Deseret Peak Convention Center set to open

(Tooele Transcript Bulletin) The county’s new $2 million convention center at Deseret Peak Complex will be finished on budget and on time for the Tooele County Fair opening next week.

The approximately 20,000-square-foot center, which took about nine months to build, is expected to be used by local and out-of-town groups. County commissioners backed the project in the hopes it will be a moneymaker for Deseret Peak, which is heavily subsidized by the county.

“We’re hoping it gives us a lot more opportunity of what we can offer,” said Mark McKendrick, director of the county parks and recreation department. “I think having it will make a big difference in what we can do.”

The building, which was built onto the south side of the existing indoor arena, contains six meeting rooms with folding walls that allow the entire area to be opened up into one large hall. The facility also features a kitchen that opens up into the center lobby, to the outside, and to the indoor arena. Office space, including a conference room and a reception area for the parks and recreation department, is also included in the facility. And there is a new ticketing area and additional restrooms.

The convention center project, which was designed by Salt Lake City-based Edwards & Daniels Architects, and constructed by Cal Wadsworth Construction, also includes an outdoor stage. The second level of the building consists of storage space. Space at one end of the building enables a forklift to place things up top.

The facility features “green” elements, according to McKendrick, including translucent panels upstairs to allow natural light in and energy-efficient lighting, cooling, heating and insulation throughout the building.

Tooele County Commissioner Jerry Hurst, who spearheaded the project, said marketing for the convention center is being done through Deseret Peak marketing specialist Lindsay Sundloff.

McKendrick said the first event to be held at the new center — not including the county fair, which will utilize the building in some way — is a Tooele High School class reunion in September. Other meetings, including a state Joint Highway Committee meeting, are also booked, according to Hurst.

He added he expects the convention center will be used for things like conferences, rallies, weddings, and class reunions.

“I guess there’s a lot of potential there and I guess some of it we anticipate and some of it we won’t,” he said, adding there has been interest in holding events like a Scout Jamboree, and a fire marshal state convention.

McKendrick added there will be school district training held once a month at the convention center for a year.

“We’re looking at a fee schedule that’ll accommodate different kinds of groups,” Hurst said.

Rates being considered include an event rate of $80 per room, or $480 for all six rooms.

“That’s kind of a base, but you know if we have nonprofit groups, groups that are raising money for charity, those kinds of things, we might waive or reduce it depending on the group,” Hurst said, adding county officials been speaking with various convention centers to see what they do.

McKendrick said in the past many people have needed meeting rooms for events they wanted to hold, and with the new convention center, they’ll be able to be accommodated.

Hurst said people will be welcome to wander through the facility at the county fair.

A ribbon-cutting for the facility will be held as part of the Chamber of Commerce’s monthly luncheon on Sept. 23.

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