Teamsters Local 249 move freight, Carpenters Local 432 build booths and lay floor covering, and Local 5 handles AV labor.
Exhibitor guide · Pittsburgh, PA · Updated
David L. Lawrence Convention Center Exhibitor Guide
A Rafael Viñoly roof hung from cables like the Three Sisters bridges outside, over 236,900 sq ft of hall with no columns at all. Pittsburgh is a union town, yet a credentialed full-time employee can still build your booth here if it is 20×20 or smaller. This guide covers that rule, the two hall levels, the docks and the drayage math.
- 3,000+ exhibitors served
- 10,000+ booths built
- 2 days to a design brief
Photo: “David Lawrence Convention Center, Pittsburgh PA” by roy.luck, CC BY 2.0. Source
Quick answers
What exhibitors ask about the David L. Lawrence Convention Center
A credentialed full-time employee may set up and dismantle it with battery-operated power tools. Larger booths are built by union carpenters.
Use the dock's POV lane and your own non-motorized cart. U-Hauls and box trucks are unloaded by contractor labor.
Halls DE have rigging points at about 19 ft, so tall booths and hanging signs need a height check there.
Labor & union rules
Who can do what on the David L. Lawrence Convention Center floor
The DLCC is a union building. These are the center's own published work rules from its Service Contractor Guide; the show kit is the final word for each event.
✓Your own staff
- A credentialed full-time employee may set up, dismantle, crate and uncrate a display of no more than 400 sq ft, with battery-operated power tools, including laying its floor covering
- No borrowing tools or ladders from the center or contractors
- Install custom-fit logo table skirts, plug in and switch on small 120-volt equipment and products, clean your own products (not decorator rentals)
- Unload your own vehicle in the POV lane: cargo van or smaller, your own non-motorized cart
●Union labor and DLCC exclusives
- Booths over 400 sq ft: Carpenters Local 432, called through the general service contractor
- Freight handling: Teamsters Local 249, center-exclusive; U-Hauls and box trucks are unloaded by contractor labor
- Utilities, cleaning, security, labor
- Internet and phones (showNets), catering (Levy), AV labor (Local 5)
- Multi-screen LED walls need AV tech support hired through the DLCC
!Pittsburgh Fire Marshal & floor loads
- Paid fire watch for any covered booth or occupied second level of 300 sq ft or more, ordered at least two weeks out
- No helium balloons
- Display vehicles: battery disconnected, little fuel, gas cap locked or taped
- Halls carry 350 lb / sq ft, the ballroom 150; any piece over 10,000 lb or booth over 25,000 lb total needs facilities review 45 days before move-in
Background photo: "Dealers Room setup" by dmuth, CC BY-SA 2.0 Source
Floor plan & exhibit halls
David L. Lawrence Convention Center floor plan: Halls ABC and DE
313,400 sq ft of exhibit space on four working levels: Halls DE and the river plaza on Level 1, Halls ABC and the concourse on Level 2, the ballroom and most meeting rooms on Level 3, more meeting rooms and the North Terrace on Level 4.
236,900sq ft column-free in Halls ABC, Level 2 · divisible by air walls · daylit · rigging on a 30 × 30 ft grid, 5,000 lb dead hang, no bridling · 24 docks + 3 drive-in ramps
19′4″ceiling in Halls DE, Level 1 · the rest of the 313,400 sq ft total · 3 ft square columns · rigging points not on a set grid, rated 3,000 lb · 8 docks + 2 drive-in ramps
31,610sq ft Spirit of Pittsburgh Ballroom, Level 3 · 32 ft ceiling · 150 lb / sq ft floor load · carpet protection required during move-in
53meeting rooms, Levels 3 and 4 · 51 rooms plus two 250-seat lecture halls · 77,952 sq ft · signs on easels only, nothing taped to walls
Outdoors: a rooftop North Terrace on the river side, a green-roof South Terrace and a Riverfront Plaza on the Three Rivers Heritage Trail. Good for receptions, but weather-dependent; Pittsburgh shoulder seasons are cool and wet.
