Address: 333 S Franklin St, Tampa, FL 33602
Work: KENPAT provided exterior framing, interior framing, insulation, drywall, and finishing.
General Contractor: Skanska USA
Architect: Baker Barrios Architects
(in collaboration with Convergence Design)
Dates: May 23, 2022 – June 30, 2023
Awards:
• 2025 ABC Gulf Coast Chapter Excellence in Construction Eagle Award
Tampa Convention Center Phase II
Situation
Located on Tampa’s downtown waterfront, the Tampa Convention Center is a central hub for large-scale meetings and events. With demand for high-quality event space growing, city leaders pursued a transformative expansion project that would add waterfront meeting rooms and improve the overall user experience. The renovation was strategically important to the region’s tourism and economic development efforts.
“The convention center really serves as an economic engine for our tourism and meetings convention industry. We’re in high demand,” said Juan Lopez, sales and marketing manager at the Tampa Convention Center.
The expansion called for building above an active pedestrian walkway and extending the facility to the water’s edge. All construction had to occur while the convention center continued to operate, adding complexity to logistics, scheduling, and noise control.
Task
KENPAT was tasked with completing the full scope of framing, insulation, drywall, and finishing for the expansion. This included:
• Framed exterior walls using suspended rigs.
• Installed 65,000 linear feet of interior studs.
• Placed 40,000 square feet of insulation.
• Installed 3,500 drywall boards.
• Prefabricated soffits and bulkheads for efficiency.
The project team had to plan every phase with care to minimize disruption and maintain quality under time constraints.
Action
Once the floor decking was completed, KENPAT mobilized to begin exterior framing. Given the tight waterfront location, traditional lifts and staging areas weren’t feasible. Crews instead used suspended rigs from the roof and carefully lowered materials into place with crane support.
Interior work required a seamless blend of new construction and integration with the existing structure. KENPAT coordinated closely with other trades to sequence their installations and maintain schedule alignment. Delays in the delivery of mechanical, electrical, and plumbing (MEP) components threatened to impact downstream finishes, but KENPAT responded by prefabricating soffits and bulkheads offsite and modifying work hours to continue progress.
Result
KENPAT delivered its scope on time and to a high standard, overcoming the challenges of a fully operational facility, complex logistics, and a demanding schedule.
“Due to the Tampa Convention Center staying active and holding events during the project, the schedule, logistics and construction were more complex than your typical project. KENPAT assisted in the sequencing of the construction, shifting work hours and coming up with temporary measures to minimize the noise and disruption to allow the Tampa Convention Center to continue to hold events,” said Nader Sinno, senior project manager at Skanska. These innovative ideas would not have been possible without the commitment and professionalism of KENPAT.”
The 18 new meeting rooms, enhanced terrace space, and modern finishes have helped reinforce the TCC’s position as a top-tier destination for conventions and business travel. City officials celebrated the grand opening as a turning point for the facility.
“These are world-class improvements, befitting of a world-class convention center and city,” said Tampa Mayor Jane Castor. “This is the largest renovation in the center’s history and ensures that it and the city of Tampa will continue to be a highly sought-after meeting and event destination.”
This achievement earned KENPAT the 2025 ABC Gulf Coast Excellence in Construction Eagle Award.