The many aspects of inclusiveness

Inclusiveness is increasingly becoming a key feature of any successful event. At the same time, the notion of inclusiveness can mean different things to different stakeholders. Convention centers need to have a clear view on these different viewpoints in order to make sure they meet the different requirements. A key success factor for doing so is to make sure the stakeholders are involved as from the start of the journey.

On June 5, 2024, Calgary’s BMO Centre at Stampede Park celebrated the grand opening of its 565,000 sq. ft. expansion, designed by Stantec, Populous and S2 Architecture. The design work started in 2019, literally on the back of a napkin and resulted in a great piece of architecture, pushing the boundaries of convention design. But equally important was the fact that from day one, a non-architect was involved: Darby Lee Young, founder and principal of Level Playing Field, an accessibility consulting agency. As a result, physical accessibility was incorporated in every part of the design. As Adam Paulitsch from Populous said during a session on the topic at the 2024 AIPC Annual Conference: having Darby on board from day 1 made all the difference.

Darby shared some of her personal experiences with convention centers during the 2023 AIPC Operations summit and while she brought the examples of things which did not work with a lot of humor – e.g., pictures of push buttons being installed at a height which cannot be reached by wheelchair users – it clearly demonstrated the need to have the stakeholders involved when this type of investment is done.

Physical accessibility – not only for wheelchair users but also for people with limited sight, hearing, etc. – is however just one aspect of making a convention center inclusive.

As Ross Steel, CEO of the Te Pau Christchurch Convention Center (New Zealand), mentioned during the same session at the annual conference: it is also important to include local communities in the work being done by convention centers. The Te Pae Christchurch Convention Centre has been designed as Ōtautahi Christchurch’s ‘gathering place’. A key part of the regeneration of the city, the Government’s investment in Te Pae Christchurch is set to act as a catalyst – not only for the growth and development of the city, but as a way of building lasting social, cultural and economic connections between the region and the world.  Local communities should indeed feel involved and connected with the convention centers and the events taking place, resulting in a higher engagement and unique/local experiences for delegates.

A third element to be considered from a convention center point of view is the need for individualized event journeys at the level of the participant. While this should of course be part of the event design, it will also have an impact on the use of the convention center. For example: a delegate attending a medical conference will of course attend sessions and visit the exhibition but might also feel the need to step out of conference for a moment and have some “me-time”. This can be achieved by creating small areas throughout the convention center which allows them to do so. An excellent example is the Montréal Convention Center, which has thematic spaces showcasing the Quebec tourism experience. It is a set of immersive, informal spaces where people can sit, relax and network, varying from an “après-ski station” to virtual cycling lane.

As you can see from the examples above, inclusivity can mean a lot of things and it is important to keep this in mind when addressing the topic at the level of the convention center. It is not only about accessibility but making sure that all who enter the center feel welcomed in an environment which respects their needs and values, something which can only be achieved by partnering with these communities from the very start.

Sven Bossu,
CEO, AIPC

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