Cape May Convention Hall complete

A $10.5 million convention hall opens this week in New Jersey. The Cape May Convention Hall, located in the center of historic Cape May, is a beachfront venue for meetings and banquets up to 600 people. The 20,000-sq.-ft. building is comprised of a large auditorium, lobby pre-function space, community room and retail stores. In the auditorium, a partition wall divides the large room into smaller spaces to accommodate concurrent events. A 42-by-18-foot glass window overlooking the Atlantic Ocean backs the performance area; the glass is tinted to keep out excessive heat, while solar panels on the building provide 35 percent to 50 percent of the power for the facility. Technology throughout the facility includes high-speed and wireless Internet, digital signage, projection and state-of-the-art acoustics. A catering kitchen and pre-function space allows groups to host receptions and dinners at the venue.