Most of July was hot and humid, with temperatures in the 90s and drought-like conditions. However, the second half of the month brought lots of rain, which was much needed but stalled any outside work. With breaks in the rain, crews were able to pour most of the concrete by the Convention Center’s Main Entrance. The first footsteps on freshly poured concrete are going to take place the first week of August. The entire project should be completed in late summer to early fall, followed by a celebratory ribbon cutting.
Hickory Construction Company is still working onsite to complete a few more projects, which include:
- A canopy/covered walk area is slated to be installed very soon, connecting the convention center's main entrance to the parking deck. While this project may sound simple, it has several stages and could take a few months.
- We hope to begin striping the wooden gymnasium floor in the Multi-Purpose Sports Complex by the beginning of September. This includes striping for basketball, volleyball, and pickleball courts. However, this has been delayed due to customers using the space in August. Once the striping is complete and other steps are taken, the floor needs 45 days to rest before it can be used for tournaments and other events.
- We are still awaiting the installation of the new upscale lighting features in the renovated Catawba Meeting rooms. These added features will give clients the option to change lighting colors throughout the room to fit their event theme and create a striking ambiance.
The month of July continued to be a busy month for the convention center as events continued to take place in the original space. The first official meeting was held in the renovated Catawba space on July 17. To learn more details on this monumental event, read about it here.
The North Carolina Association of County Directors of Social Services conference is the first group to use the entire building, which is another milestone in this extensive project. The three-day conference began July 31 and brought 1,100 social services professionals from across the state to the Hickory Metro Convention Center. They are using the entire space, including the Multi-purpose Sports Complex, which will play host to food stations during one of the conference’s larger sessions.
Renovations to the new office area for the Hickory Metro Convention Center and Visitors Bureau staff (formerly a few offices and the Visitors Center) and Catawba County Economic Development Corporation (EDC) staff are complete. Staff began moving into their renovated spaces at the end of the month. However, it will take a while to get completely settled in.
We are thrilled to partner with the Catawba Valley Community College’s (CVCC) Furniture Academy on the addition of bench seating in the Catawba meeting room hallway. This area is also equipped with outlets and charging capabilities. Pictured below are Catawba Valley Community College representatives Clint McCorkle, Process Coordinator at the Furniture Academy; Mark Jordan, Furniture Director at the Furniture Academy; Gary Muller, Executive Dean of Economic Development and Corporate Education; and Mandy Pitts Hildebrand, CEO at the Hickory Metro Convention Center and Visitors Bureau. This partnership allows us to showcase part of Hickory’s furniture manufacturing heritage, and we are discussing further partnership opportunities with the Furniture Academy.
The installation of the wooden gymnasium floor in the Multi-Purpose Sports Venue was completed in July, except for the striping. As mentioned above, the striping will take place beginning in early September.
The first reception was held in the 2,500-square-foot space on July 31. This space offers floor-to-ceiling windows and an elegant open concept. While there are still plans in the works for how this space will continue to take shape, it is exciting to see it being used for its first event. Some of the future plans include a 32-foot wide by 9-foot-tall video/screen wall, potential historical and information displays, and more. More information will be shared on this space as plans develop.
Additional Updates Include:
The all-new audiovisual system throughout the entire building is 95 % complete and was tested during the social services conference. The last piece of this huge AV project will be the installation of the video wall mentioned above.
Lots of activity at the Hickory Metro Convention Center and as we like to say, “Turning Dirt Is Progress.” Last but not least, an updated Parking Map for customers is below.
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.