Jun. 12, 2009--For several years, developers of the convention center and hotel have talked about the "wow factor" they planned to bring to Lancaster, with marble tile, raised wall coverings, dark wood paneling, opulent furnishings and artwork.

In just over a week, people will have the chance to see it for themselves.

On Sunday, June 21, there will be a public open house at the $174.4 million facility, from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m.

Although details of the event are still being developed, most public spaces within the 220,000-square-foot Lancaster County Convention Center and the 299-room Lancaster Marriott at Penn Square hotel will be open for anyone to see.

"The intention is to have as much uninhibited access as possible," said Josh Nowak, marketing director of the facility.

Whether that will include the top floor of the 18-level hotel tower hasn't been determined, he said. From there, viewers can see York County to the west.

The open house will come three days after an official opening at 10 a.m. Thursday.

That is when the Lancaster County Convention Center Authority, hotel developer Penn Square Partners and representatives of other stakeholders in the 10-year-old project will come together for the official ribbon-cutting.

The facility opens for business on Friday, June 19. The first large-scale use of the facility will be for the Pennsylvania League of Cities and Municipalities convention scheduled for June 24-26. More than 500 people are expected to attend.

Penn Square Partners consists of general partner Penn Square General LP, a High Real Estate Group LLC affiliate, and limited partner Penn Square Ltd., LLC, an affiliate of Lancaster Newspapers, Inc., publisher of the Lancaster New Era, Intelligencer Journal and Sunday News.

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