Exhibitor guide · Downtown Atlanta, Georgia
Georgia World Congress Center: the exhibitor's guide
1.4 million square feet of exhibit space across three connected buildings, a right-to-work state that lets your own staff build the booth, and a calendar anchored by the world's largest poultry and feed expo. What exhibitors need to know before, during and after a GWCC show.
GWCC · 285 Andrew Young Intl Blvd NWWhy this page exists
The GWCC has grown in four major phases since 1976 into one of the largest convention centers in the country, and the 2020 completion of Exhibit Hall BC finally stitched Buildings B and C into more than a million square feet of unbroken floor. For exhibitors, the practical questions are which of the three buildings your show is in, what a right-to-work state actually means for booth labor, and how to plan around a campus that also includes Mercedes-Benz Stadium, State Farm Arena and Centennial Olympic Park next door. This guide covers the halls, Georgia's labor rules, drayage, the shows that fill the GWCC calendar led by IPPE and IWF Atlanta, hotels downtown, and the center's expansion history.
The building
Buildings A, B and C
Three adjacent buildings make up the GWCC campus, connected by the Exhibit Hall BC passageway completed in 2020.
| Building | What it is | Typical shows | Booth planning note |
|---|---|---|---|
| Building A | Part of the original 1976 complex, expanded through Phase II and III. | Large trade shows, association conferences | Confirm current hall assignment. |
| Building B | Phase IV expansion (2002), now linked to Building C. | Large trade shows | Freight elevators and dock access differ from Building A. |
| Building C | Home to Exhibit Hall BC, the 140,000 sq ft connector opened in 2020 creating over 1 million contiguous square feet with Building B. | The largest single shows, IPPE and IWF Atlanta | The most flexible space on campus for a single-hall build. |
| 105 meeting rooms, two ballrooms | Distributed across the three buildings. | Breakouts, general sessions | Hand-carry and tabletop formats. |
Figures from the Georgia World Congress Center Authority's published facility overview.
The labor map
Who sets up my booth?
Georgia is a right-to-work state, and the GWCC Authority has no direct relationship with organized labor. In practice, most shows still route booth labor, drayage and utilities through the event's official general service contractor, commonly Freeman or GES, and those contractors set the specific rules for hand-carry and self-install.
Full-time staff, no card required
Your own full-time employees can generally assemble and dismantle your booth without a union card. Confirm your specific show's hand-carry allowance with the official contractor.
Drayage still runs through the GSC
All in-venue freight movement is handled by the show's general service contractor; exhibitors cannot use personal vehicles for floor freight.
Electrical and rigging
Ordered through the show's official contractor or the GWCC's in-house electrical provider.
Exhibitor-appointed contractors
Purple files as your EAC for GWCC shows and coordinates directly with the official contractor.
History
Four phases since 1976
From a 350,000 sq ft hall built for the Bobbin Show to a 1.4 million sq ft campus with a million square feet of contiguous floor.
The Georgia World Congress Center opens September 8 with the Bobbin Show/American Apparel Manufacturers exposition, drawing roughly 18,000 attendees to about 350,000 sq ft of exhibit space, already one of the largest facilities in the country at the time.
Phase II adds 1.1 million sq ft.
Phase III brings total exhibit space to roughly 950,000 sq ft, timed with the center's role supporting the 1996 Olympic bid preparations.
The GWCC serves as a venue hub during the Atlanta Olympics, with Centennial Olympic Park built next door as the Games' central gathering space; the park remains a downtown landmark today.
Phase IV adds another 1.1 million sq ft, bringing the campus close to its current footprint.
The 140,000 sq ft Exhibit Hall BC opens as a fixed passageway between Buildings B and C, creating more than 1 million square feet of seamless, contiguous exhibit space for the first time in the center's history.
Rules of the floor
Rules of the floor
Right-to-work, GSC-managed
No union card required for your own staff's booth work; drayage and utilities still route through the official contractor.
