Dive Brief:

• A Las Vegas Convention and Visitors Authority committee has recommended, according to the Las Vegas Review-Journal, that the third and final construction contract for its $1.4 billion convention center expansion and renovation project be awarded to the joint venture of Martin-Harris Construction and Turner Construction (Martin-Harris/Turner JV). The LVCVA board of directors is scheduled to vote on the contract on Tuesday, May 14. 
• The construction manager at risk (CMAR) contract provides for payments of a $3.5 million fixed fee for preconstruction services, 2.6% of the cost of construction services and 2.2% of the cost of change order work. The third phase of work will include the renovation of the existing 3.2 million square feet of convention center space. 
• Martin-Harris/Turner JV was the highest-scoring bidder, beating out AECOM Hunt and The Penta Building Group for the committee’s recommendation. The renovation is expected to start in 2021 and finish in 2023. 

Dive Insight:

The joint venture also has contracts for the first and second phases of the convention center project — one for $2.6 million of preconstruction services and the other in the amount of $792 million for a 1.4-million-square-foot expansion. The contract includes a guaranteed maximum price of $758 million, a $4 million owner allowance and a $30 million owner contingency. Total project costs are $935 million. 

The work for the second-phase expansion will feature 600,000 square feet of new, contemporary exhibit space equipped with modern technology. The addition is scheduled to be ready in time to host the International Consumer Electronics Show in January 2021.

Many cities are upgrading or building new convention center space in search of the economic boost these venues generate, and San Diego could be next.

The San Diego City Council recently voted to put a convention center expansion package on the 2020 primary ballot, according to the Times of San Diego. The measure would raise hotel taxes in order to provide not only $1.7 billion for a revamped convention center plus land, but an additional $1.8 billion for homeless shelters and services and $551 million for road repairs. The project would add about 400,000 square feet to the existing venue, increasing its size to more than 1 million square feet.

Memphis is underway with a smaller, $200 million renovation of its downtown convention center, according to The Commercial Appeal, but officials are hoping it will grow the city's already $3.5 billion tourism industry. About 2,000 hotel rooms are in various stages of development in downtown Memphis as well, including a 500-room Loews, which will help meet the demand generated by the bigger convention center.