SPRINGFIELD – Pending legislation would create a unit of government that could build a hotel in Springfield and expand the Bank of Springfield Center — but what would the projects look like?
A feasibility study of an expanded/improved BoS Center from 2024 sheds light on plans that could be in the works, if the legislation passes.
People familiar with the projects confirmed the study provides the latest published information, though a consultant has since been hired by the county to assemble an updated plan including financing, architectural and engineering drawings, contracting with construction firms, and supervising the construction, as well as the contract with the hotel management company.
That consultant, Garfield Public/Private LLC, has been hired by Sangamon County for $400,000. The company will also advise the Capital Area Tourism Authority about what corporate hotel operator they should contract with, Sangamon County Board Chair Andy Van Meter told The State Journal-Register.
The April 2024 study was conducted by CSL International and was meant to assist Sangamon County, the Springfield Metropolitan Exposition and Auditorium Authority, and other stakeholders in evaluating key market, program and development options, financial, economic impact, and funding aspects associated with the proposed expanded/improved BoS Center project.
Here’s a look at some conceptual renderings of what the projects could look like.
What expansion, new hotel could look like
The map above illustrates options for a BoS Center expansion and potential new full-service headquarters hotel development.
Expansion Parcel 1 (to the immediate south of the existing facility across East Adams Street) represents the logical path for an expansion (including an enclosed skybridge or full building connection to the existing BoS Center at the second or third level), the study reads.
Assuming an efficient expansion layout of circulation and support space around the large Ballroom/Multipurpose Hall, with additional meeting and support space stacked below it, Parcel 1 would be able to accommodate the recommended program and would not require the acquisition and utilization of Parcel 2.
A new, full-service hotel development should be possible to co-locate at the Parcel 1 site, with its meeting and support space integrated with the expansion product, plus a hotel guestroom tower rising above either the east or west portion of the expanded BoS Center product.
The study was completed before the closing of the nearby Wyndham hotel in late March 2025, but the study put forth an alternate scenario for a new headquarters hotel that could involve the development of a new, modern, full-service headquarters hotel at the “current” site of the Wyndham Hotel, ideally also connected via enclosed skybridge to the expanded facility product developed on Parcel 1.
A third, but “less desirable” scenario, could involve development of the BoS Center expansion and new hotel development at Parcel 3, diagonally located to the northeast of the existing BoS Center. This parcel could accommodate either the BoS Center expansion product and/or a new Hotel; however, the product at the site would need to be connected by enclosed skybridge to the BoS Center product (which would involve a longer than desirable span to reach the existing BoS Center, as well as the new BoS Center expanded product and other hotels to the south).
Two scenarios outlined
Based on findings of a market and program analysis, two scenarios were identified for cost/benefit modeling. One scenario includes a new hotel, and the other does not.
Under the scenario involving a new hotel, the study at the time assumed the addition of a new 300-key full service headquarters hotel, structured under a public/private partnership, that is situated at the expansion site or adjacent to it and physically-connected to the expanded BoS Center.
The study said one logical option to explore further would involve the demolition of the Wyndham property and development of a new hotel at that site (via partnering with the existing property owner or sale of the property to SMEAA, the County or the City and subsequent partnership with a third-party hotel developer).
Site layout drawings
Populous, a convention center and event facility design firm, developed site layout drawings and renderings associated with the expansion project related to the scenario involving a new hotel.
The first two levels of the development would accommodate meeting space, lobby and support space for both the BoS Center and the Hotel.
As shown in the “hypothetical” layouts, the guestroom tower for the new hotel would be situated at the east end of the site with limited impact to the clear-span space assumed for the third level Ballroom/Multipurpose Hall.
Tom Ackerman covers breaking news and trending news along with general news for the Springfield State Journal-Register. He can be reached at tackerman@usatodayco.com.
This article originally appeared on State Journal-Register: Study reveals what potential BoS Center expansion could look like
Reporting by Tom Ackerman, Springfield State Journal-Register / State Journal-Register
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