Peoria Civic Center
Award of Merit: Public Works
The Peoria Civic Center has been an entertainment center for concerts and sporting events for Central Illinois since 1979 with an arena capacity of 12,248 and exhibit space of 64,000 sq ft.
After 28 years and hundreds of thousands of visitors, the arena needed to be refreshed. The authority was concerned that the facility was no longer high quality. In addition, it wanted to complete with facilities with wireless technology and upgraded materials.
The Peoria Civic Center is the largest convention facility in downstate Illinois. Additions and renovations were to be completed while the facility remained operational with about 375 events in a year.
The project included adding square footage to the Exhibit Hall, multi-functional meeting space and larger kitchen facilities. Additional upgrades included remodeled glass-covered walkways, new concession food courts and other improvements.
Construction of the new space included an exhibit hall of 110,000 sq ft, new meeting space of 45,000 sq ft, 65-ft-high Great Hall atrium and other facilities.
Upgrading Technology
Facilities were in need of technological advancements, including sound systems, wireless capabilities, decor and advanced building materials.
The civic center includes three venues under one roof—the 2,600-seat theater; 10,000-seat arena and 60,000-sq-ft exhibit space.
Issues included central plant reconfigurations and shut-downs, relocating primary HVAC equipment in the heart of the building footprint, replacement of primary power transformers and feeders and demolishing existing structure over and adjacent to the occupied areas without impacting events or operations.
Jury Comments: “This looks sharp. It was a pretty involved project and plays well in Peoria. It was a test of their determination to help keep the town competitive economically. It has huge buzz locally.”
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