Plans move forward on Miami Beach convention center upgrade

Miami Beach’s outdated convention center is closer to a significant upgrade after officials agreed to settle the remaining funding issues over its master plan for the $55 million, six-year project. Design firm Arquitectronica will create the plan in a two-year, $5 million, design phase that will be complete by June 2012. Construction, will begin Jan. 1, 2011 and will cost $49 million. A convention center study recommends expanding exhibit space, adding a ballroom and 25,000 square feet of new meeting space, a rooftop venue, and another convention center hotel. [Miami Today News]