New Aberdeen Exhibition & Conference Centre build programme reaches halfway stage

The main building, which will contain the arena, exhibition space, conference centre and subterranean space, is expected to follow suit next month.

The new £333 million AECC features three conference/exhibition halls including the main arena, four multi-purpose conference rooms, and 15 meeting rooms. The venue is expected to contribute an additional 4.5m visitors, £113m of visitor spend, and £63m net gross value added (GVA) to the Scottish economy.

The arena capacity is 12,500 people (9,000 square metres) with exhibition space of 6,000 square metres and an additional 33,000 square metres in the multi-purpose subterranean space.

The new AECC is located near Aberdeen International Airport and is due for completion in 2019, anchoring existing international events and competing nationally and internationally for new events, and is expected to attract major artists and events to the city.

The new facility is being delivered by Aberdeen City Council along with joint venture partner Henry Boot Developments Limited, with Robertson Group appointed as the main contractor.

Aberdeen City Council co-leader, Councillor Jenny Laing, said: “This new £333m regional facility is a major component of our Regional Economic Strategy, so it is wonderful to see it progressing so swiftly.

“We are confident that the scale, quality and situation of the new AECC will ensure it competes with the best national and international venues and it will play an important role in helping to grow our local economy.”

Aberdeen City Council co-leader, Councillor Douglas Lumsden, said: “We see the significant investment in the AECC as vital to the region’s future prosperity.

“Work at the site is continuing at a great pace and I’m always delighted to see the progress.

“We are confident the new AECC will play a significant role in ensuring Aberdeen and the wider north-east continues to compete on a global scale by retaining existing international events as well as attracting new events and major artists.”

Nigel Munro, regional project manager at Henry Boot Developments Limited, added: “We really are at a fascinating stage now, here at the new AECC site, where the shapes of the new buildings have now become clear and things are changing very quickly from week to week as work continues to progress well. I’m really looking forward to watching the second half of the project unfold.”