Only at the DLCC
The David L. Lawrence Convention Center 400 sq ft self-setup rule, explained
This is a union building, but labor calls are not automatic. The DLCC's Service Contractor Guide lets a credentialed full-time employee of the exhibiting company build a display of up to 400 sq ft, so a 10×10, 10×20 or 20×20 can go up without a labor call. Here is where the line sits.
| Task | Your own staff? | Otherwise |
|---|---|---|
| Build and dismantle a booth of 400 sq ft or less | Yes, full-time employees, battery tools | — |
| Build a booth over 400 sq ft (e.g. 20×30) | No | Carpenters Local 432 via the general contractor |
| Lay the booth's floor covering (≤ 400 sq ft) | Yes | Carpenters Local 432 |
| Crate, uncrate, table skirts, plug in 120 V products | Yes | — |
| Borrow a ladder or tools on site | No, bring your own | — |
| Unload a cargo van or smaller at the POV lane | Yes, non-motorized cart | Teamsters Local 249 for box trucks and U-Hauls |
| Multi-screen LED wall | No | AV tech support hired through the DLCC |
From the DLCC Service Contractor Guide (December 2025 edition). The show kit is the final word for each event.
Loading dock & move-in
David L. Lawrence Convention Center loading dock and freight
Get directions to David L. Lawrence Convention Center →
- 32 docks, 5 drive-in ramps24 docks and 3 ramps serve Halls ABC on Level 2; 8 docks and 2 ramps serve Halls DE on Level 1.
- No deliveries to the buildingThe center does not accept freight or courier deliveries. Address everything to the service contractor.
- POV laneUnload your own vehicle if it is no larger than a cargo van, with your own non-motorized cart.
- Hand-carryThrough the 10th Street entrance or the Westin skywalk, without carts or dollies. Anything on wheels goes through the POV lane.
- MarshalingWhen a show uses it, truck marshaling is on the North Shore, across the river.
- ParkingThe center's 700-space garage has 8′1″ clearance, too low for most box trucks and high-roof vans.
- Day −60Design approved. Order electrical, rigging and internet through the DLCC portal.
- Day −45Any single piece over 10,000 lb goes to facilities review.
- Day −30EAC form and certificate of insurance filed with show management.
- Day −14Fire watch ordered for covered or two-story booths. Purple ships to Pittsburgh through our carrier network.
- Day −7Advance warehouse deadline.
- Day 0Targeted move-in through the docks; North Shore marshaling if the show uses it.
- Show +1Move-out. Empties return, MHA turned in.
Free tool
David L. Lawrence Convention Center drayage cost estimator
Planning numbers for 2026 at about $160 per hundredweight, a Northeast union rate. There is no public tariff, so the show kit's rate governs. See all venues on the drayage rates page.
Estimated drayage
$2,400
Cut this with a lighter booth
Photos: "Fursuit Parade" by dmuth, CC BY-SA 2.0 Source · "Line for the Dealers Room" by dmuth, CC BY-SA 2.0 Source · "Picklesburgh event" by daveynin, CC BY 2.0 Source
On the floor at Anthrocon
Photo: "Anthrocon Dealers Room Full" by dmuth, CC BY-SA 2.0 Source
The calendar
David L. Lawrence Convention Center trade shows 2026–2027
Pittsburgh's big public shows fill Halls ABC every winter and spring; association and medical meetings make up much of the rest of the year. Attendance figures are Purple's planning ranges; confirm each event with its organizer.
Pennsylvania Bridal & Wedding Expo
Wedding vendors, consumer · Hall C · one afternoon · 2026
Pittsburgh Pet Expo
Pets and pet products, consumer · 2026
Pittsburgh International Auto Show
Automotive, consumer · 50,000+ · 2027
Pittsburgh Home & Garden Show
Home improvement, consumer · 40,000+ · 2027
Anthrocon
Fan convention · ~20,000 (20,618 reported in 2026) · 2027
November dates are from the center's event calendar and the bridal expo's organizer; the 2027 dates are from each organizer. Held here in 2026: the ASBO International Annual Conference & Expo for school business officials (October 14–16); ASBO rotates cities and has not announced a 2027 return to Pittsburgh. Association, medical and technical meetings fill much of the rest of the year, typically 2,000–10,000 attendees.
Insider tips
David L. Lawrence Convention Center exhibitor tips: what experienced teams do
Make 20×20 your ceiling
A 20×20 is exactly 400 sq ft, the largest booth your own staff may build here. Go to 20×30 and the whole build, floor covering included, moves to Carpenters Local 432.
