The City of Palm Springs announced today that it is moving forward with the highly anticipated renovation and expansion of the Palm Springs Convention Center, along with new pedestrian upgrades to strengthen walkability between downtown and the Center. The City has released Requests for Qualifications (RFQs) for Architectural and Engineering Services and an Owner’s Representative, marking a major milestone in advancing the $125 million project. This will be followed by the release of an urban design RFQ in late September.

The modernization effort is designed to ensure the Palm Springs Convention Center (PSCC)—a cornerstone of the city’s tourism and hospitality economy since 1984—remains a premier regional and national destination for conferences, exhibitions, and community events. Building on a previous expansion in 2005, the project will address deferred maintenance, improve multipurpose and outdoor meeting space capacity, enhance sustainability, and strengthen connections between the Convention Center, downtown Palm Springs, and surrounding neighborhoods.

The project will be delivered in multiple stages:

• Stage 1: Interior renovations, facility upgrades, and critical capital projects.
• Stage 2: Expansion of the Convention Center’s eastern entrance to increase capacity for large-scale/outdoor events.
• Stage 3: A master plan update and neighborhood improvements, including pedestrian, multimodal, and streetscape upgrades.

As convention districts become the standard for successful convention cities, planners and event managers increasingly expect seamless connections between facilities and their surrounding neighborhoods. The connectivity component of this project will deliver on that expectation by strengthening links between the Convention Center, downtown Palm Springs, and adjacent districts. These enhancements will create a more vibrant, accessible, and welcoming environment for residents, visitors, and convention-goers alike.

The City is exploring several funding approaches for the Convention Center and related infrastructure. These include consideration of a potential citywide Tourism Infrastructure District  alongside Measure J, Measure A, and other financing tools. An additional goal is to adopt fiscally sustainable policies that ensure Convention dollars are reinvested back into the facility and community.

Mayor Ron deHarte emphasized the importance of the project, stating: “The City’s objective in originally building and expanding the Convention Center was to support and enhance the tourist and convention business. Looking ahead, by 2030, Palm Springs aspires to be the desert's premier center for commerce, community, and culture by leading the way in immersive event technology and sustainable flexible spaces, developing an integrated campus with exceptional accommodations and cutting-edge event venues, and serving as a driving force for regional economic growth that benefits both residents and visitors.”

The RFQs are now live on the City’s procurement portal (PlanetBids), with pre-qualification conferences scheduled for September 17 and 18. Firms selected through this process will play a critical role in shaping the design, construction, and management of this transformative project. Local businesses and firms are strongly encouraged to participate, with the City’s procurement process including a local preference scoring category.

Contact:
City of Palm Springs – Procurement & Contracting Department
Tabitha Richards, Procurement & Contracting Manager
(760) 322-8368 | tabitha.richards@palmspringsca.gov