June 2 2009
Laing O’Rourke will build the $130 million Brisbane Convention and Exhibition Centre extension, increasing the centre’s convention facilities by 50 per cent.
Queensland Premier Anna Bligh announced the project win in early June.
Ms Bligh said the expanded convention centre would be the only one in Australia with three stand-alone plenary halls – able to accommodate from 400 to 8,000 delegates – and 42 meeting and event spaces.
“The expansion will clearly establish Brisbane Convention and Exhibition Centre as Australia’s most flexible meetings and events venue,” Ms Bligh said.
Laing O’Rourke Project Manager Tony Pennisi said being awarded the contract was a great achievement.
“We are delighted to have won such a high-profile project and look forward to working with the client and the South Bank community to deliver a world-class convention centre,” Tony said.
“The challenge will be ensuring minimal disruption to the existing operations of the convention and exhibition centre, as well as the issues of working within a busy inner-city precinct.
“However, our team has proven time and again that through good planning and consultation we can successfully overcome such challenges.”
Brisbane Convention Centre General Manager Robert O’Keeffe said the expansion would provide greater flexibility in accommodating events of different sizes at the one time.
“The new development will strengthen the centre’s position in an increasingly competitive global market and will enhance Brisbane’s growing international profile and existing strong appeal as a leading destination for business events,” he said.
The Brisbane Convention and Exhibition Centre’s expansion comes hot on the heels of Laing O’Rourke’s other convention centre construction around Australia – the award-winning Darwin Convention Centre and the extension of the Gold Coast Convention Centre.
Key facts on the project:
- The expansion will yield an extra 24,000m2
- Provide 18 additional meeting and event spaces
- The existing BCEC will remain operational during the course of construction
- The project is due to be completed in 2011
