PHILADELPHIA, March 4, 2011 /PRNewswire/ -- tvsdesign, a global architectural and design firm, which specializes in convention centers and public assembly design, served as the design architect for the one million square foot expansion of the Pennsylvania Convention Center which opened today in Philadelphia.  

The expansion includes 261,000 square feet of exhibit space contiguous with the existing halls for a total of 527,000 square feet in the same room on the same level.  An additional 81,000 square feet of meeting rooms and 60,000 square feet of ballroom space are organized along a grand public concourse viewed through transparent facades.  

"The expansion will continue the revitalization of the community generated by the initial design of the Convention Center," said C. Andrew McLean, FAIA, tvsdesign principal. "With the new expansion, a bold and dramatic new North Broad Street facade will reinforce the City's important "Avenue of the Arts" initiative."

With the goal of integrating the large expansion into the urban context, tvsdesign worked with a host of city leaders including the historic commission to create a design that fits seamlessly into the heart of the Center City.  The materials of the original national AIA Award winning Convention Center Design are extended into the new addition.

"The design is highly functional yet we hope reflects the history and dignity that is uniquely Philadelphia," said McLean. "It was our intent to create a unified complex of proper civic stature for the City of Philadelphia.  Our work at the Pennsylvania Convention Center, which began 29 years ago in Philadelphia, is extremely important in the history of tvsdesign."

tvsdesign, which has offices in Atlanta, Chicago, Dubai and Shanghai, were a part of the design team with the local Philadelphia-based Vitetta. and Kelly Miaello.

tvsdesign is a global design firm whose award-winning solutions reflect more than 40 years of experience in planning, architecture and interior design. With offices in Atlanta, Chicago, Dubai and Shanghai, the firm's passion for design excellence, sustainability and collaboration produce client-driven results.

tvsdesign is consistently recognized for its work across multiple practice areas including convention and public assembly, cultural arts, retail, work place and corporate office, education, government, hospitality and mixed-use design.  

The firm currently has designs on the boards or under construction for convention centers in Detroit, Cedar Rapids and Des Moines, Nashville's Music City Convention Center and The Pennsylvania Convention Center Phase II. In China, tvsdesign has designed six convention centers including the recently completed Tianjin Meijiang Convention Center, the site of the recent DAVOS World Economic Forum in September.

tvsdesign projects have garnered some of the industry's most prestigious awards including the prestigious AIA Firm of the Year Award in 2002 and numerous sustainable accolades for LEED certified projects. For more information, please visit www.tvsdesign.com

SOURCE tvsdesign