Skanska USA Successfully Completes Renovation of Tampa Convention Center.
July 19, 2023: Skanska USA, a renowned construction and development firm, proudly announces the successful completion of the most extensive renovation project in the history of the Tampa Convention Center in Downtown Tampa, Florida. The project aimed to enhance the center’s appeal to locals and business and leisure travelers. The renovation encompassed a 23,500-square-foot expansion and 18,000 square feet of new waterfront rooms, providing flexible meeting and event spaces to accommodate conferences and conventions in the Tampa Bay region.
Working in collaboration with Baker Barrios Architects and Convergence Design, Skanska provided master planning services for this significant expansion of the convention center facility.
Chuck Jablon, Senior Vice President of Construction for Skanska’s Florida building operations, emphasized the importance of elevating Tampa’s convention center to complement the city’s economic and population growth. He expressed pride in contributing to realizing this vision and delivering a project that will bring long-term economic value to the community.
Initially constructed in 1990, the renovations included upgrades to the famous Tampa Riverwalk, such as installing new railings, ADA-compliant ramps, a canopy metal ceiling, and new column wraps. Another notable improvement was the installation of new signage with LED multi-color exterior letters and colorful lights on the facade, enhancing the center’s prominence in the Downtown Tampa skyline.
Tampa Mayor Jane Castor praised the world-class enhancements, stating that the renovation positions the convention center and Tampa as highly sought-after meeting and event destinations.
Throughout the construction phase, the convention center facilities remained operational, presenting challenges for on-site storage. Skanska cleverly utilized Tampa Bay’s pristine waterfront to address this by employing floating platforms to store and transport over 700 pieces of structural steel. This approach significantly reduced the need for 75 tractor-trailer deliveries.
Additionally, the renovation project included extensive upgrades to the heating, ventilation, and air conditioning (HVAC) system. The upgrades involved rebuilding 16 air handling units and installing two rooftop air handling units with two energy recovery ventilator units.
Skanska has long played a pivotal role in transforming downtown Tampa Bay through transformative projects, including the University of South Florida Health’s Morsani College of Medicine & Heart Institute, Julian B. Lane Riverfront Park, and Curtis Hixon Waterfront Park.
The completion of this remarkable renovation showcases Skanska’s commitment to shaping better living, working, and connecting spaces. With over 135 years of experience, Skanska is one of the world’s most significant development and construction companies, operating across select markets throughout the Nordics, Europe, and the United States. The U.S. division, headquartered in New York City, generated $6.9 billion in revenue from construction activities in 2022 and invested $3.5 billion in commercial and multi-family projects as a developer.
The successful transformation of the Tampa Convention Center adds another feather to Skanska’s cap, reaffirming its dedication to creating innovative and sustainable solutions that enhance people’s lives for generations to come.
