Exhibitor guide · Washington, DC
Walter E. Washington Convention Center: booth rentals and exhibitor notes
Events DC's 2.3 million square foot downtown venue with 703,000 square feet of exhibit space and a Metro station that opens into the building.
At a glance
At the Walter E. Washington Convention Center, booth power and plumbing come only from Hi-Tech Electric, booth internet from Smart City Networks, and the building does not accept event freight. ConventionVendor.com rents booth technology for Washington, DC shows and delivers it for move-in under the show's dock rules.
Exhibiting at Walter E. Washington Center
The Walter E. Washington Convention Center spans several city blocks in downtown DC's Mount Vernon Triangle, just north of Chinatown. Events DC operates the 2.3 million square foot building, which holds five exhibit halls (A through E) with 703,000 square feet of exhibit space, 77 meeting rooms and a 52,000-square-foot ballroom. Metro's Mt. Vernon Square/7th St-Convention Center station on the Green and Yellow lines has entrances into the building, and the Marriott Marquis connects through an underground pedestrian concourse.
The center opened in 2003 and was named in 2007 for Walter E. Washington, the District's first Home Rule mayor. Its street address changed from 801 Mount Vernon Place NW to 801 Allen Y. Lew Place NW, so make sure older shipping templates and travel notes use the current one. The Washington Auto Show is held here each January. Exclusive contractors cover power, plumbing, technology, rigging and cleaning, which makes the order forms in your exhibitor kit especially important.
| Address | 801 Allen Y. Lew Place NW, Washington, DC |
|---|---|
| Exhibit space | 703,000 sq ft in Halls A-E |
| Meeting rooms | 77 |
| Largest ballroom | 52,000 sq ft |
| Opened | 2003 |
| Connected hotels | Marriott Marquis Washington, DC (underground concourse) |
| Internet provider | Smart City Networks (exclusive) |
| Booth electrical | Hi-Tech Electric (exclusive, also plumbing) |
| Official website | eventsdc.com/venue/walter-e-washington-convention-center (opens in a new tab) |
Facts checked October 15, 2026 against the sources listed below. Schedules and providers can change from show to show; your exhibitor manual has the final word.
Power, internet, and Wi-Fi
- Hi-Tech Electric, LLC is the exclusive electrical and plumbing contractor, so booth power is ordered directly from Hi-Tech Electric.
- Smart City Networks is the exclusive technology services provider, offering dedicated bandwidth, high-density wired connections, booth Wi-Fi and private networks through an exhibitor portal that asks for a booth floor plan.
- We found no published Events DC rule banning exhibitor hotspots, and Smart City itself offers hotspots, but your show may publish its own wireless rules, so confirm in the exhibitor manual.
- Facility-wide free Wi-Fi runs at basic speeds (Events DC lists 768 kbps) suited only to email and browsing. Order a wired line for demos and lead scanning; our equipment plugs into the Hi-Tech Electric power you order.
Move-in and delivery
- Trucks must approach eastbound on M Street: docks for Halls A, B and C are at 7th and M Streets, and docks for Halls D and E are at 9th and M Streets.
- Events DC does not accept event freight, so consign every exhibitor shipment to the show's GSC. Hand-carry items use the entrance at 9th Street and Mt. Vernon Place.
- Show management must provide a designated dockmaster and sets move-in times with the general service contractor.
- We deliver rentals for your move-in window under the show's dock rules, and we can be listed on an exhibitor-appointed contractor form when the show requires one.
What exhibitors rent at Walter E. Washington Center
- Booth Tech Kits: Lead Capture iPads, Screens, and Charging: iPads with offline lead capture avoid depending on the low-speed free Wi-Fi, ideally backed by a Smart City wired line.
- Registration, Check-In, and Badge Printing: Organizers running registration in the halls or concourses can add check-in stations and badge printers delivered under the same dock rules.
- Booth TVs, Monitors, and Video Walls: Displays plug into the power you order from Hi-Tech Electric, the building's only electrical contractor.
Before you exhibit at Walter E. Washington Center
- Order power and plumbing from Hi-Tech Electric and hanging signs from GLP Productions, the exclusive rigging provider.
- Booth cleaning comes only from Aramark Facility Services; decorators cannot provide it.
- Give drivers the eastbound M Street approach and the correct dock for your hall.
- Take Metro to Mt. Vernon Square, whose entrances lead into the building, and bring hand-carry items through 9th Street and Mt. Vernon Place.
- Use 801 Allen Y. Lew Place NW on anything that needs the venue address.
Schedules, deadlines, and service providers can change from show to show. Always confirm details in your show's exhibitor manual. Our exhibitor timeline lists what to order and when.
Walter E. Washington Center FAQ
Who provides booth electrical at the Walter E. Washington Center?
Hi-Tech Electric, LLC is the exclusive electrical and plumbing contractor for the building. Order booth power directly from Hi-Tech Electric using the form in your exhibitor kit. Our equipment plugs into that outlet.
Can I ship directly to the Walter E. Washington Center?
No. Events DC does not accept event freight, so all exhibitor materials must be consigned to your show's general service contractor. Hand-carry items can come through the 9th Street and Mt. Vernon Place entrance.
Is the free Wi-Fi at the Walter E. Washington Center fast enough for a booth?
Not for most booth uses. The complimentary facility-wide Wi-Fi runs at basic speeds suited to email and browsing. For demos, payments or lead scanning, order a wired line or booth Wi-Fi from Smart City Networks, the exclusive technology provider.
Sources
- Events DC: service partners (opens in a new tab)
- Events DC: exhibitor services (opens in a new tab)
- Events DC: Walter E. Washington Convention Center fact sheet (opens in a new tab)
- Events DC: venue FAQs (opens in a new tab)
- Destination DC: Walter E. Washington Convention Center (opens in a new tab)
- Smart City Networks: Washington exhibitor services (opens in a new tab)
Planning more than a booth, such as a full conference at Walter E. Washington Center? Our parent company covers event-wide technology on its Rentacomputer.com Walter E. Washington Center page (opens in a new tab).
Exhibiting at Walter E. Washington Center?
Tell us the show, venue, booth number, and dates. We will recommend the right booth and show technology and send a quote built around your move-in and move-out.