In January 2026, the OCCC received 100% of the design documents for Phase 5B of the expansion project, paving the way for connectivity and the multipurpose venue.

On February 26, 2026, Convention Way along the North-South Building was temporarily closed in preparation for the upcoming construction. The road will remain closed for the duration of the project.

In March 2026, the final project budget was approved, and construction was officially green lit by the Orange County BCC. Approval included an amendment to the contract for the Construction Manager at Risk (CMAR) Services for the Center’s Phase 5A improvements–Grand Concourse, with Turner Construction Company, Inc.

• On February 27, 2025, the inaugural meeting of the OCCC Phase 5 A Citizens Oversight Committee was held. Established by Orange County Mayor Jerry L. Demings, the committee features seven community representatives to provide an additional layer of transparency, accountability, and community/industry perspective throughout the duration of design and construction.

• In March, the OCCC signed a contract with Turner Construction for Construction Management at Risk services, starting with preconstruction/design assist scope, marking a major step forward in preparing for the construction phase. During this time, the project also advanced into the 90% design phase, bringing it closer to finalization.

• On June 11, 2025, the Citizens Oversight Committee met to review project milestones, including the start of construction enabling work in October 2025, the planned completion of all construction documents and the anticipated construction start date.

• On September 10, 2025, the Citizens Oversight Committee convened to discuss project updates, including confirmed timeline for site enabling work beginning in October and the official groundbreaking event scheduled for December 17, 2025.

• On September 16, 2025, the Orange County BCC approved additions to the Turner Construction contract, including the guaranteed maximum price for enabling work, site preparations and minor construction services ahead of the main construction phase.

• In September, the project reached a major milestone with 90% of the design process completed, signaling the transition in final design phases in preparation for construction starting in early 2026.

• In November 2025, the OCCC received 100% of the design documents for the Grand Concourse, marking a key milestone in finalizing preparations for construction scheduled to begin in early 2026.

• On Dec. 17, 2025, the Center officially broke ground on the Grand Concourse Expansion project during a ceremony attended by Orange County Mayor Jerry Demings, County Commissioners, and key community partners.

• In August 2024, 60% of the design contract with Populous + C.T. was completed, marking a significant milestone in the project's development. This phase provided a more detailed look at the building's design, incorporating feedback from various meetings and reviews.

• Orange County BCC approved Turner Construction as the Construction Manager at Risk (CMAR). This selection ensures that the OCCC’s Phase 5A construction has experienced oversight and efficient project execution moving forward.

• From September through December 2024, modifications were made to the design model, enhancing the building’s functionality. These updates focused on optimizing space usage, improving accessibility and addressing feedback from OCCC stakeholders.

• The OCCC submits its interest indicator application to the TDT Citizen Advisory Task Force for funding to complete its North-South Building expansion project.

• On October 3, the Orange County BCC voted to approve allocating TDT funding for the $560 million Phase 5A completion of the North-South Building.

• On October 31, the BCC agreed to a plan to release funding from TDT to the OCCC in phases as it becomes available.

• On Nov. 28, the BCC approved the reinstatement of the Center’s design contract with Populous + C.T. Hsu, a Joint Venture, and an employment agreement for the Capital Project Administrator position for the Phase 5A expansion project.

• The Orange County BCC selected to move forward on contract negotiations for the CMAR contract for the North-South Building Expansion with PCL Construction Services, Inc. The decision was made at the Jan. 28 BCC meeting.

• The Orange County Convention Center and Populous + C.T. Hsu, a Joint Venture held a series of stakeholder and clients meetings in early January on the approved architectural and engineering design services contract.

• The OCCC hosted a series of client validation meetings to provide clients with an overview of the North-South Building expansion. With 27 meetings in total, participants were presented with an overview of the plans and design concepts by Populous and C.T. Hsu, a Joint Venture, and were invited to share their expectations and suggestions prior to the final design stages.

• On March 30, a summarized Program Validation Report was published and distributed to internal stakeholders to validate the architectural program and record customer and user feedback collected across the 27 client validation meetings held in February. The report features conceptual imagery and diagrams, which were presented and discussed with each customer and user group to collect input on building program, layout, flexibility and connectivity.

• The final component of the project team, the CMAR, resolved contract negotiations between Orange County and PCL Construction. The CMAR contract was approved by the BCC on March 24 and the Notice to Proceed was issued on March 27.

• The OCCC and Populous + C.T. Hsu, a Joint Venture hosted a successful Design Charrette on March 11 to address phasing and scope items critical to the coordination around client activity. Various building layout options were presented to determine their influence on site, key public spaces, unique opportunities, functionality, efficiency, flexibility and back-of-house services.

• The schematic design for the North-South Building expansion was delivered to the OCCC Capital Improvement Project (CIP) team on April 30. These documents reflect 30 percent progress on the design, and include both drawings and specifications that outline the overall scope of the project, base drawing sheets and detail categories.

• The OCCC and Populous + C.T. Hsu, a Joint Venture hosted a virtual second Design Charrette on April 8 to evaluate the exterior and interior architecture development. Involving key stakeholders and internal staff, the meeting included a complete plan walk-through and discussion about connectivity, functionality, experience and back-of-house services.

• Following the deliverable of the schematic design in April, Populous + C.T. Hsu, a Joint Venture, presented the OCCC with a high level overview of the 30 percent schematic design progress documents for the North-South Building on May 21.