Know which hall you are in
Halls ABC rig from 30 to 45 ft; Halls DE downstairs have points at about 19 ft and 3 ft square columns. Confirm the hall before you design a tall tower or hanging sign.
Pack battery tools and a ladder
Self-setup is limited to battery-operated power tools, and you may not borrow tools or ladders from the center or contractors. A forgotten step stool becomes a labor order.
Drive a cargo van, not a box truck
A cargo van can unload itself in the POV lane; a U-Haul or box truck is unloaded by contractor labor. The 700-space garage clears only 8′1″, so high-roof vans park elsewhere.
Use the Westin skywalk for hand-carry
Bags and boxes can come in over the skywalk or through the 10th Street entrance, but no carts or dollies. Anything on wheels goes round to the POV lane.
Budget the LED wall and fire watch early
A multi-screen LED wall needs AV tech support hired through the DLCC, and a covered or two-story booth of 300 sq ft or more needs a paid fire watch ordered two weeks out.
Where to stay
Hotels near the David L. Lawrence Convention Center
Skywalk to Level 3
The Westin Pittsburgh
The connected hotel. Hand-carry materials can come in over the skywalk.
Short walk
Renaissance Pittsburgh
On the river at the Roberto Clemente Bridge.
Walking distance
Other downtown hotels
The Golden Triangle is compact; most show blocks are within a few blocks.
Walk across a bridge
North Shore hotels
Near PNC Park and the Steelers' stadium, across the Three Sisters.
The building
Smoke, bridges and a roof on cables
Named for the mayor who cleaned up Pittsburgh's air, and shaped by the suspension bridges that cross the river beside it.
- 1924–28Allegheny County builds the "Three Sisters" suspension bridges at Sixth, Seventh and Ninth Streets, a block from today's center.
- 1946–59Mayor David L. Lawrence leads the "Pittsburgh Renaissance" smoke-control and urban-renewal program, then serves as governor from 1959 to 1963.
- 1981The first convention center opens February 7 on this site: $35 million, 131,000 sq ft of exhibit space, facing away from the river.
- 2003Rafael Viñoly's new center is completed, its roof hung from cables over 15 masts. LEED Gold makes it the first LEED-certified convention center in North America.
- 2009World leaders meet here for the G-20 summit in September.
- 2012LEED Platinum for existing-building operations, recertified in 2017 with 86 points.
- 2026Anthrocon marks its 20th year in Pittsburgh with a record 20,618 attendees.
FAQ
David L. Lawrence Convention Center FAQ for exhibitors
Is the David L. Lawrence Convention Center union?
Yes. Teamsters Local 249 handle freight, Carpenters Local 432 install booths and floor covering, and Local 5 handles AV labor. Exhibitors still have some rights to do their own work.
Can I set up my own booth at the DLCC?
Yes, if it is 400 sq ft or smaller. A credentialed full-time employee of your company may set up and dismantle the display with battery-operated power tools, including its floor covering. Anything larger is built by union carpenters. The show kit is the final word for each event.
Can I unload my own van at the dock?
Yes, in the POV lane, if the vehicle is no larger than a cargo van and you use your own non-motorized cart. U-Hauls and box trucks are unloaded by the service contractor's labor.
Can I hand-carry through the front door?
Yes, through the 10th Street entrance or the Westin skywalk, but without carts or dollies. Anything on wheels goes through the POV lane at the dock.
Where is the loading dock, and can I ship to the building?
There are 32 docks and 5 drive-in ramps across two levels, and truck marshaling, when a show uses it, is on the North Shore. The center does not accept freight or courier deliveries; address everything to the service contractor.
How big is the David L. Lawrence Convention Center?
313,400 sq ft of exhibit space, including 236,900 sq ft column-free in Halls ABC, plus a 31,610 sq ft ballroom and 53 meeting rooms in a 1.5 million sq ft building.
How much is drayage at the DLCC?
There is no public rate. Plan about $160 per hundredweight; the show kit's tariff governs.
Do I need a fire watch for a two-story booth?
Yes. The Pittsburgh Fire Marshal requires a paid fire watch for any covered booth or occupied second level of 300 sq ft or more, ordered at least two weeks out.
Where do exhibitors park?
The center's own 700-space garage has 8 ft 1 in clearance, too low for most box trucks and high-roof vans.
