Phase I of the Kentucky Exposition Center Expansion transforms and modernizes the sixth-largest convention center in the United States. This phase delivers a large-scale, multi-purpose building that significantly increases its capacity while improving flexibility for a wide range of events, including conventions, trade shows, sporting events, livestock, and equine competitions. It will be located directly east of the existing Broadbent Arena and north of the West Wing and will feature the Kentucky Exposition Center’s largest Class A exhibit hall, as well as 
adjacent meeting rooms and offices.

The new facility is a predominantly 1-story, conventionally framed steel building with limited mechanical mezzanines and precast concrete exterior walls. The structure is designed to accommodate large open exhibit spaces with long-span roof framing supported by precast concrete box columns as well as significant roof 
cantilevers at the main entry. The roof system utilizes wide-rib metal deck spanning to steel joists and custom steel trusses spanning to precast concrete box columns. Exterior walls are comprised primarily of precast concrete “sandwich panels”, integrating structure, insulation, and durability into a single system. Foundations 
consist of concrete grade beams supporting perimeter walls and concrete pile caps on deep drilled piers, bearing on rock.

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Renderings
Courtesy of Kentucky Venues, HKS, and Schmidt Associates

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