History of the Downtown Conference Center

The Downtown Conference Center (DTCC) opened at its current location in May 2004. Prior to this, it had a proud heritage and proven history as a New York conference center in the Financial District.

Initially located on the 55th Floor of One World Trade Center, this downtown conference center was designed as a training venue for the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey. Outstanding among NYC conference facilities, it featured 15,000 square feet of meeting space and mesmerizing views.

In 1997 Pace University acquired the property as headquarters for the World Trade Institute, providing business training in international trade and commerce. Programs proved successful and in 2000, the University hired Benchmark Hospitality International, a meeting management company, to operate its downtown conference center.

The center was operating as an ideal New York City conference center convenient to the World Financial Center, Wall Street and sister World Trade Center buildings until the events of September 11, 2001.

The Downtown Conference Center reopened at 157 William Street in 2004. We have the privilege and honor to staff this New York conference center with five founding members from the original World Trade Institute team, including the conference center manager. We are also pleased that several Benchmark employees transferred to the Downtown Conference Center to help successfully relaunch meeting facilities for this Pace University conference center.

The Downtown Conference Center floorplan features 20,000 square feet, 30 business meeting rooms, tiered amphitheater, executive boardroom and panoramic dining room. The meeting facilities at this NYC conference center feature ceiling-mounted LCD projectors, plasma screens and trademark Benchmark Hospitality service for conference event planning.

Committed to the ongoing revitalization of Lower Manhattan, the Downtown Conference Center is a partner of the Lower Manhattan Development Corporation, Wall Street Rising and the Downtown Alliance. When you are planning a meeting, our meeting services team invites you to consider the Downtown Conference Center as your New York City conference center in the Financial District.