The David Lawrence Convention Center

Pittsburgh, PA
Completion: 2002

This brilliant convention center compliments Pittsburgh's reputation as the city of bridges and excellence in engineering design. The entire roof structure of the building is comprised of suspension cables, just like a suspension bridge giving ceiling heights in the main exhibit space ranging from 34' to 125'. The genius of this design not only compliments the city's historic nature, but allows a main exhibit space with no columns and a floor plan of 357' X 830'. This space, and others in the center, are divisible with huge operable acoustic walls. The entire facility provides up to 1.5 million square feet of exhibit space, including conference rooms and lecture halls. All spaces within the facility host modern services ranging from telephone to high-bandwidth international videoconferencing. 

Principals of Bernhard Shipps and Associates, Inc were responsible for the acoustical design of base-building noise and vibration control issues, as well as interior designs to ensure comfortable environment throughout all convention center spaces. Acoustical challenges of this space included an immediate adjacency to one of the northeast's busiest freight railway lines, a cantilevered area over a major roadway in Pittsburgh, assistance in the acoustical design of the huge operable walls, and use of a fabric roof system in some parts of the convention center with large rooftop mechanical equipment nearby.

Architect: Rafael Viñoly Architects PC

Last modified: July 10, 2008