ANAHEIM : Designer Sought for Center Expansion

In an effort to keep up with increasing competition for convention business, the City Council this week authorized a search for an architectural firm to provide master planning and design drawings for a proposed expansion of the Anaheim Convention Center.

The city will begin soliciting proposals from nationally recognized architectural firms with convention center experience.

Staffers are expected to bring a recommendation back to the council within 60 days, according to City Manager James D. Ruth.

The council’s unanimous decision came after officials reviewed the findings of a study conducted by one of the nation’s top accounting firms.

The study showed that the facility needs a major expansion if it is to remain competitive in the tourism industry.

The study, conducted by Coopers & Lybrand, analyzed the financial feasibility of expanding the city-owned facility, located across the street from Disneyland on Katella Avenue.

The study recommended that the city expand exhibit and meeting space and add a ballroom to the building, which already has nine exhibit halls and a 9,000-seat arena.

Mayor Tom Daly called the consultant’s report “excellent� and said the time to move forward with expansion is now.

“The city of Anaheim has a tremendous investment in the Convention Center,� Daly said.

“We are in danger of losing our great market position, and we need to keep that in mind during this master planning process.