These programmatic elements were strategically located in this fashion to allow for future expansion of the exhibit hall onto vacant land to the east and north of pavilion once it became a convention center.

In May 2002, Spokane County voters approved a ballot measure that enabled the design and construction of a 100,000 square feet (9,300 m2) exhibition hall addition to the convention center.

[9] Construction on the new Group Health Exhibit Hall began in 2004 and was completed in the summer of 2006,[10] several months ahead of the 2007 United States Figure Skating Championships, in which it was a venue, along with the Spokane Arena.

The building was designed in part to host that event, which required a hall with a column-free layout for a temporary ice rink to be set up in.

The new exhibition hall has enabled Spokane to compete at a larger stage for convention business and has helped bring in events such as the USA Volleyball Pacific Northwest Qualifier on several occasions that wouldn't have been possible without the expansion.

Despite being in a downtown urban area, the Spokane Convention Center has 27,600 square feet (2,560 m2) of roof terraces and lawns as outdoor event space.