite Design Errors For Partial Building Collapse in Pittsburgh Design firm denies responsibility, points finger at Canadian construction company Pittsburgh—A design flaw and the use of the wrong type of steel are being blamed for the collapse of a large concrete slab that left a 30-by-60-foot hole in Pittsburgh’s David L. Lawrence Convention Center just over a year ago. On Feb. 4, the city’s Sports & Exhibition Authority (SEA) issued its final report on the incident, based on the findings of Wiss, Janney, Elstner Associates, the engineering firm hired by the SEA. According to the report, a defective slot in the steel connection prevented smooth movement of the steel beams. In addition, the choice of steel beam used to build the structure was too rigid, reducing its flexibility. Both of these contributed to the collapse of the beams under the weight of a tractor trailer in the convention center’s loading area last February. In addition to closing the building for a month and canceling several shows, the collapse caused $4 million in damage, half of which was covered by insurance. The SEA is looking to prestigious NYC-based design firm Rafael Vinoly Architects, which designed the convention center, and ADF International, a steel contractor from Terrebonne, QC, Canada, to cover the difference. Rafael Vinoly Architects, however, has denied any Lawrence Center is fixed, but who’s to blame for collapse? liability. “Rafael Vinoly Architects was the firm that created the convention center’s architectural design; however, it did not engineer the building’s structural steel beams, and, more importantly, it was not responsible for the design of the connections between them,” the company said, in a statement given to the Pittsburgh Tribune-Review. Allegheny County councilman Jim Burn told the paper that he thought the process was “far from over,” despite the SEA report. ADF International could not be reached for comment. The David L. Lawrence Convention Center was the first Gold Certified LEED convention center in the United States. Rafael Vinoy Architects is currently involved in designing structures for MGM Mirage’s CityCenter project in Las Vegas. Edited by Elizabeth West elizabeth.west@nielsen.com ‘Friends of Javits’ Lobby to Keep Land New York—In an effort to stem the effects of the scrapped Jacob K. Javits Convention Center expansion plan, a group that calls itself “Friends of Javits” marched up to Albany on Feb. 6 to lobby the Empire State Development Corp. and the New York State legislature, which is currently considering Javits funding as part of its current budget. Now that a significant expansion of the center is moot, the main stick in the craw of the Friends of Javits is the option being considered by the state to sell the land to the north and south of the building to fund other city projects. Selling the land would net approximately $900 million for the state, which announced a $4.4billion budget shortfall in January. But giving up the land around the center would make it impossible for future horizontal expansion, making it likely that large groups would leave New York City in search of other facilities (see Feb. 11 MN cover story). Another problem for the Friends of Javits is the idea of moving a truck marshaling area into the lower level of the convention center. In a statement, the Friends of Javits estimate that the current plan would raise costs for exhibition companies by 30 to 40 percent, making the facility the “highest-cost venue in North America” and driving away key industries, such as fashion and pharmaceutical. The group predicts economic doldrums for the city over the long term if the state legislature approves the plan. Early feedback from Albany disputed the assertion that costs would increase dramatically for Javits clients under the plans now being considered. Spending plans for making up the $4.4-billion shortfall are due from Albany lawmakers on April 1. r www.meetingnews.com New Nashville CC Possible As Prelim Plans are Drawn Nashville—The Nashville Business Journal reported on Feb. 7 that predevelopment plans for a new $595million, 1.2-million-sf convention center in downtown Nashville have been approved. Predevelopment activities could extend from 18 to 24 months and include architectural designs, as well as plans for a headquarters hotel and an on-site 12 MeetingNews parking garage. Nashville’s Metro Development and Housing Agency is overseeing the master plan with an outside planning firm. A 15.6-acre site at 5th Avenue South and Demonbreun Street is the proposed location for the new convention center. A vote for final approval of building construction and issuance bonds would not come until late 2008 or early 2009. Muslim CC Request Denied Walkersville, MD—Walkersville’s board of appeals voted against making a special exception for the Ahmaddiyah Muslim Community to build a recreation and convention center on land known as Nicodemus Farm. The board cited traffic problems and infrastructure burdens associated with a 10,000-attendee annual convention that would use the proposed center. February 25, 2008 http://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/nielsen/mn021108/index.php?startid=1 http://www.meetingnews.com

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