The existing facilities were constructed in the late 1960’s.  Desiring a more competitive facility, the City undertook a master plan study.  The plan called for the expansion in a parking lot to the north with ties to the existing facility by bridges over a service road.  The master plan was shelved due to concerns over parking availability downtown.  A private developer is currently in construction of a design build project.

Cost verification survey. The feasibility study for this expansion was performed in 1996. When the expansion of the facility became eminent, it was necessary to verify that the funds available could still cover the cost of the project. The facility is in the design phase to expand to the north of the existing. The project is made more complicated by a design build project underway on the same block.

The Minneapolis Convention Center is 800,000 square feet and situated alongside Grant Street on the southern edge of the City's central business district. The project consists of 300,000 square feet of exhibit area, 30,000 square feet of ballroom area and 50,000 square feet of meeting rooms. In addition there are full restaurant and catering facilities.

The expansion is to includes two exhibit halls, meeting rooms, a theater and an underground truck dock. The new exhibit halls will be stacked so that one is below grade and the other above; contiguous with the existing three domed structures. The lower exhibit hall will serve as an alternate banquet hall. The project is currently in the design phase and modifications to the program are expected.

Completion: 2003

The program called for  about 200,000 gross square feet with a 60,000 square foot exhibit hall,  20,000 square foot multi-purpose space and about 20,000 square feet of meeting rooms.  McCleskey Consulting's role  was that of a consultant to the Design Team, advising the MEP Engineer-of-record on design criteria and the special needs of this particular building type.

 This was a very complex expansion of the existing facility adding over 50,500 Square meters (550,000 square feet).  The structure was to be built mostly over water with parking and truck access on shore.  On top, there was to be a plaza and a hotel.  McCleskey Consulting's role was, as a consultant to the Developer, verify the design criteria for the Mechanical Engineer-of-record and the Electrical Engineer-of-record.  The project was terminated in October 1999.