DeVos Place Convention Center
Encyclopedia
Grand River (Michigan)
The Grand River is the longest river in the U.S. state of Michigan. It runs through the cities of Jackson, Eaton Rapids, Lansing, Grand Rapids, and Grand Haven.-Description:...
in downtown Grand Rapids
Grand Rapids, Michigan
Grand Rapids is a city in the U.S. state of Michigan. The city is located on the Grand River about 40 miles east of Lake Michigan. As of the 2010 census, the city population was 188,040. In 2010, the Grand Rapids metropolitan area had a population of 774,160 and a combined statistical area, Grand...
, Michigan
Michigan
Michigan is a U.S. state located in the Great Lakes Region of the United States of America. The name Michigan is the French form of the Ojibwa word mishigamaa, meaning "large water" or "large lake"....
, USA, is a multi-purpose convention center. It is named for Richard DeVos
Richard DeVos
Richard DeVos, Sr. is an American businessman, co-founder of Amway along with Jay Van Andel , and owner of the Orlando Magic NBA basketball team...
, who donated $20 million towards its construction.
The Convention Center features a 162000 square feet (15,050.3 m²), column free exhibit hall, 40000 square feet (3,716.1 m²) ballroom and 26 individual meeting rooms (32,000 square feet). Twelve spacious loading docks (with a wash bay and marshalling area), allow for easy access into the exhibit hall.
The convention center is owned by the Grand Rapids-Kent County Convention/Arena Authority and managed by SMG.
DeVos Place is part of a vibrant downtown entertainment district featuring over 50 dining establishments, nightclubs, four museums and the 12,000 seat Van Andel Arena, all within walking distance.
Grand Center
DeVos Performance Hall has hosted concerts including B.B. King, Barenaked Ladies, James Taylor, Tori Amos and Harry Connick, Jr.; comedians such as Jerry Seinfeld, Bill Cosby and Ron White; and family shows including Dora The Explorer Live, Bear in The Big Blue House Live, Blue’s Clues Live and Thomas & Friends Live.
The new lobby of DeVos Performance Hall was unveiled in June 2002 as part of the DeVos Place Expansion project. The renovated lobby includes a beautiful terrazzo floor, new box office with an outside window and a scrolling marquee. Also part of the renovations were new restroom facilities located on the north side of the theater on the second and third floors.
Internal renovations include refurbished theater seating, as well as new wall and ceiling finishes, new flooring and enhanced colored accent lighting to refresh the house interior and adjoining entry paths. New balcony light fixtures were added along with freshly redesigned balcony fronts that have improved sight lines.
Civic Auditorium
The Civic AuditoriumAuditorium
An auditorium is a room built to enable an audience to hear and watch performances at venues such as theatres. For movie theaters, the number of auditoriums is expressed as the number of screens.- Etymology :...
facade
Facade
A facade or façade is generally one exterior side of a building, usually, but not always, the front. The word comes from the French language, literally meaning "frontage" or "face"....
remains from the original structure, which faces the Amway Grand Plaza Hotel
Amway Grand Plaza Hotel
Amway Grand Plaza Hotel is located in Grand Rapids, Michigan and is named after Amway Corporation, which is based in nearby Ada Township.Originally known as The Pantlind Hotel , Amway Grand Plaza Hotel reopened in 1981 after extensive renovations done by Marvin DeWinter & Associates including the...
.
Grand River Promenade
The Grand River Promenade, the official name for the skywaySkyway
In an urban setting, a skyway, catwalk, sky bridge, or skywalk is a type of pedway consisting of an enclosed or covered bridge between two buildings. This protects pedestrians from the weather. These skyways are usually owned by businesses, and are therefore not public spaces...
, goes between the DeVos Place Convention Center and the Van Andel Arena
Van Andel Arena
The Van Andel Arena is a 10,834-seat multi-purpose arena, situated in the Heartside district, of Grand Rapids, Michigan. After a $75 million construction effort, the arena opened on October 8, 1996 and since has attracted over five million patrons. It is home to the popular Grand Rapids Griffins...
.