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| Expansion joints in the convention center’s trademark glass tower, above, and the rest of the glass front allow water to seep in.
(L. Todd Spencer/The Virginian-Pilot file photo) |
By RICHARD QUINN
The Virginian-Pilot
VIRGINIA BEACH - The city's $207 million convention center has sprung a leak.
Actually, it's sprung dozens of them.
The intricate steel-and-glass structure has leaked 30 to 40 times since it opened in August 2005, said Jim Partin, project manager with the city's Public Works Department.
During bad storms, water drips from the ceiling, pools at the front doors and blows in through exhaust fans.
The leaks were caused by construction or design issues and are fixed as quickly as they are found, said Courtney Dyer, the center's general manager. No cost estimate is available to fix the problems because the work is covered by the contractor's warranty, he added.
Dyer acknowledged the leaks look bad to conventioneers and meeting planners, especially when there are garbage cans catching water in the city's tourist jewel. But, he said, roughly 40 leaks in 17 months is a minor issue.
"Is that a lot for a year and a half?" Partin asked. "If you had a house, you'd be pretty upset if you had that many leaks. Again, this is a very complex building with walls and ceilings and structural pieces you don't normally see every day."
Talk of the leaks comes as the city prepares to publicly unveil the convention center's second phase on Jan. 19. The full building will host its first event that weekend with the Hampton Roads International Auto Show.
Jim Ricketts, the city's tourism director, said leaks are a common problem.
"I go back three convention centers and the first convention center leaked like a sieve," Ricketts said. "The second convention center, when it had heavy rains, also leaked."
The city's newest center leaks mostly during severe weather such as Tropical Depression Ernesto or the Thanksgiving Eve nor'easter.
Most leaks are traced to construction issues.
When exhaust fans were built in the center's first phase, rain could blow through louvers and drip onto commercial-grade carpet. Those fans are under repair this week and the exhaust system in the center's expansion was built differently to prevent dripping.
Expansion joints in the building's distinctive glass front also have allowed water into the building, as has the trademark tower on 19th Street.
During one bad storm, water covered a patio in front of the building's east end. Officials later realized a temporary plug had been left in the drainage system.
Still, Dyer said, water isn't pouring into the building every time it rains. "We put a little trash can out," he said. "It wasn't like it was a gullywasher."
Richard Maddox, a member of the Resort Advisory Commission and a former City Council member, doesn't expect leaks to hamper the building's convention business, although he said the city needs to address them as soon as they arise.
"You don't want a convention planner walking through the building seeing garbage cans to collect rainwater," Maddox said. "It's pretty obvious it's a work in progress. We're dealing with it."
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Know what you are talking about!!!!
First off Armada Hoffler was not the GC on this project. Turner Construction was.
Secondly, I personally have been to dozens of large conference centers in Atlanta, Richmond, Orlando, and Las Vegas and in heavy rains they all have trash cans about. Leaks happen!!
While I do not agree with everything our city council has done, building a larger convention center is not one of them. Face it folks! We need tourism to survive and as long as it benefits all we should let it be.
Mord condos please
Why dont' they build more condos on top and the roof wont' leak...............
Pressure
If rain enters due to a contracted expansion joint, imagine how it will perform under the pressure of hurricane force winds.
Get what you paid for.
What did you expect for $207 million dollars?
$27 Million
Now we know what city council can do with part of the
"$27 Million surplus dollars". Fix the leaks in the $207 million
dollar convention center that Virginia Beach didn't need.
I was hoping some of that money could be used to get rid of the mice at W.T. Cooke where my children attend school.
The golden touch......not!
Some people have the golden touch.....some don't. We don't. We're idiots who are seduced by the siren call of the architects....practicality be d****. Otherwise, why would we continue to build impractical edifices, especially with our history of incompetence? "I go back three convention centers and the first convention center leaked like a sieve," Ricketts said. "The second convention center, when it had heavy rains, also leaked." So....does that excuse the fact that this one leaks too? It's still brand new! If I had one leak in 20 years it would be a major issue. But, 40 in 17 months? A minor issue? Why is there no screaming? Where are the leaders with the pitchforks and torches, descending on the architects and builders with threats of lawsuits. Why are we so complacent? We've been laughing at the Koreans for proposing major construction projects in the area. Seems they speak lousy English. But, at least, I'll bet their buildings won't leak!
More waste
Just another example of the poor plannign and culture of waste in Virginia Beach City government. Try going to the Hines convention center in Boston. You don't see trash cans collecting water dripping from the ceiling. This is just another reason why the current city government needs to be voted out and a new responsible, accountable, and attentive government voted in.
Raindrops keep falling on my head
"The leaks were caused by construction or design issues..."
A polite way of saying bad design or sloppy construction.
Not surprised!!!
Ha ha -well not really. More money wasted, does the city ever think anything through before they start a project? I have been there, and you can tell just by walking through-it would not be strong enough! I wondered about a hurricane, but rain-caused problems!!!! Go going guys!!! Nothing more appealing then a building with leaks!!!!
Leaks At Beach Convention Center
If you believe the contractor will repair the roof at no cost, I have land in the swamp I'll sell you. If you believe the city council will make the contractor repair and pay, I have more land in China for sale. The contractor will bill the city and they will pay forever as before. Maybe they'll repair the roof, but I doubt it as the city has nobody to collect and enforce all the rules. (Paper tigers)
Convention center
Not only is this building one of the ugliest pieces of construction I've ever seen, but it's not even water tight!