Glass City Center Renovations Bring First Class Meeting Facilities

A new name and a new façade! In 2019, the Lucas County Commissioners announced plans to renovate and expand the Seagate Convention Centre. Along with the plans to change the look of the convention center, the name was changed too. The $70 million renovation and expansion of the newly renamed Glass City Center has brightened the block and brought a whole new look to the area.

While the original footprint of the building hasn’t changed, a second floor was added over the loading dock area to create the Grand Ballroom. The brand new Grand Ballroom boasts of 16,000 sq. ft, can seat up to 900 guests and has a large reception space with a terrace overlooking Fifth Third Field. The ballroom can be used as one large space, or as many as three different spaces. The main Expo Hall has 75,000 sq. ft. of column-free space with 32 ft. ceilings. The Expo Hall can be divided into three, 25,000 sq. ft. halls with separate entrances.

In addition to the renovation and expansion, $1.5 million was dedicated to providing art to the freshly done convention center. Greeting event attendees is “Blue Lupine” by Susan Zoccola, a 30-foot sculpture outside of the convention center on Summit Street. Inside but still visible from outside is “Ladder of Light” by Erwin Redl. These three light pillars are located inside the glass stairwell on Monroe Street and have 700 lights. Once inside, visitors can view “Illuminated Vistas” by Caleb Griffith. It is a series of six screens depicting local scenes, made up of drawings of collected images around the region taken by the public. Stretching along the long hallway walls is a beautiful mural by Yusuf Lateef, Pete Goldlust, and Rachel Richardson honoring Toledo’s jazz history. As you head upstairs, expansive, floor to ceiling reproductions of paintings from the Toledo Museum of Art guide you to the meeting rooms and ballroom. Event attendees will see “Lucid Glass City” by Adam Frank as they walk the hallway to the ballroom.

The renovations made to the convention center are expected to bring $800 million into our community over the next 20 years, according to the Lucas County Commissioners. In addition to the convention center, the adjoining hotel was also completely renovated. The now Hiltons at Toledo Downtown is a dual-branded property with Hilton Garden Inn and Homewood Suites.

Upcoming Glass City Center events:

Camp and Travel Regional RV Show: January 27 – 29

Toledo Auto Show: February 3 – 5

Ohio Novice State Wrestling: February 11

PRO Home and Garden Show: February 24 – 26

Glass City Wine Festival: March 4

Jurassic Quest: March 31 – April 2

Toledo Tattoo Festival: April 21 – 23