The National Conference Center
{{Short description|Corporate training facility in Lansdowne, Virginia}}
{{Infobox venue
| name = The National Conference Center
| image_caption = The National's logo and aerial view
| nickname = The National
| location = Lansdowne, Virginia (Leesburg mailing address)
| coordinates = {{coord|39.09357|N|77.48428|W|type:landmark_region:US-VA|display=inline,title}}
| type = Conference Center
| genre =
| built = 1973
| opened = 1974
| renovated = 2002
| expanded = 2007
| closed =
| demolished =
| owner = NCC PS Enterprises, LLC
| construction_cost= $55 million (1974 dollars);{{cite news |first=Wolf |last=Von Eckardt |title=Raising a Cheer for Old Xerox U. |url=https://pqasb.pqarchiver.com/washingtonpost_historical/access/120209508.html?dids=120209508:120209508&FMT=ABS&FMTS=ABS:FT&date=FEB+08%2C+1975&author=By+Wolf+Von+Eckardt&pub=The+Washington+Post&desc=Raising+a+Cheer+for+Old+Xerox+U.&pqatl=google |archive-url=https://archive.today/20130131194541/http://pqasb.pqarchiver.com/washingtonpost_historical/access/120209508.html?dids=120209508:120209508&FMT=ABS&FMTS=ABS:FT&date=FEB+08,+1975&author=By+Wolf+Von+Eckardt&pub=The+Washington+Post&desc=Raising+a+Cheer+for+Old+Xerox+U.&pqatl=google |url-status=dead |archive-date=January 31, 2013 |format=Fee required |work=ProQuest Historical Newspapers Database |publisher=The Washington Post Company |page=D1 |date=1975-02-08 |accessdate=2008-10-15 }} ${{format price|{{Inflation|US|55000000|1974}}}} ({{Inflation/year|US}} dollars){{inflation ref|US}}
| former_names = Xerox International Center for Training and Management Development (XICTMD)
Xerox Document University{{cite web |url=http://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/the-national-conference-center-at-lansdowne-a-new-name-and-29-million-in-improvements-for-mid-atlantic-regions-premier-meeting-place-75523392.html |title=The National Conference Center at Lansdowne: A New Name and $29 Million In Improvements for Mid-Atlantic Region's Premier Meeting Place |accessdate=2017-03-09 |date=2002-01-17 |publisher=PR Newswire}}
| seating_type =
| seating_capacity =
| website = http://www.conferencecenter.com
}}
The National Conference Center (The National) is a corporate training facility in Lansdowne, Virginia. It hosts over 14,000 individuals per month and comprises {{convert|265000|sqft|m2}} of meeting space.{{cite news |url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2005/11/16/AR2005111600054_pf.html |title=Loudoun Community Events Week |accessdate=2008-08-04 |date=2005-11-17 |newspaper=Washington Post}} The center contains 250 conference rooms, an athletic facility, and 917 guest rooms.
The building was built in 1974 as the Xerox Conference Center at a cost of $55 million. It was designed to assist in copier and technology training for company employees. It was designed by Vincent G. Kling & Partners, and is currently managed by NCC EE, LLC. In 1994 Xerox permitted outside organizations to use the grounds. The center was sold to Oxford Capital Partners in 2000. Two years later, the center completed a $29 million renovation, in order to ameliorate its training operations. The current design implements "living learning modules", a series of color-coded buildings, tunnels, a ballroom, and walking trails.
