“With the deal being concluded, subject to due diligence, we are proceeding to the next stage of the project” says CEO, Rashid Toefy. The tender for the architectural and design team was issued last month and the development manager is expected to be appointed in the new year.
The architectural and design tender sparked considerable local and international interest and at the first tender briefing more than 30 local architects were in attendance, showcasing the talent that Cape Town boasts. The short listing of the top five candidates is expected to be announced later this month. Thereafter another selection round will take place and the appointment of the official architectural and design team will be announced in March 2012.
The expansion will not only allow for the growth of international conferences and exhibitions, but will play a pivotal role in driving skills development and contributing to local job creation in the initial construction phase and the sustained jobs thereafter, as a result of induced tourism.
As a convention centre, whose values are entrenched around economic, social and environmental advancement, sustainability considerations permeate every aspect of CTICC business. “It’s what drives us to innovate, create opportunities and effect change in the meetings and events industry” says Rashid. The centre will be aiming for a six star green rating and plans to set the benchmark in terms of being one of the world’s leading green buildings. With the world’s focus on Cape Town in the lead up to 2014, having been designated as the World Design Capital it is fitting that Cape Town will soon boast an iconic convention centre that uses design to transform, unite and contribute to a globally competitive meetings and events destination.
Expansion plans are proceeding according to schedule and in the next few months the tenders for the quantity surveyors, project managers and sustainability consultants will be issued. With international conferences having a minimum booking lead time of three years, the sales and marketing drive has kicked off in anticipation of the new expanded convention centre, which is set to open at the end of 2015.
Source: CTICC.co.za
More on the expansion of the CTICC
THE Convention Centre (CTICC) is to expand towards Artscape and not take over Customs House as originally envisioned, following the signing of a land deal with the provincial government and the city.
Plans for the expansion have been on the cards since 2003, when the centre opened. The national Department of Public Works set up a technical team to finalise ceding Customs House to the CTICC, but that deal fell away three years ago.
The extension is to virtually double the size of the centre. The building has 55 000m² of lettable space and the intention is to create a further 49 000m².
The city has a 51 percent stake in the convention centre, the provincial government 25 percent and SunWest – which also own the GrandWest casino – 24 percent.
The land to be developed lies between Heerengracht and the Media24 building and is being as a parking lot.
The cost of the land remains confidential.
Convention centre chief executive Rashid Toefy said most of the land had been bought from the city – which had bought a third of it from Media24.
A third of the land, originally owned by the provincial government, had been sold to a private hospital group. The hospital is to form part of the new convention centre precinct.
Since opening its doors in 2003, the convention centre has attracted more than five million delegates and visitors to
“During peak conference months, the CTICC operates at almost 100 percent occupancy, and we find ourselves in a situation where demand for meetings and events has outstripped supply,” Toefy said.
There are 178 international conferences booked between now and 2020.
According to Toefy, the expansion is to create a “convention precinct” that is to include 10 000 square metres of retail space, a hospital, an office tower, and numerous basement parking bays.
The provincial government is to regenerate the Founders’ Garden, which is to link the centre and Artscape precincts.
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