Site work and new construction of a conference / convention center in Chicago, Illinois. Conceptual plans call for the construction of a conference / convention center; and for site work for a conference / convention center.

As of May 4, 2023, this project is in the conceptual phase. A developer has not been selected. A firm timeline for construction has not been determined. The Metropolitan Pier and Exposition Authority (MPEA) has issued a request for information (RFI) for redevelopment of Lakeside Center at McCormick Place. This unparalleled opportunity invites teams of innovators, developers, and architects to enhance and refine an iconic, world-class venue located on the shores of Lake Michigan in the heart of Chicago. MPEA is seeking ideas for new technology, innovations, or attractions to maximize Lakeside Center's potential and economic impact. The Authority is open to any idea but is seeking ideas that complement existing business and support its mission to attract trade shows, conventions, meetings, expositions, and public events. The ideal development will provide new revenue stream(s) for MPEA's operating budget and generate additional economic impact for the City of Chicago and State of Illinois. Submissions must also be designed with sustainability as a core value, reflect a commitment to supplier and workforce diversity, and align with standing MPEA campus labor agreements. An ideal concept will also be complementary to the vision presented by the City of Chicago Museum Campus Working Group. MPEA is open to a variety of financial models, including but not limited to revenue sharing or annual payments. The ideal projects will support MPEA's mission of creating economic impact and generating taxes for the City and State. About Lakeside Center Designed by Gene Summers and Helmut Jahn of C.F. Murphy Associates, Lakeside Center is one of the most significant architectural landmarks in Chicago, with a striking 19-acre roof that cantilevers 75 feet beyond its columns. Summers, a modernist architect, worked closely under Mies van der Rohe and helped design the iconic Seagram Building in New York City. Jahn was known for projects such as the much-acclaimed Sony Center in Berlin and the Thompson Center in Chicago. Ideally located along the shores of Lake Michigan, this iconic four-level pavilion was the first building constructed on the McCormick Place campus and to this day remains an unrivaled architectural achievement by an unmatched architect. Lakeside Center boasts 580,000 square feet of exhibit space across two halls, 141,000 square feet of meeting space including 40 meeting rooms and a 45,000-square-foot ballroom, landscaped outdoor terraces, and the 4,192-seat Arie Crown Theater. Lakeside Center's exhibit halls are already booked 40-60% of the time for the next several years, with more than 250 events scheduled in Lakeside Center and Arie Crown Theater through 2035, making the building an important economic engine for the City of Chicago, the State of Illinois, and the McCormick Square neighborhood. RFI submissions are due no later than 12:00 Noon CST on Thursday, December 22, 2022. Questions about the RFI can be submitted by email to mpeaprocurement@mpea.com until 9:00 a.m. CST on Thursday, December 1, 2022. Respondents are prohibited from communicating directly with any Authority employee (other than Procurement), ASM Global employee or Board Member regarding this RFI. Questions and answers will be posted periodically throughout the RFI process. McCormick Place is the largest convention center in North America. Conveniently located just minutes from downtown Chicago along the shores of Lake Michigan and accessible by all of the city's major transportation hubs, McCormick Place welcomes nearly 3 million visitors annually. The McCormick Place campus is home to some of the world's premier and most-attended conventions, meetings, and trade shows. It offers 2.6 million square feet of exhibit space, 600,000 square feet of meeting space across 170 meeting rooms, six ballrooms, and world-class entertainment venues, all of which attract visitors year-round. The McCormick Place campus is comprised of: Lakeside Center West Building North Building South Building Wintrust Arena Marriott Marquis Chicago Hyatt Regency McCormick Place Energy Center Truck Marshaling Yards Pre-COVID, McCormick Place hosted hundreds of events annually ranging from conventions to trade shows and concerts, attracting 3 million visitors from around the world and generating almost $2 billion in economic impact each year. Pandemic recovery has been strong; for FY23, McCormick Place has secured 114 contracted events that will draw an estimated 2.6 million people and create a projected economic impact of $2.2 billion. McCormick Place also has a strong commitment to sustainability and energy conservation through efforts such as a rooftop garden that grows 8,000 pounds of produce each year to use on-campus, retrofitting lights with energy-efficient LEDs, conserving water with a high-efficiency timed irrigation system, using biodegradable dishware and silverware, and maintaining the 6-acre McCormick Place Bird Sanctuary for local and migratory bird species. The method of contractor selection has not been determined at this time