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Dayton Convention Center Building Renovation

November 12, 2025

LMN Celebrates the Gran Reopening of the Dayton Convention Center

Building Renewal Design: LMN

Photos © CKP Studio

Dayton Convention Center Building Renewal Design by LMN

Seattle, Washington – November 12, 2025 – LMN is pleased to celebrate the completion of the Dayton Convention Center Renovation. The project, originally built in 1973 and expanded in the 1980s, has undergone significant renovations, allowing it to better meet the evolving needs of the events industry.

The building, totaling 297,000 square feet with 150,000 square feet of rentable meeting and event space across three floors, needed space planning and interior updates to satisfy contemporary audiences and event typologies. Developed collaboratively with the client team, the design for this renovation focused on balancing infrastructure upgrades with aesthetic and functional enhancements that aligned with the client’s vision, all while ensuring a competitive facility that can adapt to many different event types with a welcoming, contemporary look and feel.

Leonardo da Costa, Principal at LMN, comments: “The transformation of the Dayton Convention Center is a direct result of our shared vision and commitment to creating a dynamic, future-ready venue. By working collaboratively with the client team, we reimagined every aspect of the facility—from the welcoming new entry and lobby that connect seamlessly with the city, to the flexible event spaces and state-of-the-art amenities that meet the evolving needs of today’s event industry. The new Flex Hall, modernized interiors, and enhanced wayfinding elements ensure that every guest enjoys a memorable, comfortable experience. Together, we’ve honored the building’s legacy while positioning it as a vibrant hub for community, business, and culture for years to come.”

A major element of the updated design is the transformation of the building’s entry and lobby area. Previously featuring an auto-centric entrance, the redesign prioritized pedestrian flow and connection to the surrounding urban environment. The new entry vestibule provides a defined focal point and enhances the visitor experience by offering a more welcoming and accessible arrival. The addition of a terrace above the entrance creates a flexible outdoor event space, helping to integrate the building with the adjacent Levitt Pavilion and park. This reorientation not only improves pedestrian flow but also encourages a vibrant connection to the city, integrating the convention center with its neighborhood.

Inside, the renovation includes modernized event spaces, allowing the Dayton Convention Center to accommodate a wider range of events. A standout feature is the conversion of part of the exhibit floor into a “Flex Hall,” a versatile multipurpose high-level ballroom space that complements the existing hall. The Flex Hall allows the venue to better cater to banquet, meeting, and exhibit events, rebalancing the building’s space offerings to address their current market demand. Floating ceiling clouds and color changing lighting technology help enhance the guest experience, with high-quality acoustic elements for optimum sound quality. This strategic reconfiguration enables the center to host a broader range of events, from large conventions to smaller, more intimate gatherings, all while maintaining seamless service and increased functionality.

Throughout the facility, significant updates were made to enhance interior spaces and create a contemporary feel where design elements assist with wayfinding. The main lobby was transformed with modern lighting, a fresh material palette, and a more cohesive design that emphasizes warmth and comfort. The use of bronze colored polycarbonate mesh scrims in the lobby provides both visual interest and practical navigation, guiding visitors toward the main exhibit hall and aligning with the building’s improved delegate flow. Additional spaces such as the Theater, the Gem City Prefunction space, and the Executive Suite were enhanced with a natural palette of green and blue tones, wood finishes, and textures. Every meeting room and lobby now has digital signage to showcase content, agendas, and sponsor highlights. The renovation also included infrastructure upgrades, ensuring that the building can support modern event technologies and increased capacity, extending the life of the building for years to come.

John Fabelo, Partner at LWC Inc., comments: “Our goal was to make the Dayton Convention Center accessible and welcoming for everyone. By upgrading all major systems and redesigning the entry and exterior, we created a people-focused, pedestrian-friendly environment. The new convention center now supports multiple modes of transportation and reflects the evolving needs of the Dayton region, serving as a vibrant, inclusive hub for the entire community.”

Brian Tennyson, Principal at LMN, comments: “After nearly three years of collaboration, we are proud to celebrate the grand reopening of the Dayton Convention Center with the Montgomery County Convention Facilities Authority, LWC and our project partners. These transformative improvements reflect our shared vision for a modern, welcoming venue that elevates the guest experience and strengthens Dayton region’s marketability as a premier destination for events. We’re grateful for the community’s support and excited for the center’s bright future.”

By blending updated design elements with functional improvements, the Dayton Convention Center renovation represents a clear evolution of the original 1970s structure. The project not only elevates the building’s aesthetic and operational capabilities but also strengthens its position in the competitive event market. By building more direct links with the surrounding urban fabric, the updated design fosters stronger connections between the building, its community, and its ever-growing roster of events.

LMN is the recipient of the 2016 AIA National Architecture Firm Award and is widely recognized for its design of projects that support smart, sustainable cities. The firm has successfully completed more than 50 convention center projects across North America, including the double LEED Platinum Vancouver Convention Centre West; Seattle Convention Center Summit Building; Cleveland Convention Center & Civic Core; Greater Columbus Convention Center Interior Renovation and Expansion; and the Hawai’i Convention Center. The firm’s ongoing dedication to communities at all scales is underscored by its design approach, creating environments that elevate the social experience.

Dayton Convention Center Renovation Design by LMN, Ohio – Building Information

Project Title:
Dayton Convention Center Renovation

Location:
22 East 5th Street
Dayton, OH 45402

Client:
Montgomery County Convention Facilities Authority (MCCFA)

Design Years:
2022-2023.

Construction Years:
2022-2025.

Major Building Materials:
Interior Remodel – New carpet, ceilings and lighting. Ceilings consisted of ACT, Arctura suspended ceiling clouds. Kaynemaile architectural mesh, and wood wall paneling. Exterior – Steel structure for new roof terrace, glass guardrail and concrete terrace pavers, new entry vestibule, and metal panel exterior soffit.

Program:
Remodel and reconfiguration of existing event spaces.

Total Floor Area:
147,000 SFT.

Number of Floors:
3

Project Images

Photography Credit:
CKP Studio.

Publication Drawings:
Courtesy LMN.

Instagram & Facebook:
(at)lmnarchitects.

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Project Credits

Architect:
LMN Architects

801 Second Avenue, Suite 501
Seattle, Washington 98104

LMN Project Team:
Emily Ciaccio, IIDA
Leonardo da Costa, Associate AIA
Magdiel Dahilig, IIDA
Nick Freese
Mette Greenshields, AIA
Tanner Kirchoff, AIA
Lori Naig, IIDA
Alyssa Parsons
Aya Sakurai
Brian Tennyson, AIA
Pamela Trevithick, AIA
Rafael Vinoly, AIA

Prime Architect and Collaborator:
LWC Inc.

General Contractor:
Messer Construction

Structural Engineer:
Shell & Meyer

Civil Engineer:
Burkhardt Engineering

Landscape Architect:
Bayer Becker

Mechanical / Electrical / Plumbing:
CMTA

Lighting Design:
HLB Lighting Design

Acoustics:
Acoustical Systems

Communication:
IMEG

Environmental Graphics:
Catt Lyon Design and Wayfinding

LMN Architects Seattle

Convention Centers