New Sydney Glebe Island exhibition centre takes shape

The construction of the Sydney Exhibition Centre @ Glebe Island is approaching completion with the 150-tonne roof structure for the largest of the exhibition halls being tested and commissioned.

Transforming Glebe Island into Sydney's newest exhibition venue, the hall covers about one third of the 25,000 metre2 site and will open for its first event in February.

In a recent operation to complete the roof, it took four 240-tonne cranes eight hours to lift the hall's preassembled roof and column structure into place.

Explaining that so much work is happening on the site that it was changing almost daily, NSW Deputy Premier Andrew Stoner stated "the exhibition halls can be assembled quickly because of their unique design. They are not constructed like a typical building from the ground up but instead are assembled in situ and then lifted into place with the supporting legs pivoting into position below."

General Manager of Sydney Exhibition Centre @ Glebe Island, Malu Barrios, and Exhibition and Event Association of Australasia Chief Executive, Joyce DiMascio, were recently on site to watch the hall being raised.

Barrios explained "everything is on schedule and the structure is now a visual presence on the harbour foreshore."

DiMascio was also impressed with the speed that works were advancing, adding "it is very reassuring to see the venue take shape and this augurs well for the rest of the building program including the construction of the ferry wharf.

"The progress made from week to week is very impressive and we are pleased that Infrastructure NSW has consulted extensively with the major users. Our goal throughout is to ensure that the venue is fit for purpose and ready on time."

Managed by AEG Ogden, Sydney Exhibition Centre @ Glebe Island will offer pavilion-style, fully-serviced space of 20,000 metre2, with an option for an additional 5,000 metre2 for temporary expansion.

Special event transport will be provided during events, with regular, scheduled ferry services from Darling Harbour and bus shuttle services from Central Station.

The venue will be the interim facility for exhibitions in the Sydney CBD from 2014 to 2016 during the construction of the new international exhibition centre at Darling Harbour.

http://www.sydneyexhibitioncentre.com.au