Behind the Glass: CHI Health Center Omaha’s Expansion Takes Shape
Drive along Riverfront Drive these days and the $200 million expansion of CHI Health Center Omaha is no longer an idea on a rendering – it’s a building. With the exterior glazing now substantially complete, passersby are getting their first real look at what the finished east expansion of Omaha’s convention center will offer the city.
“We’re just over a year out from the expansion being complete, and you can feel that shift with every phase of construction,” said Adam Straight, President and CEO of MECA. “What’s rising along the riverfront is going to change how people experience downtown Omaha, and how our city competes for the events that bring visitors here.”
CHI Health Center Omaha Expansion Timeline
According to Katie Bassett, MECA’s Vice President of Capital Projects and Development, work on the CHI Health Center Omaha convention center is progressing on multiple fronts at once:
- Exterior glass and glazing is substantially complete, offering the first clear preview of the finished expansion from Riverfront Drive.
- Metal paneling will begin later this summer on the north end of the expansion.
- Floor slabs continue to be poured throughout the building.
- Framing for individual meeting rooms and event spaces is ongoing.
- Utility work — plumbing, HVAC and electrical — continues in tandem with the structural progress.
“With the exterior of the east expansion taking shape, you can finally see the vision becoming a reality,” Bassett said. “It’s an honor to work on a project that’s going to shape how Omaha hosts events for decades to come.”
CHI Health Center Omaha Renovation: Restrooms and Meeting Rooms Completed
Construction isn’t limited to the new expansion. Inside CHI Health Center Omaha’s existing footprint, renovation work reached a pair of milestones just this month:
- The first set of remodeled meeting rooms is nearing substantial completion, expected by the end of this week, and will welcome its first event next week.
- The first set of remodeled restrooms is complete, featuring updated tile, countertops, partitions and fixtures for a brighter, more modern look.
Expansion and Renovation Completion Dates
The $200 million expansion is now just over a year from completion, while the broader renovation of the existing convention center is expected to wrap up near the end of 2027. Meeting and event planners can follow along with progress updates as the project tracks towards its finish date.
“Every phase we complete, from the first finished restroom to the glass now framing our skyline, builds towards the same goal,” Straight said. “We’re building a venue that matches the ambition of this city, and Omaha is going to be proud of what comes next.”
Adam Straight, President and CEO, Metropolitan Entertainment & Convention Authority (MECA)