• Following the completion of 30 percent schematic design, the next deliverable is 60 percent progress of documents labeled as the Design Development set. At this stage, the specifications are being detailed based on industry standards, up and coming technology, and OCCC standards. Additional building user collaboration will occur during this phase of design, as well as coordination with permitting agencies. The anticipated completion of the Design Development is August 25.

• The design documents for the Enabling packages are in progress, which will detail the preparations required to make the site ready for construction. Anticipated deliverable date for these documents is September 24.

• The OCCC team presented to the BCC on the state of the Center and recommendations on how to proceed with the North-South Building Expansion during a work session on June 23. Four options were proposed: continue with the project as is, finish the design and move forward with only the construction of the Multipurpose Venue, finish the design and move forward with only the construction of the Convention Way Grand Concourse, or complete the design and delay construction.

• The Citizen's Oversight Committee Meeting for the North-South Building Expansion convened on June 15 to review committee objectives and responsibilities.

• Citing a decline in TDT collections due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the continuation of the North-South Building Expansion Project will be decided upon the recovery of TDT revenues in Orange County.

• The Citizen's Oversight Committee Meeting for the North-South Building Expansion convened on July 8 to review current project progress, project phasing options and status of the TDT revenue.

• Design progress is at 45% completion. The 60% design development deliverable is anticipated in August.

• On August 27, Orange County Mayor Jerry L. Demings announced the suspension of the OCCC’s North-South Expansion Project architecture/design contract with Populous + C.T. Hsu, a Joint Venture, in addition to the termination of the CMAR with PCL Construction.

• The BCC approves contract for OCCC to hire AECOM Technical Services, Inc. to provide owner's representative services for the North-South Building Improvements project

• Orange County's Procurement Division hosts a pre-solicitation informational session prior to the opening of the Request for Proposals (RFP) for the Construction Manager at Risk (CMAR) contract, which will be advertised to construction management firms, subcontractors, suppliers, and related vendors

• Orange County's Procurement Division hosts a second pre-solicitation informational session prior to the opening of the Request for Proposals (RFP) for the Construction Manager at Risk (CMAR) contract

• Orange County Board of County Commissioners are scheduled to consider presentations from two A/E firms to select one firm for staff to enter into negotiations. The selection was made at the Aug. 6 BCC meeting.

• The second and third contract negotiation meetings with the A/E Design Team were held on Oct. 3 and Oct. 23, respectively, at the OCCC. The Construction Manager at Risk RFP with a restated addendum was issued on Oct. 17, and bid proposals are due Nov. 19, 2019. The Geo-technical Services and Construction Materials Testing Inspection Services RFP was due Oct. 29.

• The first design team meeting for the North-South Building Expansion took place on Dec. 19 at the OCCC.

• The Construction Manager at Risk Selection Phase I of the Procurement Committee convened on Dec. 18, 2019. The Selection Phase II, BCC Selection and Ranking is scheduled for Jan. 28, 2020. Commonly known as the CMAR, the term refers to a specific type of project delivery method and a contractual relationship to coordinate, oversee and deliver a facility for a guaranteed maximum price.

• The Orange County BCC approved the architectural and engineering design services contract with Populous+ C.T. Hsu, a Joint Venture, for the OCCC’s North-South Building Expansion. The total contract award amount is $38,389,062. The decision was made at the Dec. 17 BCC meeting.

• Bid proposals were received for whole building commissioning services on Dec. 17 and the procurement committee meeting was scheduled for Jan. 15, 2020. Whole Building Commissioning is a quality-oriented process for verifying and documenting the performance of the building envelope, which includes roofing, walls, windows and doors. The building systems, comprised of life safety, heating and air conditioning, electrical and lighting are verified to meet design objectives and criteria.

  The Commissioning Agent uses methods and tools to verify that the project is achieving design objectives and project requirements throughout the design, construction, testing, and startup of the project.

• The Procurement Committee convened on Dec. 4, 2019 on geo-technical Services and construction materials testing inspection services and the BCC approval for contract negotiations was scheduled on Jan. 14, 2020. Geotechnical engineering, testing, and inspection services includes the geotechnical investigation and engineering recommendations necessary to maintain the building foundation, slab, paving, sidewalk designs and other major building upkeep.

• BCC – Budget Work Session Presentation

• BCC – Tentative Budget Approval

• BCC – First Budget Public Hearing

• BCC – Second Budget Public Hearing, Final Budget Approval

• The OCCC enters into negotiations to hire an owner's representative

• BCC Update – Campus Master Plan (w/OCCC client participation)

• Begin Concept Refinement/Cost Estimates

• Charrette – w/ Populous & Stakeholders

• One-on-one meetings with clients, stakeholders and local organizations

• Phase 2 – Campus Master Plan Program Completed

• BCC Work Session – Tourist Development Tax/Capital Improvement Project/Campus Master Plan

• Executive CAB Committee – Campus Master Plan Update

• CAB Workshop – Refined Campus Master Plan Concepts

• Phase 1 – Market Feasibility Study Completed

• Executive CAB Committee – Marketing Feasibility Study Findings/Preliminary Concepts

• Orange County BCC Update – Marketing Feasibility Study Findings/Preliminary Concepts

• General Public Meeting – Marketing Feasibility Study/Preliminary Concepts

• CAB – Campus Master Plan Final Recommendations/Prioritization Workshops

• BCC Update – Campus Master Plan Final Recommendations/Potential Priorities

• Orange County Board of County Commissioners (BCC) Selection of Populous, Inc. for completion of OCCC Market Feasibility Study and Campus Master Plan Program

• Client Advisory Board (CAB) Strategic Work Sessions

• Execution of contract with Populous, Inc.