San Jose Convention Center
San Jose, CA
This fast-paced project covering over 143,000 sq ft was completed in a short, eight-week time-frame. The $20 million project began in July and was fast-tracked for a September completion. The current Convention Center opened in 1989 and underwent a significant expansion project in 2013, but due to changing needs of high-tech corporate clients and the desire to attract large-scale events, the San Jose Public Works department and Team San Jose, the city’s operator of the center, scoped out a project to meet the requirements of the client while boosting the local economy.
This project included upgrading the lighting, sound system, ceiling, acoustical performance and overall aesthetic. The scope required the work to be done at heights from 30’ to 60’ high working elevation for multiple trades simultaneously, meaning that there were up 70 individual pieces of mobilized aerial booms and platforms maneuvering throughout the space on a daily basis.
Today’s convention clients prefer the open industrial look of exposed ceilings rather than acoustic tiles and the open concept makes it easier to locate structural hang points for complex rigging used to support lights and speakers, fixtures and video screens, and other items that clients demand of a venue. In addition to upgrading the structural components to meet current codes and improve performance standards, Stronghold also upgraded the lighting and controls, and fire suppression and alarm systems.