Reagan Center Gives Capital A New World-Class Venue

Washington's newest landmark building, the Ronald Reagan Building and International Trade Center, is shaping up as a major venue for meetings, events and trade shows coming to the city.

The 3.1 million-square-foot mega-facility was completed last year with the mission to create a national forum for trade promotion, and is distinguished as the first federal building designed for use by both the government and the private sector.

It is home to such high-profile federal tenants as the U.S. Customs Service, the Environmental Protection Agency and the U.S. Agency for International Development, as well as various international business offices.

But its functionality is not limited to its vast office space. A 65,000-square-foot conference center, designed with input from meeting and event planners, is available for groups, which have access to various meeting services, stately reception areas and advanced communications technology.

"I think our space is ideal for technolgy-driven companies and those that utilize technology to make meetings more effective," said ITC vice president Giles Beeker.

The center has an 11,500-square-foot exhibition hall that can accommodate 68 booths and 1,500 attendees.

A 625-seat amphitheater is equipped with translation services for six languages, video and data projection and an advanced sound system.

Clustered around the amphitheater are 20 meeting rooms, also wired for high-tech needs. Each room has videoconferencing capability and high-speed Internet and fiber-optic wiring.

The ITC's conference center includes a 7,900-square-foot ballroom and various pre-function areas for receptions, including a 125-foot-high glass atrium with an elegant stone staircase. In-house catering is available, as well as a food court and upscale restaurant.

Last month's NATO Summit was the largest and most complex event held at the facility to date. ITC served as headquarters for 3,000 press members and was home to all six official press conferences. The facility catered lunches for up to 43 world leaders, and its conference rooms housed various NATO meetings, including one held regarding Kosovo.

"An event of that magnitude and complex security demonstrates how our facility can be used for even the most diverse needs," Beeker said.

On a smaller scale, the District of Columbia Bar has used the facility for its one-day educational program and lunch each month since September and plans to bring its 2000 winter convention there as well.

"Before the ITC opened it was very difficult to find space for our program in local hotels without a large room block because many of our attendees live in the D.C. area. The trade center location has proven very successful," said Theresa Inniss, the DCB's certification coordinator in Washington.

Security at the trade center for all events is much stricter than at many other meeting facilities because of the federal offices it houses. Attendees planning to park in the 2,000-car garage will encounter security guards who examine the car's interior and trunk and use a mirror to check under the vehicle.

Inniss said she has informed her attendees of the security checks prior to events and it has not been a problem.