The AWP conference staff and one of our board members completed a site visit to Portland near the end of February. Our top priorities were to assess the status of the Oregon Convention Center’s construction project and to meet with key vendors prior to the conference to better serve all attendees.

The construction project is moving forward on schedule, and we now have a good idea of what the space will be like over the days of the conference. Please refer to the maps for a detailed rendering of the Oregon Convention Center. Please also see the Convention Center Layout & Visual Cues of the Oregon Convention Center, which includes photographs, distances, and more information on how to get around the space.

AWP has made modifications to this space in order to make travel easier within the Oregon Convention Center. We have added a 30-foot-wide Bookfair Boulevard path that should make it quicker and easier to get from one side of the building to the other. We are increasing the number of scooters and wheelchairs available for onsite rental to help accommodate those who find the distances difficult, in addition to creating a reservation protocol to reserve onsite scooters in advance. We will also provide more seating in the Bookfair, lobbies, and hallways where allowed by the Oregon Convention Center.

Anyone who is concerned about navigating the Oregon Convention Center is welcome to join AWP conference staff for a tour of the space on Wednesday, March 27, at 2:00 p.m. If that time doesn't work for your schedule, we are happy to provide an individual tour at another time. Email events@awpwriter.org with any questions.

We also received an update on the Convention Center MAX station closure. The Convention Center MAX westbound station will remain closed during our conference, but the eastbound station will be open. Most of AWP’s hotel blocks are across the river to the west, so many attendees will still be able to get off MAX at the Convention Center stop (approximately 350 feet from the Holladay Street lobby entrance). When traveling back downtown, however, the Rose Quarter MAX station is the next closest stop (approximately 500 feet from the Holladay Street lobby entrance). Please see the map for more detail about the locations of the MAX stations. For those staying on the east side of the river, AWP recommends using the Rose Quarter MAX station for all travel to and from the Oregon Convention Center.

AWP has a limited number of complimentary passes available for riding TriMet over the days of our conference. These will be available on a first-come, first-served basis in the registration area of the Oregon Convention Center. We are also holding a number of passes for those with disabilities, both onsite at the Accessibility Desk and by reservation. To reserve a TriMet pass, please email events@awpwriter.org.

The deadline for accessibility services requests has passed, but we will do our best to accommodate all requests we receive. If you have an accessibility concern or request, please email events@awpwriter.org.
Please email all questions about the construction project to events@awpwriter.org.