Apex Engineering Group provided electrical engineering services for the City of Bismarck throughout the Bismarck Civic Center expansion project. With the addition of a 150,000 square foot Exhibit Hall, to the existing 320,000 square foot Event Center, the facility has the capability to provide a full service venue for concerts, community events, and other exhibit shows for western and central North Dakota.

The addition is adequate to host a multitude of event types, from weddings to a large sales conference. The room can be used as one space, or a combination of five smaller spaces. The facility was designed with operable walls and multiple in-floor power distribution centers for the vendors to utilize during events.

The lighting within the facility is controlled by a digital, central low voltage lighting control system. The system uses a central time clock, photo controller, and digital processor to schedule events within the lighting system to turn off lights in the common areas when they are not required. The new Exhibit Hall is illuminated using LED high bay fixtures with dimming capabilities, to allow for unlimited lighting levels. Each individual fixture is controllable from a central computer, allowing the Event Center staff to setup the room lighting based the needs of the venders.

The facility has hard wired communications systems as well as wireless systems. An internet protocol based video surveillance and access control system was installed throughout the facility. The entire facility is wired with a sound system that is connected to the existing building’s system. The Event Center staff can use a computer controlled system to route sound from anywhere in the building to specific areas based on the vendor’s needs.

The existing Event Center was 100 percent operational during the construction process and there were no lost days of operation due to the building addition.