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Chicago Convention Center Information

McCormick Place

McCormick Place
Attracting nearly three million visitors each year, McCormick Place is North America's premiere convention facility. Named after Colonel Robert R. McCormick, the center first opened in 1960 at 320,000 square feet. Over the years, the center has been expanded and upgraded multiple times, with the most recent addition being the McCormick Place West Building. Opened in 2007, the West Building boasts 460,000 square feet of exhibit space, 250,000 square feet of meeting space and one of the world's largest ballrooms.

Today, McCormick Place is the largest convention center in the United States and encompasses four buildings – North Building, South Building, West Building and Lakeside Center. Overall, the center covers an astounding 2.6 million square feet of exhibit halls. It boasts 173 meeting rooms offering 600,000 square feet of space; four ballrooms, two of which are the largest in the city; the 4,249-seat Arie Crown Theater; three additional 300-seat theaters; and assembly seating for 18,000 people.

Its amenities are equally impressive. The on-site business center offers copying, printing and document finishing services, computer rentals, shipping options and more. Internet and networking services are available, as is wi-fi in facility restaurants. Chicago Restaurant Partners offers award-winning catering programs for groups of all kinds. Hungry attendees can also stop by one of several food outlets, which range from fast food to full-service dining, while guests needing a break from a long day of meetings can take advantage of the Relaxation Stations, which offer upper-body massage services. Additional amenities include ATM machines, complimentary coat checks, shoe shine services and a 24-hour convenience center.

McCormick Place Grand Concourse

McCormick Place is connected to 800 luxurious rooms at the Hyatt Regency McCormick Place. Only minutes from downtown, the center also manages two parking lots, offering space for a total of 5,000 vehicles, and can be reached by public transportation. To travel within the center itself, sky bridges and public walkways serve as links. The Grand Concourse runs between the South Building and North and Lakeside buildings, and is home to a number of restaurants and retail shops.

In addition to expansive facilities and first-class amenities, McCormick Place offers planners a chance to make their events sustainable. Committed to doing its part to protect the environment, the center has undertaken many green initiatives including the use of compact florescent bulbs, biodegradable flatware and serving ware in the food courts, and 100 percent recycled paper products in facility restrooms. The center's West Building also attained LEED certification from the U.S. Green Building Council, making it the largest new construction facility in the nation to do so.

McCormick Place is consistently recognized by the convention industry, both locally and nationally. Its accolades have included: Best Convention Center and Exhibition Space in 2006 by Illinois Meetings + Events magazine, Planner Choice Award in 2004 by MeetingNews magazine and Excellence in Convention Facilities in 2006 by MeetingNews magazine.

2301 South Lake Shore Drive
Chicago, IL 60616
Phone: 312-791-7000

Other meeting facilities in the Chicago region

Festival Hall at Navy Pier

600 East Grand Avenue
Chicago, IL 60611
Phone: 312-595-7437
Total Meeting Sq Ft – 170,000

The Grand Ballroom at Navy Pier

600 East Grand Avenue
Chicago, IL 60611
Phone: 312-595-7437
Total Meeting Sq Ft – 18,150