The Adelaide Convention Centre, which was voted by an independent global survey conducted from the USA as one of the top ten convention centres worldwide in 1998 and 1999, is in the midst of substantial extensions that are due for completion September 2001.

The $A85million extensions will more than double capacity, provide more than 10,000 square metres of pillarless floor space, and open the Centre for the enjoyment of uninterrupted river and parkland views through 15 metre high window walls or from the promenade.

“It’s important to realise that this is not a refurbishment,” says CEO Peter van der Hoeven. “It’s a substantial addition to the existing Convention Centre and Exhibition Hall, which is already an award winning combination. The new space will give us the capacity to conduct large conventions and exhibitions which are the future for the meetings industry.”

“There will be six divisible areas within the extension, each soundproofed to 52STC, and three ramps providing direct vehicle access from outside. Delegates or guests arriving by car will alight from a specially designated undercover roadway and escalators will transport them to the function areas.”

“Our renowned five star banquets for conferences will be larger, as the facility will cater for 6,300 guests, but our standards will remain as high as ever. Even though the new areas will not open until late 2001, additional staff are already in training,” Mr van der Hoeven concluded.

With part of the project being constructed over the Adelaide Railway Station and with diesel powered railcars in use, a critical requirement was satisfactory air quality. This became part of Fantech’s brief when supplying the necessary cowls, attenuators, fans and expertise.

Peter Smith, Fantech’s South Australian State Manager, explained that the company sales engineer, Jean Butterfield and he, have worked closely with the Mechanical Contractors.

 Peter Smith this year celebrates 20 years with Fantech, and Jean Butterfield has just notched up 10 years. It is rare to find two key people in this competitive business that can boast a total of 30 years experience with the one major company.

Adelaide has Australia’s first purpose-built convention centre. In the late 1980s it was anticipated that future trends would demand multi-flexible operations and in 1990 it opened its Exhibition Hall, which became a springboard to what has been taking place in two impressive stages since then.

Mechanical services on Stage One is being carried out by Watson Fitzgerald & Associates with architecture and construction by Woods Bagot and Baulderstone Hornibrook respectively. Haden Engineering is responsible for mechanical services on Stage Two and Bestec Consultants has developed the design.

Stage One involved the redevelopment of the adjoining railway station fume exhaust systems where several existing fans were reconditioned with Fantech supplying four additional 2m fans and a large carpark exhaust unit. Matching QTech sound attenuators and 14 large roof cowls were also utilised for this project.

Stage Two comprises the building’s air conditioning and ventilation for which Fantech supplied some 40 fans and 75 attenuators.

In 14 years of operation, the Adelaide Convention Centre has been open every day of the year. But this record will be shortly broken when, from December 31, the doors will close for six weeks to accommodate critical building works. The centre will reopen on February 15 when it will become the showpiece of convention centres in Australia.

The official opening of the expanded centre is scheduled for September 2001.