About The Project

After 18 months of construction, the Hickory Metro Convention Center expansion and renovation are complete. The Hickory Metro Convention Center facility now offers approximately 165,600 square feet, all on one level, with 132,000 usable square feet for meetings and events. There will be approximately 110,000 square feet of interconnected flat-floor exhibit space and ancillary small meeting rooms and pre-function spaces. Details on the completed project are below.

An additional 46,194 square feet were added, which included:

• A 35,000-square-foot multi-purpose hall with a 30-foot clear ceiling height and wood flooring. This type of gym flooring is known as a "floating floor system" and is known to be the floor system that NBA teams like the Pacers and Celtics practice and play on. 

This space is ideal for many types of sporting events. The space accommodates four basketball courts, eight volleyball courts, and twelve pickleball courts. Nets, goals, and court dividers are provided onsite as well as scoring flip charts for volleyball and scoreboards for basketball. This space is also ideal for cheerleading, dance competitions, gymnastics, wrestling events, and more.

The space can quickly transform into an open trade show floor plan by covering the floor allowing for trade show booths to setup and more! 

Multi-Purpose pre-function Space: 

An area that will eventually highlight our region's cultural heritage and furniture manufacturing history will be located in a 2,500-square-foot space. This is located directly beside the new front entrance and boasts an open floor plan concept with floor-to-ceiling windows, self-contained restrooms, catering space, an outdoor terrace, and video display capability. This room has already been utilized for networking events, cocktail receptions, and more. The large digital screen (32 feet x 9 feet) offers clients a way to showcase branding initiatives digitally. 

As plans are adopted, this space will take shape to showcase this region's history of not only furniture but also our hospitality roots with displays, murals, and more. Our team looks forward to the updates on this part of the project and will continue to update as plans are implemented in this space. 

Alterations and updates throughout the entire building:

• Upgrades to finishes, lighting, and audiovisual took place throughout the entire building. The existing Catawba meeting rooms (the 2005 addition) received an extensive overhaul with an all-new airwall track system that will be used to divide the large space into multiple smaller rooms; lower ceilings were installed, and upgraded wall finishes and carpets were installed. 

• In addition, the main hallways were reconfigured, allowing additional room to expand and renovate the restrooms in that area. The renovations include updated tile, lighting, and “touchless” amenities. There are also two additional family restrooms with changing stations. 

• An extended canopy was placed over the existing (Main) North Entrance. This expanded canopy will allow for coverage from inclement weather at this main drop-off and entry point. 

• A new covered walkway connection from the existing parking deck to the main entrance was added to allow coverage from inclement weather. 

• 2 additional small meeting rooms were added to the building in what was previously underutilized space. 

• Enhanced video signage and wayfinding screens were added to the exterior of every meeting room throughout the convention center.