We are so excited to bring you March’s progress update.
With April it has now been 11 months since the groundbreaking ceremony and the word transformation is an understatement to what is taking place at the Hickory Metro Convention Center.
Hickory Construction Company continues to have at least half a dozen subcontractors on site every workday. The expansion, renovations, and additional upgrades are still on schedule to be completed by the summer of 2024.
Expansion & Addition Update
Great progress continues in the expansion area (Multi-Purpose Sports Venue). In March the walls were painted, while electrical work continued in the ceiling, walls, and the floor throughout the 35,000 square-foot space. At this stage, each week brings exciting new updates and during April we look forward to the installation of the wooden gymnasium floor.
With the addition of the 35,000+ square foot Multi-Purpose Sports Venue, we are adding two new entry points for the building. The doors and glass window panes have been installed in both of those entrances. With these two new entryways, there will be a total of four entrances into the Hickory Metro Convention Center once the project is complete.
Last month we updated on the large glass window panes that were added to the front-facing windows of the multi-purpose pre-function space. During March, this space continued to take shape with crews installing the ceiling, painting, and additional electrical work, as well as starting touches on the restrooms located inside of the space.
Catawba Meeting Room Renovation Update
Within the last week of March, the carpet was installed in Catawba meeting rooms 3-6. With the carpet in place, ceilings lowered, lights installed, and molding throughout the space, we can now really start to envision the look and feel of this newly renovated meeting space. In April the moveable air-walls will be installed. These air walls will eventually allow us to separate the meeting space into smaller meeting rooms based on meeting needs.
Installation has begun on the restroom partitions. These will have a modern silver hammered-metal-look which adds to the beautifully update restrooms. The installation of these are slated to wrap up in April. Just outside of the restrooms is a small "networking nook" which will include bench seating and charging ports. Framing for the bench seating started in March and we look forward to the coming months when students of the Catawba Valley Community College Furniture Manufacturing Academy will create the seat cushions for this space.
Additional Updates
The newly added meeting room, located in the Hickory hallway, is now about 70 percent complete. The temporary wall around this space has been taken down and carpet in that space is scheduled to be installed in April.
Each meeting room entrance throughout the facility will now be equipped with a large display screen. Around those screens "shiplap" woodwork continues and should be completed by early May.
In addition to the many projects within the facility, the convention center offices will receive updated carpet starting in April and the offices in the Visitors Center and Economic Development Office will receive new carpet, renovated offices and kitchen.
In addition to the Expansion and Renovation Updates
Parking spots along 13th Avenue Drive, SE
Construction continues with the additional parking spots along 13th Ave. Dr. SE in front of the Hickory Metro Convention Center, has made slow progress. This stretch of land will become 60 parking spaces for convention center guests. Due to weather, this project is not complete yet but hopefully be complete this spring. This parking project is in addition to the renovation and addition. This is important to share along with the monthly update, as future parking is a common question from event organizers and guests.
Work on replacing the roof on the original building began in March and should be complete in April.
Lots of activity at the Hickory Metro Convention Center and as we like to say, “Turning Dirt Is Progress.”
New Parking Options: Additional parking lots are open on or near the Hickory Metro Convention Center campus. There are three lots: 1. blue, 2. green, and 3. yellow. As always, our parking is free to you. For vendors, the unloading and loading areas have changed a bit as shown on the map above. Please be patient with each other as you are unloading. This "positive interruption" will only be for a short while and we appreciate and thank you for your patience.
Meetings and events are still being held at the convention center during this time of progress. Please remember to "Bear With Us" as we are all a part of this expansion and renovation. A minor inconvenience right now will bring significant growth in the future. If you have any questions, please call 828-322-1335.
