The USA’s first fully-electric conference centre opened on 30 May 2025 – in Ithaca, New York.
Located in downtown Ithaca, the Ithaca Downtown Conference Center (IDCC) is expected to bring $150m to the local community over the next 20 years. It spans over 15,000sqft and is managed by ASM Global. Read on to find out what makes the venue different.
All electric – no fossil fuels
As the USA’s first fully electric conference centre, the IDCC operates without the use of fossil fuels. It utilises air-source heat pumps for heating, cooling and hot water – and also features an all-electric kitchen. The centre keeps sustainable standards elsewhere through energy-efficient lighting, natural lighting via floor-to-ceiling windows and a commitment to eliminating single-use items.
A decade in the making
The original idea for the IDCC came about to address the shortage of meeting spaces in Ithaca. A 2019 study by Tompkins County found that Ithaca lacked adequate conference facilities to meet growing demand, especially with the expansion of downtown hotels. The study concluded that a mid-sized conference centre would significantly boost tourism and local business.
This spurred a joint effort by local stakeholders, including the Downtown Ithaca Alliance and the Vecino Group, to build such a venue – the IDCC.
$150m economic impact
The IDCC is part of the larger Asteri Ithaca development, a $96m project that includes 181 affordable housing units. The conference centre is expected to drive nearly $150m in new direct and induced spending in the local community over the next 20 years.
A venue in a small city
The IDCC sits just off Ithaca Commons, the city’s pedestrianised shopping and dining district. Its setting offers walkable access to dozens of independent restaurants, galleries and hotels – a rare feature for US venues outside major metros. Despite its small size, Ithaca does in fact have an international airport, called Ithaca Tompkins International. The airport handled 136,000 passengers in 2024.
Ithaca Tompkins International Airport
While Ithaca isn’t a typical convention city, the IDCC may attempt to carve out a niche competing for regional association meetings, university-linked events and sustainability-focused conferences. This was the advice given by the Tompkins County Conference Center Feasibility Study in 2019.
Cornell University, a major stakeholder in local development, is expected to be a key user. Other backers include Tompkins County, the Downtown Ithaca Alliance and developer Vecino Group.
What is the IDCC’s competition?
In Ithaca, competitors include The Statler Hotel at Cornell University, offering 16,000sqft of versatile meeting space, and The Hotel Ithaca, which underwent renovations to add ballroom function space.
In the wider region, the IDCC is also stacked up against facilities like the Nicholas J Pirro Convention Center in Syracuse – which offers a much larger 99,000sqft of rentable space.
