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A stunning new Adelaide Convention Centre building inspired by the South Australian landscape will be the first stage of the centre's $350 million expansion.

A second stage, also inspired by the South Australian landscape, will be an equally distinctive new high-tech plenary building, featuring a strikingly translucent and angled façade, reminiscent of a cut gem stone.

The redevelopment, expected to boost the centre's economic and tourism contribution to South Australia by more than $1.92 billion over the next 25 years, will provide Adelaide with two of its most remarkable buildings.

Revealing the designs this week, South Australian Tourism Minister and Deputy Premier John Rau explained "As well as allowing the centre to host much larger conferences and more of them, these remarkable buildings will help to establish a stunning visual identity for Adelaide."

Minister Rau added that the redevelopment, acollaboration between Adelaide-based international architectural firm Woods Bagot and London-based architect Larry Oltmans from Vx3, would re-establish Adelaide as a key national and international conference destination.

Redevelopment work will start in September and the final stage is expected to be finished by the middle of 2017.

The first stage will provide 4,300 metres2 of multi-purpose exhibition space, meeting rooms and a 1,000-seat ballroom.

The second stage will feature a high-technology structure capable of seating 3,500 people.

Minister Rau says the Riverfront development will rejuvenate the Torrens precinct and bring billions of dollars into Adelaide over the next quarter of a century from conferences and events.

"In the space of a few years, it will go from being fairly staid and tired to be one of the most exciting, new, fresh city centres on offer anywhere in the world and certainly in Australia."

The Minister added that the State Government's investment recognised the vital importance of the Adelaide Convention Centre (ACC) as a major catalyst for tourism and economic growth in South Australia.

"Over the past two decades, the centre has generated around $960 million in direct economic benefits to the State from delegates and associated tourism.

"While it has been very successful, the centre operates in a highly competitive global convention and exhibition industry which demands larger, multi-purpose spaces with the latest in facility quality and service. Adelaide will have that facility once the two stages are completed."

Key features of the expanded venue will include:

• A striking shape, roof structures and façade inspired by the South Australian landscape, particularly the layers, striations and colours of the cliffs, rock formations and escarpments of the Flinders Ranges;
• Three distinct and individually iconic buildings which also flow seamlessly internally to host one single major event or three separate events concurrently;
• In Stage One, an additional 4,300 metres2 of multipurpose convention floor space, associated pre-function spaces, multiple meeting spaces and 1,000-seat ballroom built on a 'bridge-like' structure over the railway tracks up to Morphett Street Bridge;
• Demolition of the existing plenary building constructed in the 1980s and its replacement with a more functional, highly flexible, multi-purpose facility as Stage Two of the redevelopment including capacity for up to 3,500 seats or 3000 square metres of flat floor space;
• A new alternative main entry including pedestrian and vehicle drop off from Morphett Street Bridge;
• A new urban boulevard linking Adelaide's North Terrace to the Riverbank Promenade.

ACC Chair Jane Jeffreys said the centre had been an economic success story for South Australia since its establishment as Australia's first purpose-built convention centre in 1987, stating "this investment in a major redevelopment of the centre will again position South Australia as a leader in the international convention market.

"It will create one of the largest, most flexible and up-to-date meeting places in the world. The development will also remove the capacity restraints which have meant we have in recent years lost hosting opportunities interstate and overseas."

8th February 2011 - BAULDERSTONE WINS $350 MILLION ADELAIDE CONVENTION CENTRE CONTRACT 

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1st September 2010 - SA SPORTS COMMIT TO ADELAIDE OVAL REDEVELOPMENT

16th March 2010 - SA LABOR COMMITS TO ADELAIDE CONVENTION CENTRE OVERHAUL

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