Minneapolis (Sept. 30, 2021) – Downtown Minneapolis’ newest and most sustainable public green space was officially revealed to the public today. A ribbon-cutting ceremony for the newly redesigned Minneapolis Convention Center (MCC) Plaza featured Minneapolis City Council Member Lisa Goodman and an ice cream social for hospitality and tourism partners. The renovated outdoor space provides even more options for conference and convention groups at what is the largest convention center in the Upper Midwest.

Located on the south side of downtown and designed by Damon Farber Landscape Architects for environmental sustainability, the 2.5-acre MCC Plaza is built on top of an underground parking ramp and includes a large lawn area, a patio deck, updated lighting, and new walkways and seating options. The $2.9 million redesign resulted in a better event space with increased electrical distribution and improved flat space for catering, production and socialization. The Plaza also features irrigation utilizing the Convention Center’s stormwater capture system and an urban meadow planted with native tree, wildflower and prairie grass species to create downtown’s largest pollinator refuge.

“We’re excited to welcome the community, our clients and future meeting attendees to our beautiful new Plaza,” said Minneapolis Convention Center Executive Director Jeff Johnson. “This space, just outside our doors, better connects us to our downtown community with a welcoming and sustainable outdoor area for everyone to enjoy.”

“The redesigned Plaza is a wonderful downtown asset, offering our clients an attractive outdoor location at the Convention Center,” added Meet Minneapolis President & CEO Melvin Tennant. “With the amenities that the MCC provides, there’s no doubt that the Plaza will be a popular venue for a variety of events.”

The City of Minneapolis is pursuing SITES certification for the Plaza. SITES-certified landscapes help reduce water demand, filter and reduce stormwater runoff, provide wildlife habitat, reduce energy consumption, improve air quality, improve human health and increase outdoor recreation opportunities.

For photos and videos of the MCC Plaza and the ribbon-cutting ceremony, please go here.

For more information on holding a meeting, conference or event in Minneapolis, visit www.minneapolis.org/meetings-events/.

###

ABOUT THE MINNEAPOLIS CONVENTION CENTER
The Minneapolis Convention Center (MCC) is owned by the City of Minneapolis and marketed through Meet Minneapolis. The 1.6 million square foot facility features 475,000 square feet of exhibit space, a 3,400 fixed-seat auditorium, 87 meeting rooms and two ballrooms. The MCC is GBAC STAR, LEED and GMIC certified and works to serve its constituencies and stakeholders as the face of Minneapolis to visitors. Learn more about the MCC here.

MEDIA CONTACT
Kevin Kurtt, PR & Communications Manager, 612-767-8118 (o)/952-288-9319 (c), KevinK@minneapolis.org
Or email MeetMinneapolisPR@Minneapolis.org