Construction to Begin on Rimini Center
Staff -- Tradeshow Week, 4/18/2005
A new conference center scheduled to open in 2008 in Rimini, Italy, will be the country's largest in terms of meeting space. The 38,117 square meter (410,000 square foot) Palacongressi Conference Centre will also offer 27,000 sq. m. (290,625 sq. ft.) of exhibition space near Rimini's town center in an area previously occupied by the former exhibition hall, the Palacongressi Della Riviera di Rimini.
According to Rimini Fiera Chairman Lorenzo Cagnoni, demolition of the old exhibition hall is scheduled to start this month. Construction on the new conference center will begin early next year and will be completed by the end of 2007, with the first meeting to move in by the beginning of 2008.
Construction of the new venue will cost an estimated $82.4 million ($106 million), to be funded by revenue from conference center activities and contributions from the public and private sectors.
The conference center will offer a total seating capacity of 9,300, with the ability to host simultaneous events using modular conference and expo areas. There will be two main blocks connected by a large foyer system and three entrances, a 1,600-fixed-seat amphitheatre divisible into two 800-seat rooms, 10 modular rooms seating from 35 to 200, and 15 breakout rooms of 30 seats each.
The facility will also be able to host small exhibitions, up to 3,000 sq. m. (32,300 sq. ft.), and the Rimini Riviera Convention Bureau will move its offices there once construction is complete.
