An artistÕs impression of the development.
Showpiece expo centre goes up
01 November 2001
May 2002 is expected to see the opening of one of the region's most modern trade fair centres in Sharjah, UAE.
The Sharjah World Trade and Expo Centre as it is called is expected to eventually offer an exhibition space of 24,000 sq m when the facility is finally completed under a three-phase programme.
Work is currently under way on Phase I of the project which will offer 8,000 sq m of indoor exhibition space over two halls and 8,000 sq m of outdoor exhibition space incorporating the latest information and communications technology and services infrastructure.
Situated in a newly developed area of Sharjah adjacent to the Al Khan lagoon, the exhibition centre is expected to benefit from the area's good infrastructural network, its location in the proposed business and commercial centre of Sharjah and its proximity of existing city centres of Sharjah and Dubai - it is a 15 minutes drive away from two international airports in Sharjah and Dubai.
The unique waterfront setting has been enhanced by positioning the complex's main communication, the Central Boulevard, towards the centre of the lagoon.
''The architectural concept aims at setting up a facility that blends well and is open to the surrounding environment,'' says Sania Djulepa, senior architect/project manager for Cansult Limited, which undertook the feasibility study and the design and is responsible for the project management and supervision of construction.
The project - for the Government of Sharjah, the Sharjah Chamber of Commerce and Industry and the Expo Centre - has been designed to provide a facility which is highly functional and attractive while serving more than a strictly trading function.
Phase I of the development will cover a total area of 28,500 sq m and comprises three distinct sections.
Section one comprises exhibitor services, fast-food outlets, children's play area, banks, operation control rooms and first-aid. It has administration offices on one side and VIP areas, a 500-seater banquet/conference hall, business centre and press centre arranged on the other, with the registration area at the focus.
The conference centre, VIP and exhibitor meeting rooms cover a total area of 1,224 sq m. There are a total of six conference/ meeting rooms - two of which can be partitioned - catering for groups of 20 to 500 participants. These are equipped with ultramodern conference technology.
The registration area extends over two levels and gives way to Section Two. This section serves as a link for all functions of the building and provides the visitor and exhibitor with a continuous meeting, advertising, information centre while offering full access to the halls. A striking feature of this section is a skylight which runs laterally across it to give an impression of open space while providing natural lighting to the offices on the first floor.
Section Two flows into the exhibition halls, which form Section Three of the complex. The two exhibition halls are located on either side of the Central Boulevard, a common largely glazed structure which is the main circulation area and houses registration and exhibitor services, organiser suites, meeting rooms, small cafes and independent offices for rent. The Central Boulevard, covered by tensile structures, further continues outdoor in the direction of the lagoon .
The exhibition halls, each 72 m long and 54 m wide, have a clear height of 10 m with drive-through doorways, allowing rapid assembly and dismantling of stands. A continuous band of high bay windows ensure sufficient natural lighting into the halls, which are fitted with sophisticated exhibition equipment and telecommunication and media facilities.
These large column-free halls provide maximum flexibility in stand and hall planning, allowing them to be sectioned off to meet the requirements of different events while easing access for visitors. These fully air-conditioned halls are accessed via 8.5 by 4.8 m and 6.0 by 4.8 m entrance gateways.
Another highlight of the exhibition halls is the efficient services network of floor ducts and trenches across the halls, which allows easy-to-install plug-in connections. Exhibitors have access to electricity, telephone and/or internet line and data line, water and compressed air. Additional temporary stands can be erected in the Central Boulevard.
Versatility is another feature of the halls, enabling the complex to host a variety of events besides trade fairs and consumer exhibitions including conferences, musical shows, concerts, and sporting events.
Meeting rooms are located close to all halls, with the trade fair and the organisers offices situated near the respective halls.
Gourmet restaurant and fast-food outlet with outdoor terraces covered by tensile structures overlook the trade fair grounds, while snack bars, cafes are located in the Central Boulevard and on galleries overlooking the exhibition space.
A focal feature of the new Expo centre is the 27-m-high Trade Fair sculpture in front of the complex. This stainless steel tower with fibre-optic lighting features a large LED display, which is also suitable for exhibitor advertising.
The facilities will also include a 33 kV substation, two waste water treatment plants and an LPG network.
The permanent outdoor exhibition area spreads over 8,000 sq m and is directly connected with the hall areas. The outdoor exhibition sites and halls have the same technical infrastructure, with gas connections also available.
An additional outdoor exhibition area covering 6,000 sq m is available in front of the administration building.
The trade fair grounds offers parking for around 960 vehicles, with 53 drop off and VIP parking spaces at the main entrance. In addition, there are around 100 spaces for exhibitor truck parking.
Main contractor Ayoubco General Contracting started work on the project in mid-April this year and is expected to complete phase 1 by April 2002.
The foundations and all the substructure works have been completed and a number of activities ranging from precast cladding to assembly of a spaceframe for Hall 1, and mechanical and electrical works have been commenced.
Wade Adams Contracting, which is responsible for the external works and services, has also started work on the project.
"During the planning and construction of the new trade fair grounds, Sharjah Expo demonstrated its environmental responsibility with a variety of measures,'' Djulepa points out.
These include:
Phase 2 of the project will include two more halls and extended central boulevard facilities as well as additional stores at the external sides of halls. Phase 2 is being considered to go ahead in the near future.
Phase 3 will include a further two halls and two multi-storey car parks located at the back of the site flanking the halls.
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