The Las Vegas Convention and Visitors Authority board of directors approved Phase 2, authorizing a $1.28 billion, 8-month extension of the Las Vegas Convention Center Expansion and Improvement Project.  Demolition of the Riviera was the first phase which is 99% complete.  Cordell Corp., the builder’s representative, will assist in designing a $1.4 billion, 600,000 SF exhibit hall.  They will start to solicit ideas from convention authority staff and customers that book conventions and Trade Shows, for their needs in the construction program, between the middle of February ending in March of 2017.  Once the authority board and Gov. Brian Sandoval’s seven-member oversight panel approve the building design, the construction process is proposed to be in place by the end of the year, with the groundbreaking of the new hall by early 2018.