As Los Angeles prepares to welcome the world for the 2028 Olympics, the city is simultaneously redefining its hospitality infrastructure. At the forefront of this evolution is the Los Angeles Convention Center (LACC), a venue currently undergoing a $2.6 billion monumental architectural upgrade.
Historically, the facility has grappled with an infrastructural challenge: Pico Boulevard bisects the space, physically isolating the South Hall from the West Hall and forcing attendees to navigate between disconnected lobbies. The new modernization plan resolves this decades-old division, fusing the property into a single, cohesive campus equipped to host the future of global events.
About the expansion of the LACC
The renovation wil give a big boost to the venue’s overall capacity, expanding the footprint across all primary event categories. Here is exactly how the new floor plan breaks down:
- Total Exhibit Space: Upgraded to 912,575 sq. ft. (a 193,000 sq. ft. addition).
- Contiguous Exhibit Space: Increased to 750,575 sq. ft. on Level 1.
- Multi-Purpose Space: Expanded to 146,000 sq. ft. (a 98,000 sq. ft. addition).
- Meeting Rooms: Boosted to 140,500 sq. ft. (a 38,500 sq. ft. addition).
Architectural highlights and key upgrades
The triumph of the new layout is what they call the “keystone” — 193,000 square feet of brand-new exhibition space suspended directly over the traffic of Pico Boulevard. This structural bridge finally unites the South and West Halls.
With the campus fully integrated, the facility required a singular, iconic entrance. The solution is the Skynode, a sculpted entry atrium defined by its abundance of natural light. Lastly, the Multi-Purpose Space will be a flexible 98,000 sq. ft. hall accommodating up to 9,700 guests for lectures or 6,500 for banquets. It features an advanced operable wall system and a glass-wrapped prefunction corridor with skyline views. This space connects with a rooftop terrace with panoramic views of downtown LA and the Hollywood Hills.
Construction timeline
- Zero Event Disruptions: The LACC will remain fully operational during construction. Work is strategically concentrated behind the facility to minimize impact.
- Spring 2028: Major construction finishes.
- June – October 2028: Total construction pause so the LACC can host the 2028 Olympic and Paralympic Games.
- Spring 2029: Final project completion.
With Los Angeles now two years away from hosting the 2028 Olympics, the Convention Center expansion will soon become one of the most closely watched infrastructure projects in the city.
▶️ If you are curious about the progress of the expansion, the LACC has a “construction cam” in which you can check out how the construction is going!
