Now on site next to the G-Mex Exhibition Centre, the 8500 m2 convention centre will house an 800-seat, birch-panelled auditorium and a 2000 m2 banqueting and exhibition hall, with associated meeting rooms and translation, media and catering facilities. The centre features a red sandstone and terne-coated stainless steel facade and aluminium-finished roofs . It is due for completion in autumn 2000.
Sited in Windmill Street, it will be linked to the G-Mex Centre and the Bridgewater Hall Art Gallery by a covered pedestrian route.
Client Manchester City Council is funding the project with English Partnerships and the European Regional Development Fund. The centre is part of the Great Northern Initiative – a 46 500 m2 public-private, mixed-use development on 7.5 ha around the G-Mex Centre. The plan includes the conversion of the Victorian Great Northern Warehouse to a leisure and entertainment centre.
Tarmac is design-and-build contractor on the convention centre, Ove Arup & Partners is structural engineer and Davis Langdon & Everest is QS. Manchester City Council will lease the centre to operator G-Mex on its completion.
