The Calvin L. Rampton Salt Palace Convention Center, more commonly known as the Salt Palace, is a convention center in the westernUnited States, in Salt Lake City, Utah. Named after Utah's 11th governor, Calvin L. Rampton, the name "Salt Palace" was previously used by two other venues in the city.
First Salt Palace (1899–1910)
The original Salt Palace was built in 1899 under the direction of Richard K.A. Kletting, architect, and owned by John Franklin Heath. It stood on 900 South, between State Street and Main Street in Salt Lake City. The Salt Palace was a frame structure covered in large pieces of rock salt, which gave it its name. The Palace had a large dome and was lit at night with hundreds of light bulbs. The building held a theater and was the centerpiece of an amusement park that included a dance hall, a bandstand, a bicycle racing track, rides, and other amusements. The Salt Palace and some of the other elements of the park were destroyed by fire on August 29, 1910, and was replaced by the Majestic Hall.
Second Salt Palace (arena) (1969–1994)
The second Salt Palace in Salt Lake City was in use from 1969 to 1994, hosting among other events the home games of the Utah Stars and Utah Jazz basketball teams, and the Salt Lake Golden Eagles ice hockey team. A 1991 concert by rock bandAC/DC resulted in three deaths and many injuries when the audience rushed towards the stage and trampled or trapped people. This version of the Salt Palace was demolished in 1994.
Current Salt Palace (Calvin L. Rampton Salt Palace Convention Center) (1995–present)
Built on the site of the demolished arena, the current convention center boasts of exhibit space, of meeting space including a grand ballroom, and 66 meeting rooms. The Salt Palace served as the Olympic Media Center during the 2002 Winter Olympics. In honor of the "founding father" of Salt Lake's convention and tourism business, as well as Utah's proactive economic development efforts, the Salt Lake County Council voted to officially change the name of the Salt Palace Convention Center to the Calvin L. Rampton Salt Palace Convention Center in the fall of 2007. FanX, the biannual comic book convention, has been held at the Salt Palace Convention Center since September 2013. A Republican presidential debate hosted by Fox News was scheduled to take place at the Salt Palace Convention Center on March 21, 2016. The event was cancelled after front-runner Donald Trump said he would not participate and fellow candidate John Kasich said he would not participate without Trump.
Architecture
The trusses that support the roof were designed by roller-coaster designer Kent Seko. Many of the convention center's most striking visual features were achieved through the use of Hollow Structural Steel in exposed applications by its architects, Atlanta-based Thompson, Ventulett, Stainback & Associates working with a local firm, Gillies Stransky Brems Smith Architects.
Solar panels
On May 24, 2012, a 1.65 MW solar array was completed on the roof. Covering an area of, at the time it was the largest solar array in Utah. It is expected to provide 17% of the electricity used by the Salt Palace.
