Bloomington, Indiana – After years of planning and delays, the long-awaited expansion of the convention center in downtown Bloomington is finally gaining momentum. With preliminary site work already underway—including the removal of trees and the installation of parking barriers—construction is now expected to officially begin in June.
Formerly known as the Monroe Convention Center, the facility has recently been renamed the Bloomington Convention Center, marking a new chapter in its development. The project, which has been nearly a decade in the making, aims to bring major changes to the current footprint and reshape the way the community uses the space.
At the heart of the expansion is a new 61,000-square-foot building that will be built across College Avenue from the existing convention center. This addition is designed not just to increase capacity, but also to modernize the experience for both visitors and event organizers. Planned improvements to the current facility include the addition of a full-service kitchen capable of serving close to 2,000 people, as well as a green roof that reflects the city’s push toward more climate-conscious infrastructure.
Other major features in the blueprint include a new bus pull-off aligned with the Third Street corridor, a loading dock ramp, and the relocation of key utility lines. Perhaps most striking will be the skybridge over College Avenue, connecting the two buildings and allowing guests to move easily between them, regardless of weather.
However, not every element of the project is moving ahead without complications. A hotel is slated to be part of the larger convention center complex, and while Dora Hospitality has been approved as the developer, discussions are still ongoing with city and county officials about the hotel’s exact placement on the site. Because of this, the hotel’s opening may lag behind the rest of the convention center’s timeline.
Some community members have raised concerns about whether parking will be sufficient once the expansion is complete. But John Whikehart, president of the Convention and Visitors Commission (CIB), believes the area’s existing resources are more than enough to meet the demand.
“We have a number of lots already in place, and the nearby Fourth Street Garage will also help accommodate guests,” Whikehart said.
To provide more information and answer public questions, the upcoming episode of Noon Edition will focus on the convention center expansion. Topics will include current progress, design details, and the potential economic boost the project could bring to Monroe County. Residents are invited to participate in the live show by calling 812-855-0811 or 1-877-285-9348, or by emailing questions to [email protected].
With construction set to begin in just a few weeks, the Bloomington Convention Center expansion appears to be on a solid path forward—bringing new opportunities for large-scale events and tourism in the years to come.
