Commissioners Get Sneak Peek at New Convention Center

Raleigh, N.C. — Wake County leaders and the media received a guided tour through the new Convention Center in downtown Raleigh Tuesday.

There is still a lot of work to be done on the $222 million project, but officials hope to have it open in 2008. The center cost $42 million more than the original estimate, and officials say a lot of the increase had to do with rising construction costs.

"If for any reason we do have to look forward any additional cost, I'm sure that the construction company will keep that at a bare minimum and the county commissioners will hold them to that,” said Wake County Commissioner Lindy Brown.

The new Convention Center will include more than 500,000 square feet of space, with 19 meeting rooms, an exhibit hall and a ballroom.

An attached four-star Marriott hotel is also scheduled to open at around the same time.