The Cobb Convention Center Atlanta celebrated on May 21 the placement of the final steel beam in its $190 million expansion and renovation project.
The construction tradition of “Topping Out” saw members of the Cobb-Marietta Coliseum & Exhibit Hall Authority, staff and the construction team sign the final steel beam, which was then raised and put in place as part of the new building. The beam was also adorned by an American flag and a tree. The tradition of placing a tree atop a structure has its origins in Scandinavian culture, dating back over a thousand years. The topping out ceremony marks a major milestone, signaling that the framework of the project is nearing completion.
“Now that the bones of our convention center expansion are nearly complete, our partners at Holder Construction will now shift from steel to concrete, walls and systems,” said Charlie Beirne, General Manager and CEO of the Cobb-Marietta Coliseum & Exhibit Hall Authority.
Progress on the convention center’s expansion will continue throughout 2026, with an expected completion in spring 2027. The expansion includes:
- An elegant, new, two-story grand entryway
- A new, 7,200-square-foot junior ballroom
- 11 new meeting rooms and an executive boardroom, totaling 24,000 square feet of state-of-the-art meeting room space with enhanced graphics and technology
- A unique, 11,000-square-foot outdoor event courtyard and a separate garden, both allowing natural lighting to penetrate interior conference room spaces
- New, connected parking with covered, all-weather access into the expanded facility
- Overall addition of 13,000 square feet of indoor event space
After a four-month closure for extensive renovations, Cobb Convention Centre reopened in January 2026 and welcomed back guests with a fresh look and enhanced facilities. The demolition of the Galleria Specialty Shops paved the way for the ambitious expansion project.
Completed renovations at the Cobb Convention Center include:
- Exhibit Halls – New tunable LED lights with three color temperatures and color-changing capabilities; a new Grab N’ Go market in Hall A and renovated fixed food outlets in the additional three halls; renovated restrooms
- Ballroom and prefunction– new carpet, wall coverings, chandeliers, wood finishes, restrooms, lighting systems and speakers
- Rotunda – new terrazzo flooring, glass railings, wood finishes and signature sculptural chandelier
- New fixed and digital signage throughout
- Renovated, state-of-the-art kitchen with all-new equipment, pastry kitchen and expanded pantry
Rule Joy Trammell & Rubio (RJTR) serves as project architect, Holder Construction is construction manager on the project, and Impact Development Management serves as owner’s representative and project manager. These team members have extensive experience in complex design and construction projects across the Southeast and the U.S.
The convention center remains open throughout 2026. For more information, visit cobbconvention.com/renovation/.
