LA CROSSE, WI — The city of La Crosse, Wisconsin, and Kraus-Anderson recently broke ground on a 32,000-square-foot expansion for the La Crosse Center after years of planning for the $42-million investment in the city’s convention center.

The La Crosse City Council voted unanimously to move forward with plans for expansion and improvements to the 38-year-old municipal center overlooking the Mississippi River. Construction will add a new 12,892-square-foot ballroom and prefunction area; 7,226-square-foot atrium, north side rooftop terrace; seven new meeting rooms; and a reconstructed North Hall. In addition, the project will add connectivity, solar panels, an extension over Harborview Plaza, among other overall improvements.

The project will be performed largely by local contractors, said Tom Roepke, Vice President and Director of Operations for the Madison office, which is managing the construction. Approximately 80 percent of the contracts are being awarded to local contractors, Roepke said.

The renovation and expansion will provide a new ballroom and atrium, and a reconstructed North Hall, among other upgrades, making the facility more of a destination for major acts and attractions. The upgraded facility is expected to draw an additional 15,000 visitors and an addition $9-$14 million in revenues each year.

The project is expected to be completed in late 2021.