Center board president justifies expansion design

The $49 million project got unanimous approval to continue with the plan to expand into Riverside Park.

Some, however, still wonder why the La Crosse Center needs to do so.

After four years of studying several options, Center board president Brent Smith said the west wing expansion into the park makes the most sense.

“To have this building generate a positive economic impact … to continue to function in the black … this is the amount of square footage we needed,” Smith said.

Smith also told the city park board Tuesday that plan is more practical than trying to go north toward the Radisson.

“Some would say you could (build) this way or that way, but this made the most sense to us,” Smith said. “That’s the square footage we need to have an additional building, additional meeting space, additional ballroom space.”

The next step for the Center is allowing architects to come up with more specific plans.

New La Crosse Center designs can be seen here.