Clark Construction Group joined Georgia Governor Brian Kemp, representatives from the Savannah-Georgia Convention Center Authority (SGCCA), and city and state leaders last week to celebrate the start of construction on the much-anticipated Savannah Convention Center Expansion project. Clark Construction is serving as the construction manager and general contractor.
The $271 million expansion will double the Convention Center’s exhibit hall space to 200,000 square feet, add a 58-foot-wide hangar door, a 40,000-square-foot ballroom, 15 additional meeting rooms, and a 900-space parking garage. The project will enable Savannah to contend for larger conventions and events, driving significant economic growth for the city, Chatham County, and the state of Georgia. The project’s delivery will also serve as a boon to the local economy and is anticipated to create as many as 600 construction jobs over the next 27 months.
Rendering courtesy of tvsdesign and Hansen Architects
The groundbreaking marks a pivotal milestone in the project’s history, which began in 2017, when the Georgia General Assembly first approved the initial funding to begin design efforts in concert with Atlanta-based Thompson, Ventulett, Stainback & Associates (tvsdesign) and Savannah-based Hanson Architects – the two firms that designed the original Convention Center.
Clark first began preconstruction work on the project in October 2018. Over the last 28 months, the company has worked in close coordination with SGCCA, Georgia State Financing, and Investment Commission (GSFIC) leaders to support extensive budgeting efforts, design development, and advance subcontractor procurement.
“Clark Construction was selected for this project because of their experience in constructing conventions centers all over the United States,” said Marvin Woodward, deputy executive director of GSFIC’s construction division. “We certainly look forward to working with them on this major project.”
The Savannah Convention Center Expansion project is the latest in Clark’s portfolio of world-class public assembly work, which includes nearly 22 million square feet of convention center space. Past projects include Music City Center in Nashville, Tennessee, the Los Angeles Convention Center, Walter E. Washington Convention Center in Washington, DC, and McCormick Place Convention Center in Chicago, Illinois. Clark is also part of the team currently delivering the Washington State Convention Center Addition in Seattle, Washington.
Rendering courtesy of tvsdesign and Hansen Architects
The expansion also adds to Clark’s list of active projects in the Southeastern United States, including the Plane Trane Tunnel Expansion at Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport, the Innovation Center at Redstone Arsenal in Huntsville, Alabama, the Canton Wastewater Treatment Plant in Canton, Georgia, and the Albion at the Gulch in Nashville, Tennessee. Most recently, Clark delivered the new headquarters building for the PGA TOUR in Ponte Vedre, Florida.
“We are delighted to partner with SGCCA to bring to life their vision and deliver a world-class facility to the City of Savannah,” said Keith Couch, Clark’s senior vice president overseeing construction efforts on the project.
The project is slated for completion in 2023. The Savannah Convention Center will remain open during the entirety of the expansion project.
