G-20 to Meet at David L. Lawrence Convention Center in Pittsburgh

The David L. Lawrence Convention Center (DLLCC) in Pittsburgh, PA, the first and largest Gold LEED-Certified convention center, will be the location for the G-20 Conference being held September 24 and 25, 2009.

Designed by Rafael Vinoly Architects, the building is an amalgam of great aesthetics, functionality and sustainable design.

Ahead of its time, the building, completed in 2003, seamlessly integrates efficient structure, sustainable technologies and "green" materials into an efficient and dynamic building, setting the new benchmark for convention centers and large exhibition spaces around the world.

The suspension roof of this 1.45 million-square-foot convention center integrates into a single sweeping gesture the contextual, environmental, structural, and programmatic requirements of the project.

Its design takes inspiration from the historic suspension bridges that span the Allegheny River adjacent to the riverfront site and provides the latest chapter in Pittsburgh's long history of engineering and technological innovations.

This unique steel cable structure made possible a naturally-lit and column-free, 250,000-square-foot exhibition hall.

With energy conservation at the forefront, the Convention Center was built on the brownfield site of the building it replaced.

This reduced the need for a new infrastructure system and made use of the existing public transit accessibility by light-rail, water and bus.