Orlando’s Orange County Convention Center (OCCC)

As the second largest convention center in the country, Orlando’s Orange County Convention Center (OCCC) simply offers more amenities, more options and more services than you are likely to find anyplace else. Known throughout the meetings industry as “The Center of Hospitality”, this incredible facility brings more than 200 events to the Central Florida area each year. As a result, roughly 1.4 million attendees contribute approximately $1.4 billion to the area’s economic impact annually.

The West Building of the OCCC is bright and beautiful, with its tropical atriums, soaring skylights and intimate courtyards. And then, there’s the meeting space itself—over one million square feet of exhibition space all on one level, plus 49 meeting rooms/141 breakouts.

Additional features of the West Building include a 200-seat Lecture Hall and the 2,643-seat Linda W. Chapin Theater, designed to support all forms of entertainment as well as seminars, product introductions, awards events and competitions. The audio and lighting systems in this stellar venue have been designed with video archiving and broadcasting in mind. Webcasting is also a snap with the high speed data capabilities in the Theater.

Connected by a pedestrian bridge with moving sidewalks, OCCC’s dramatically designed North/South Building houses an additional 950,282 square feet of exhibition space, with two acoustically-engineered general assembly areas, 25 meeting rooms and 94 breakouts.

Service and convenience are just two more reasons why meeting planners and guests rave about this grand convention center complex. Three superb full-service restaurants with panoramic views of the exhibition halls, three business centers, advanced technology, including wireless mobility throughout the facilities, sophisticated audio and lighting options and in-floor utilities, further exemplify the OCCC’s unique marriage of space, aesthetics and thoughtful design.

Speaking of convenience, Orange County Convention Center has partnered with the world’s most famous theme parks – Universal Orlando, SeaWorld Orlando and Walt Disney World - to provide on-site services for planning a myriad of entertainment options for attendees before, during and after an event.

The Orange County Convention Center is not only known for being the second largest convention Center in the nation and ‘The Center of Hospitality”, but is also becoming national recognized for its green initiatives. The OCCC, in partnership with OUC—The Reliable One, was awarded a $2.5 million grant from the state of Florida to be used, along with other funding sources, to install a one-megawatt solar photovoltaic (PV) system. The largest rooftop PV system of its kind in the southeastern United States, the solar panel project will be complete and celebrated on May 20, 2009, during the general session of the Green Cities Florida 2009 conference at the Center.

In addition to the grant, OUC is contributing $1.5 million to the project and will receive 10 years’ worth of Renewable Energy Credits in that amount. The PV system utilizes high-efficiency, flat-plate collectors that occupy approximately 200,000 square feet of roof space on the North/South Building. The one-megawatt solar PV system will generate 1,300-megawatt hours of electricity per year, which is equivalent to the power used by 100 typical homes, and it will do so without producing any greenhouse gas emissions. The benefits of generating electricity with solar energy include reducing energy costs, while helping to reduce global warming and dependence on foreign fuels.

This $8.8 million multi-purpose project also features a Climate-Change Education Center (CCEC) inside the Convention Center to promote the many environmental and economic benefits of solar and other renewable-energy technologies. A grand opening and ribbon-cutting ceremony for the CCEC will be held during an evening reception on the first day of the Green Cities Florida 2009 conference on May 19, 2009.

The Orange County Convention Center has become an industry leader in environmental best practices, beginning in early 2007 when it became the first convention center in the U.S. to become ISO 14001 Certified for its recycling program. Other green projects at the Center include purchasing recycled products, using reclaimed water for landscaping irrigation, installing Xeriscape plantings, using Green-Seal certified cleaning products and installing waterless urinals and low-flow faucets, to name a few. In addition to its facility-related green initiatives, the Convention Center works closely with event organizers to support their efforts for green events, shows and meetings.

For more information about the Orange County Convention Center, visit our Web site at www.occc.net.

Orlando’s Orange County Convention Center (OCCC)