Construction officially kicked off Wednesday on the expansion and modernization of the Los Angeles Convention Center, a $2.6 billion investment city leaders said will boost Downtown’s economy, attract global events and help prepare for the 2028 Olympics.
At a groundbreaking ceremony attended by Mayor Karen Bass, City Council members, state lawmakers and project developers, officials celebrated the start of the project, which is expected to add 190,000 square feet of new exhibit space connecting the existing South and West halls and a 98,000-square-foot rooftop ballroom.
“The expansion of the L.A. Convention Center is critical to our effort to revitalize the Downtown area, create new economic opportunities and send a message to the world that L.A. is ready to compete and win on the global stage,” Bass said in a statement.
City officials project the expansion will support more than 15,000 jobs and generate an estimated $652 million in General Fund tax revenue over the next 30 years, while drawing an additional $150 million in visitor spending each year.
The Convention Center will remain open throughout construction, which is expected to be mostly completed by spring 2028, with final completion slated for spring 2029.
The city has tapped Plenary Americas as its development partner on the project, with construction led by a joint venture between PCL Construction and Webcor. The design team is led by architecture firm Populous, supported by a broad network of subcontractors and suppliers.
L.A. Councilmember Curren Price, 74, was taken to a hospital after experiencing an unspecified health issue during Wednesday’s groundbreaking ceremony. His spokesperson, Angelina Valencia-Dumarot, said he will undergo evaluation to determine what may have caused the incident. Price appeared to be alert as he was taken to the ambulance.