Regional planning rate
Purple's planning estimate is about $150 per hundredweight with a 200 lb minimum; drayage commonly runs 25–40% of total exhibit cost industry-wide.
Atlanta Fire Rescue
Covered and multilevel exhibits need plan review; flame-certified fabrics for anything covered.
Center-exclusive services
Electrical, rigging, internet and catering are exclusive to the GWCC or its designated providers; the show kit carries the current list.
Empties and the MHA
EMPTY stickers on unpack; MHA before leaving. Purple routes the booth back to storage or on to your next show.
Free tool
GWCC drayage estimator
Planning numbers for 2026 and 2027; your show's exhibitor kit has the tariff.
Deadlines
Freight countdown for a GWCC show
The calendar
Shows at the GWCC
IPPE and IWF Atlanta anchor the building; DragonCon uses the GWCC alongside its five downtown host hotels.
| Show | Next dates | Industry | Attendance | Purple |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| IPPE (International Production & Processing Expo) | January 26–28, 2027 | Poultry, feed, meat technology | 33,000 | Custom exhibits |
| IWF Atlanta | August 2028 (biennial) | Woodworking, wood products | 20,000 | 10×20 rentals |
| DragonCon (GWCC portion) | September 3–7, 2026 | Pop culture, entertainment | 85,000+ citywide | Booth rentals |
Attendance is the organizer's or trade press figure where published, and Purple's planning range otherwise. IWF Atlanta is a biennial show; confirm the current-cycle date before booking.
Logistics
Hotels, transit, crew logistics
- Airport: Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International, the world's busiest airport by passenger traffic, is about 15–20 minutes from downtown.
- By transit: MARTA's Dome/GWCC/Philips Arena/CNN Center station sits at the campus's front door.
- Walking: downtown hotels along International Boulevard and Centennial Olympic Park are a short walk.
- Crew: Purple coordinates Southeast crews and regional freight for Atlanta shows.
| Hotel | Distance | Why exhibitors pick it |
|---|---|---|
| Omni Hotel at CNN Center | Walking distance | Directly across from the GWCC campus. |
| Downtown Atlanta hotels | 10–15-min walk | Wide range of price points near MARTA. |
| Hotels near the airport | 15–20-min drive | Fly-in exhibitors on early or late flights. |
Resources
Free resources you can link to
Cite the numbers
One-page cheat sheet
Building map, labor rules, docks, deadlines.
Related on purpleexhibits.com: Custom trade show booth design · Trade show booth rentals · Request a quote.
Questions
Georgia World Congress Center FAQ
Can I set up my own booth?
Georgia is a right-to-work state, so your own full-time staff can generally assemble and dismantle the booth without a union card. Drayage and utilities still route through the show's official contractor.
How big is the GWCC?
1.4 million square feet of exhibit space across Buildings A, B and C, with more than 1 million square feet of contiguous floor since the 2020 Exhibit Hall BC connector opened.
How much is drayage?
Purple's planning estimate is about $150 per hundredweight in 2026 and 2027, with a 200-pound minimum.
What's the biggest show at the GWCC?
IPPE, the International Production & Processing Expo, is the world's largest annual poultry, feed and meat technology exposition and fills the building every January.
Which airport should I use?
Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International, the world's busiest airport by passenger traffic, is about 15 to 20 minutes from downtown.
Is there transit access?
Yes, MARTA's Dome/GWCC/Philips Arena/CNN Center station is at the campus entrance.
What's next to the GWCC?
Mercedes-Benz Stadium, State Farm Arena and Centennial Olympic Park, built for the 1996 Atlanta Olympics, all sit on or beside the campus.
Exhibiting at the GWCC?
Send us the show and booth number. You get a labor briefing, a drayage estimate, and a build timeline within two business days.
Purple in Atlanta
Exhibiting in Atlanta? Purple builds, ships and installs here.
Custom and rental booths, install & dismantle crews and show services for Atlanta shows.
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Same standard, every hall: the building, the rules, the tools and the calendar.