Which airport should I use?
Pittsburgh International (PIT), about 18 miles and 25 minutes from downtown, with a new terminal that opened in late 2025. The 28X Airport Flyer bus runs to downtown.
Exhibiting in Pittsburgh?
Share your floor plan. Get a booth plan back.
Tell us your hall and booth size. If it is 400 sq ft or less, we design a booth your own staff can put up with battery tools under the DLCC rules; if it is larger, we coordinate the Local 432 build and the freight into the docks. Design brief, drayage estimate and timeline within two business days.
Background photo: "The David L. Lawrence Convention Center at dusk" by dmuth, CC BY-SA 2.0 Source
Compare venues
David L. Lawrence Convention Center vs other Pennsylvania venues
How the David L. Lawrence Convention Center stacks up against the other Pennsylvania halls we have guides for. Drayage figures are Purple planning rates, not published tariffs.
| Venue | Type | Largest space | Ceiling | Labor | Drayage (plan) | Airport |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| David L. Lawrence Convention CenterThis guide | Convention center | 236,900 sq ft column-free Halls ABC | 30–45 ft (Halls ABC) | Union · self-setup ≤ 400 sq ft | ≈ $160/cwt | PIT · 18 mi |
| Bayfront Convention CenterErie | Convention center | 28,800 sq ft Great Hall · 160 booths | 23 ft (Great Hall) | No venue union rule · check kit | ≈ $50/cwt | ERI · about 6.5 mi |
| Greater Philadelphia Expo CenterOaks | Expo center | 240,000 sq ft, Halls A–E on one floor | 22–35 ft | Check show kit | ≈ $120/cwt | PHL · ~45–60 min drive |
| Hershey Lodge & Convention CenterHershey | Resort ballrooms | 32,004 sq ft Great American Hall | 22 ft (Great American Hall) | In-house decorator · check kit | ≈ $50/cwt | MDT · ~20 min |
| Kalahari Resorts & Conventions Pocono MountainsPocono Manor | Resort ballrooms | 38,000 sq ft Kilimanjaro Ballroom | 16–25 ft | Not right-to-work · check kit | ≈ $120/cwt | AVP · ≈40 mi |
| Lancaster County Convention CenterLancaster | Convention center | 46,508 sq ft Freedom Hall | — | Check show kit | ≈ $120/cwt | MDT · 27 mi |
| Monroeville Convention CenterMonroeville | Convention center | ~44,000 sq ft North Hall | 32 ft (North Hall) | Unconfirmed · check show kit | ≈ $85/cwt | PIT · under 45 min |
| Pennsylvania Convention CenterPhiladelphia | Convention center | 528,000 sq ft contiguous, Halls A–E | 30 ft (A–C) · 29 ft (D–E) | Union · CSA | ≈ $170/cwt | PHL · 8–9 mi |
| Pennsylvania Farm Show Complex & Expo CenterHarrisburg | Fairgrounds | 172,000 sq ft GIANT Expo Hall | 30 ft Expo · 13′6″ Main | Check show kit | ≈ $115/cwt | MDT · 9 mi |
| Philadelphia Marriott DowntownPhiladelphia | Hotel ballrooms | 34,300 sq ft Grand Ballroom · 31,962 sq ft Franklin Hall | 10.5 ft Franklin Hall · 22 ft ballroom | Union · check kit | ≈ $170/cwt | PHL · SEPTA to Jefferson Station |
| York Expo CenterYork | Fairgrounds | 114,000 sq ft UPMC Arena (74,000 clear span) | 24–30 ft arena · 12–22 ft other halls | Show contractor · check kit | ≈ $90/cwt | MDT · roughly 30 mi |
More Pennsylvania guides
Other venues in Pennsylvania
Monroeville Convention CenterMonroeville
Pennsylvania Convention CenterPhiladelphia
Greater Philadelphia Expo CenterPhiladelphia area
Pennsylvania Farm Show ComplexHarrisburg
Lancaster County Convention CenterLancaster
Written by the Purple Exhibits team. Reviewed for the 2026–2027 season. Sources: David L. Lawrence Convention Center building overview, building history and Service Contractor Guide (December 2025), VisitPittsburgh, SAH Archipedia, Building Design + Construction, Wikipedia (David L. Lawrence Convention Center, David L. Lawrence, Anthrocon).