Singapore Expo
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The Singapore Expo (Chinese: 新加坡博览中心) is the largest convention and exhibition venue in Singapore with 100,000 square metres of column-free, indoor space spread over 10 halls. Built and managed by PSA Corporation, and funded by the Ministry of Trade and Industry, the S$220 million building (excluding the cost of the 40,000 m² expansion) was built in the east of Singapore near Simei. Currently managed by Temasek Holdings', Singex Venues Private Limited, the government-owned building was designed by Cox Richardson Rayner.
[edit] Facilities
A total of ten conference halls are available, ranging in size from 89 square metres to 844 square metres. In addition, there are also nine meeting rooms, which can seat from 15 to 125 members.
The original Singapore Expo (excluding the 40,000 m² expansion) is comprised of six interconnected halls of 10,000 square metres each, with column free spaces and a ceiling height of up to 16 metres (52 feet). Each hall is self-contained and self-supporting, and they are linked together by air-conditioned walkways. An additional 40,000 m² or four new halls were constructed and linked to the original building across Expo Drive via a sheltered walkway.
An outdoor exhibition space provides an additional 25,000 square metres (270,000 ft²) of space, which normally doubles up as the venue's carpark for 2,200 vehicles.
[edit] History
With the exhibition space at the World Trade Centre slated for demolition, a replacement venue which could exceed the 34,000 square metres of indoor space was greatly needed. Construction on the building's first phase therefore commenced in 1997, and was officially opened on March 4, 1999, even though the effects of the Asian financial crisis has started to bite on the economy during that period. Critics predict that the halls will be under-utilized, and further worsened by its relatively remote location compared to the old World Trade Centre, or the Singapore International Convention and Exhibition Centre (now known as the Suntec Singapore International Convention and Exhibition Centre) which had opened only a few years earlier in 1995.
The initial years almost proved the critics right, although the venue made a quick turnaround within a few years. The opening of the Expo MRT Station in 10 January 2001 was a boost to the venue, which was already experiencing increasing usage, helped in particular by the attempts to sell the venue for functions beyond exhibitions and conventions, which was to include rock concerts, new year parties, beauty pageants, musicals, and even as examination halls for educational institutions.
By 2003, demand for ever bigger exhibition space prompted the Singapore Expo to proceed with its expansion plans, especially in response to the needs of IMTA Asia, which was slated to be held from 17 October to 21 October 2005. With the inaugural show already occupying the full 60,000 square metres of space, pressure was on the venue to expand, or the prestigious event may have to move somewhere else since there is no other bigger venue available in Singapore. In response, a new 40,000 square metre expansion comprising a further four halls was constructed adjacent to the existing halls across Expo Drive in double quick time to meet the expected exhibition period, and was completed in June 2005. The extension includes a multi-purpose event hall and auditorium for large-scale meetings, seminars, conferences, congresses, concerts and other special events known as The MAX Pavilion. The original plan to build the second phase at the carpark is still on the cards.
Currently, the largest church in Singapore, City Harvest Church, is using Hall 8 of the Singapore Expo on a weekly basis, while the Faith Community Baptist Church uses Hall 10 (The Max Pavilion).