History
The center was built by Xerox in 1974 under the name of Xerox International Center for Training and Management Development. It was later changed to Xerox Document University when an additional building was added {{cite web|url=http://www.hotel-online.com/News/PR2001_4th/Nov01_XeroxU.html|title=The History of Xerox Document University Training and Conference Center|publisher=Hotel Online|accessdate=2015-08-24}}{{cite news |url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2008/01/13/AR2008011302329_pf.html |title=Conference Center in Va. Tries to Cast A Wider Net |accessdate=2008-08-04 |last=Marr |first=Kendra |date=2008-01-14 |newspaper=Washington Post}} to train employees in copier technology and equipment. In 1994 Xerox opened the facilities to other corporations, and sold it to Oxford Capital Partners in 2000 as part of an exit from the hospitality industry. In part this exit was due to a continuous under-capacity in event bookings, despite such events as the National Veterans Golden Age Games being hosted at the site.{{cite news |title=Loudoun in Brief |work=ProQuest Newspapers Database |publisher=The Washington Post Company |location=Washington, D.C. |page=V.04 |date=2000-07-09 |id={{ProQuest|408662274}} }} From its opening in 1974 until May 2014, it was run by ARAMARK Harrison Lodging, a management services company.{{cite web |url=http://www.aramarkparksanddestinations.com/management/index.cfm |title=Management Services |accessdate=2008-08-04 |publisher=Aramark}} In May 2014, NCC EE, LLC became the new management services group.
Renovation
Following a $29 million renovation, it was reopened in 2002 to service a wide range of corporate training needs. The center is composed of several buildings which are color-coded (blue, purple, red, orange, and yellow) into "living-learning modules". A network of tunnels connect the main buildings and attached West Belmont Ballroom, constructed in 2007.{{cite web |url=http://www.leesburg2day.com/articles/2007/12/10/loudoun_business/biz693nationalconfcenterexpansion121007.txt |title=Region's Largest Conference Center To Open In Lansdowne |accessdate=2008-08-04 |last=Biggs |first=Alicia |date=2007-12-10 |publisher=Leesburg Today }}{{Dead link|date=June 2018 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=no }}
Facilities
File:National Conference Center; interior view.jpg
The center was originally situated on {{convert|2265|acre|km2}} of land in Lansdowne, Virginia. Through subsequent sales and subdivisions, the current complex sits on {{convert|66.8|acre|km2}} of the original land.{{cite news |first=Sarah |last=Schafer |title=Xerox to Sell Leesburg Campus |work=ProQuest Newspapers Database |publisher=The Washington Post Company |location=Leesburg, Virginia |page=V.01 |date=1999-02-11 |id={{ProQuest|408443748}} }} Among its {{convert|265000|sqft|m2}} of meeting space are the {{convert|16500|sqft|m2}} ballroom, an {{convert|5000|sqft|m2}} athletic facility and 250 conference rooms.{{cite web |url=http://www.iaccnorthamerica.org/directory/index.cfm?fuseaction=MemView&ID=6830 |title=International Association of Conference Centers – North America |accessdate=2008-08-04 |publisher=IACC}} The remainder of the nearly {{convert|1200000|sqft|m2}} of the facility include 917 guest rooms (up from 863 rooms in the original facility) and common areas.{{cite web |url=http://www.conferencecenter.com/ |title=The National Conference Center |accessdate=2008-08-04 |publisher=NCC}} These facilities were converted from Xerox's dormitory style accommodations, which included shared bathrooms. The center retained the confusing navigational layout of the Xerox era, which was allegedly intended to encourage team building among participants. The rooms in the lodging area were numbered by floor, building, room (ie. 6.1.201 is 6th floor, 1st building, room 101) to match the telephone switching system for future expansion.{{cite web |last1=Evans |first1=Robert |title=Comment on Leesburg Training Centre |url=https://xeroxnostalgia.com/2020/02/13/leesburg-trainig-centre/#comment-1963 |website=Xerox Nostalgia |access-date=12 November 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220523115219/https://xeroxnostalgia.com/2020/02/13/leesburg-trainig-centre/ |archive-date=23 May 2022}} The distinctive brutalist architecture was also retained, despite extensive renovations.
References
{{reflist|2}}
External links
{{Commons|The National Conference Center}}
- [http://www.conferencecenter.com The National Conference Center Website]
{{DEFAULTSORT:National Conference Center}}
Category:Brutalist architecture in Virginia
Category:Convention centers in Virginia
Category:Buildings and structures in Loudoun County, Virginia
Category:Tourist attractions in Loudoun County, Virginia