Melbourne Convention and Exhibition Centre
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
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| Location | South Wharf, Victoria |
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| Coordinates | 37°49′32″S 144°57′15″E / 37.8256°S 144.9541°E |
| Opened | MEC: 14 February 1996 MCC: May 1990 |
| Owner | Melbourne Convention and Exhibition Trust |
| Operator | Melbourne Convention and Exhibition Trust |
| Surface | MEC: 30,000 m²[1] MCC: 2,021 m²[1] |
| Construction cost | MEC: A$129 million MCC: A$125 million |
| Architect | MEC: Denton Corker Marshall MCC: |
The Melbourne Convention and Exhibition Centre is the name given to two adjacent buildings next to the Yarra River in South Wharf, an inner-city suburb of Melbourne, Australia. Owner and manager of the venues is the Melbourne Convention and Exhibition Trust.
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[edit] Management
The Melbourne Exhibition Centre Trust was created in August 1994 with the responsibility of overseeing the construction and development of the Melbourne Exhibition Centre. On 5 February 1997 the Melbourne Convention and Exhibition Trust began, replacing the previous trust with the added scope of the Melbourne Convention Centre, formerly called the World Congress Centre Melbourne. In August 1997 the Melbourne Convention and Exhibition Trust became owner and venue manager of both the Melbourne Exhibition Centre and the Melbourne Convention Centre.[2]
The Melbourne Convention and Exhibition Trust is also responsible for managing, promoting, and the use of the Royal Exhibition Building in the Carlton Gardens.[2] As a government-owned trust, The Melbourne Convention and Exhibition Trust is responsible to the Minister for Tourism.[2]
[edit] Melbourne Exhibition Centre
The Melbourne Exhibition Centre was opened on 14 February 1996[3], and hosts thousands of large exhibitions, some being annual events.
It has a pillarless floor space of 30,000 square metres, making it the largest pillarless floor space in the southern hemisphere. This building is also known as "Jeff's Shed"[4] after the former premier of Victoria, Jeff Kennett, intervened to have the building used as a convention centre, rather than as a museum as originally intended.
The building was designed by Denton Corker Marshall, an architectural firm responsible for many of Melbourne's larger buildings through the early 1990s, and features their characteristic "blade" entrance.[5] In 1998 a footbridge covered was erected between the Exhibition and Convention centres, parallel to the Spencer Street Bridge.[6]
[edit] Melbourne Convention Centre
The old Convention Centre on the opposite side of the Yarra River was opened in May 1990 and has hosted thousands of conventions and meetings[3]. The new Convention Centre, on land adjacent to the Exhibition Centre, was completed in 2009. At a cost of AU$1 billion, the development consists of a 5000 seat convention centre as well as a Hilton hotel, office, residential and retail space.[7] It was developed by a consortium led by Multiplex and Plenary Group and designed by Larry Oltmanns. The new centre utilises a range of features in order to achieve a Six Green Star environmental rating and to become the first convention centre in the world with that rating.[8] The architects for the development are NH Architecture and Woods Bagot.[9]
[edit] Gallery
 Melbourne Exhibition Centre |
 Melbourne Exhibition Centre viewed from Crown Casino. The new convention centre can be seen under construction in the background. |
 The Melbourne Exhibition Centre as viewed from the side |
 Melbourne Convention Centre under construction |
 Overview of Melbourne Convention and Exhibition Centre |
[edit] References
- ^ a b "Melbourne Exhibition and Convention Centre - Facts at a Glance". http://www.mecc.com.au/www/html/69-facts-at-a-glance.asp. Retrieved 2007-09-30.
- ^ a b c Melbourne Convention and Exhibition Trust (2006-09-28) (PDF). Annual Report 2005-2006. Melbourne Convention and Exhibition Trust. http://www.mecc.com.au/resources/documents/MCET_Annual_Report_2005-20063.pdf. Retrieved 2007-09-11.
- ^ a b "Melbourne Exhibition and Convention Centre - MECC The Complex". http://www.mecc.com.au/www/html/70-mecc-the-complex.asp. Retrieved 2007-09-30.
- ^ "My Melbourne". The Age. http://www.theage.com.au/ftimages/2004/11/29/1101577407822.html. Retrieved 2007-09-11.
- ^ "Denton Corker Marshall Website". Denton Corker Marshall. http://www.dentoncorkermarshall.com/projects.aspx?p=0&projectID=887&catID=13&f1=location&f2=australasia&pg=1. Retrieved 2007-12-24.
- ^ Arup. "Spencer Street Footbridge". www.arup.com. http://www.arup.com/bridges/project.cfm?pageid=2311. Retrieved 2008-07-08.
- ^ Department of Premier and Cabinet (2006-02-22). "CONVENTION CENTRE CORNERSTONE OF YARRA REDEVELOPMENT". Press release. http://www.dpc.vic.gov.au/domino/Web_Notes/newmedia.nsf/b0222c68d27626e2ca256c8c001a3d2d/30f733ff7b149beaca25711d0080cdc1!OpenDocument. Retrieved 2007-09-30.
- ^ "Leading Green Design". Melbourne Convention Centre Development. http://www.mccd.vic.gov.au/About-The-Project/Design-Features.html. Retrieved 2007-09-30.
- ^ "Design Features". Melbourne Convention Centre Development. http://www.mccd.vic.gov.au/About-The-Project/Design-Features.html. Retrieved 2007-09-30.
[edit] External links
- Melbourne Convention and Exhibition Centre official website
- Melbourne Convention Centre Development website
- Major Projects Victoria - Melbourne Convention Centre
- Denton Corker Marshall Website
