{"id":84353,"date":"2022-11-07T08:00:00","date_gmt":"2022-11-07T13:00:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/retrofitmagazine.com\/?p=84353"},"modified":"2022-11-03T10:50:39","modified_gmt":"2022-11-03T14:50:39","slug":"a-brutalist-convention-center-is-renovated-to-spark-area-redevelopment-and-draw-more-visitors-to-the-city","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/retrofitmagazine.com\/a-brutalist-convention-center-is-renovated-to-spark-area-redevelopment-and-draw-more-visitors-to-the-city\/","title":{"rendered":"A Brutalist Convention Center Is Renovated to Spark Area Redevelopment and Draw More Visitors to the City"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

4th Place, Whole Building<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Constructed in 1974, Renasant Convention Center in Memphis, Tenn., is directly connected to The Cannon Center for Performing Arts, which opened in 2003. Upon completion of The Cannon Center, city leaders began thinking about renovations to the Brutalist convention center. In 2017, design plans were commissioned to create more than $200 million of much-needed improvements, which were completed in January 2021.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Before the transformation, visitors were confronted with a stark concrete structure with its back turned toward the Mississippi River. Now, passing over the river through the Mighty Lights, the convention center welcomes visitors to Memphis with a new metal panel exterior, expansive terraces and a curtainwall glowing with the setting sun. The main goals for the renovation were to attract larger conventions, spark interest in redevelopment of the historic Pinch District, open views to the Mississippi River and bring the outdoors into the building.<\/p>\n\n\n\n