About a year ago the Winnemucca Convention and Visitor's Authority and Ag-3 boards started seriously considering putting an addition onto the Indoor Events Center at the Events Complex (fairgrounds). The main events center is acknowledged as a major success in making it possible for Winnemucca to attract major events - particularly during late fall, winter, and early spring, the time of year when events planners would be reluctant to put their events at the mercy of northern Nevada weather.
From the view facing the event center's main entrance, the addition being considered is located off the left side of the building. WCVA Director Kim Petersen said the early architectural drawings make it plain the addition will look good and fit in well with the main building, and board members agreed.
That location will make it close to the existing kitchen/food service area of the events center, which works with the goal of faster food service during big events.
"We have hosted many big events where additional kitchen and food service area is badly needed," said Petersen said.
Additional food service for big events is just one of the reasons the addition has been gaining momentum. The ability to close a large roll-up door connecting it to the main events center will also make the addition a stand-alone facility, complete with its own kitchen, bar, restroom and seating for about 235 people.
Chad Peters, who has been involved in bringing a number of functions to the events center happened to be in the audience when the addition was discussed. "I can think of about 50 things we could use this for tomorrow," Peters commented. WCVA board members had no problem believing that and came up with a slew of examples from Bar and Bat Mitzevahs, wedding showers and receptions, to business meetings, trainings, and gatherings of all sorts where having kitchen facilities would make the space perfect.
The architectural firm, Vern Martin Design Associates of Reno, estimated a design and build cost of around $1.5 million. As a follow-up, Petersen said he had local contractor Michael Sheppard look over the drawings and estimates and Sheppard said the numbers looked reasonable.
The price tag for the building was higher than some board members expected, considering the entire enormous Indoor Events Center was built for about $5 million. However, Petersen pointed out that this small building contains many of the most expensive fixtures and equipment found in any construction - those in the restrooms and kitchen.
As for funding construction of the addition, WCVA and Ag-3 boards will be working on proposing it as a joint project with additional support from Humboldt County and perhaps even the City of Winnemucca.
Two percent of county property taxes was going into a fund the county used as a building reserve fund and as a fund for operating costs for the events complex. That fund has built up to the point that the commissioners diverted the two percent into the road department in this coming years' budget.
WCVA board members are hoping the county will allow some of that building reserve fund to be used for the addition, and that other partners will see the value of adding to events facilities in town.
Contact Joyce Sheen at j.sheen@winnemuccapublishing.net.
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