Architects Raise Concerns About L.A. Convention Center Renovation

A group of eight prominent architects said a proposal to overhaul the Los Angeles Convention Center has major flaws that will negatively affect the surrounding neighborhood and needs to be redesigned. Acting as advisers to Los Angeles Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa, the “Vision Team” said that stretching the building over Pico Boulevard would create a long, dark tunnel that pedestrians would have to cross to enter the facility. A new ballroom and hall for the convention center has been a part of Anschutz Entertainment Group’s pitch to build an adjacent 76,000-seat downtown football stadium. The Vision Team said the city needs to spend more time and at least $50 million redesigning the convention center. In a report released this month, the group recommended relocating the proposed ballroom or adding a glass tower to let in more light; however, its findings were never presented to the city Planning Commission because plans were already too far along. The commission approved the project two weeks ago. The City Council is scheduled to vote on the project’s environmental impact report on Friday. The convention center currently has 720,000 sq. ft. of exhibition space and 147,000 sq. ft. of meeting space. dailynews.com