Oregon Convention Center (OCC)
The Oregon Convention Center (OCC) is the largest convention center in the Pacific Northwest. A significant landmark on the Willamette River in central eastside Portland, the center’s dual glass and steel towers symbolize its significance as a cultural and economic asset for the region.
After a recent expansion doubling its size, the center is nearly one million square feet, making it a venue of choice for conventions, industry tradeshows, annual meetings, banquets and large public events. The center’s two grand ballrooms, 50 meeting rooms, 250,000 square feet of exhibit space, full-service catering, and top-notch staff can handle events of any size, from 10 to 10,000. The center hosts 600,000 visitors to about 500 events each year. About half the visitors come from outside Portland.
Visual delights abound throughout the center, including exceptional views of the surrounding mountains, the Willamette River, and downtown Portland. And, the center boasts an extensive public art collection.
Complementing Portland's "green" reputation, the OCC is considered a leader among convention centers nationwide by embracing sustainable design features and practices and routinely updating the facility with the latest technologies. The center was the first in the nation to receive a LEED-EB rating by the US Green Building Council and is now the first to be recertified and elevated to LEED-EB Silver. The center is a Portland General Electric Earth Advantage® certified building and, in 2003, won a BEST (Businesses for an Environmentally Sustainable Tomorrow) Award for its innovative “Rain Garden” stormwater management system, which provides natural filtering of rainwater from its expansive roof. The center’s award-winning, earth-friendly design employs extensive use of natural light and uses a comprehensive recycling and composting program to recover reusable materials.
Portland's light rail system provides easy access to the Oregon Convention Center for residents and visitors from near and far. Out of town visitors can take the "MAX" light rail directly from the Portland Airport to the center, to their hotel, and to downtown Portland. The center’s central city location and its proximity to public transit makes for a more convenient and easier transportation experience for those attending the center’s events.
The OCC has generated over $5 billion in total economic benefits and has contributed to creation of 78,120 jobs in the tri-county region since opening in 1990. This figure includes $137 million in tax revenue generated from center activities which have helped to pay for local services.
Visit the OCC web site.