AFRICA - The Cape Town International Convention Centre (CTICC) has named the architects selected to lead its expansion project, which will see it double capacity in the next three years.
Piet Bakker of Stauch Voster Architects, Anya van der Merwe of Van der Merwe Miszewski Architects and Mokena Makeka of Makeka Design Lab have been awarded the contract for the expanded convention centre.
The extension will add flexible multi-purpose exhibition space to the centre, in line with international trends, plus an “iconic” convention centre within Cape Town’s redeveloped Foreshore precinct comprising 10,000sqm of retail space, a hospital, hotel and office tower. It is also expected to contribute to the regeneration of nearby Founder’s Garden, which will connect the Artscape precinct with the larger CTICC.
The CTICC is host to events including the Cape Town Jazz Festival and Design Indaba, which are expected to bring thousands of local and international tourists to Cape Town and the Western Cape.
“The increased centre will not only create much needed capacity for larger events that we’ve not been able to accommodate to date, but it will also allow multiple large events to be hosted at the CTICC simultaneously,” said CTICC CEO Rashid Toefy.
“It is the goal of the CTICC to be the best long-haul international convention centre by 2020. This exciting expansion project and the calibre of architects who have been appointed to lead the process are essential to achieving this goal.”
The appointment of the architects was made after an open public tender process. An independent international and local advisorypanel was convened to assist in the selection process, which resulted in 19tenders including submissions from overseas representatives. Five were shortlisted to present their concept and design.
“We are looking forward to the positive impact this project will have on the marketability of the Western Cape and South Africa as a year-round business and leisure destination,” Toefy commented.
The development will be the final catalyst in the regeneration of the Foreshore as the business hub of the central city, and is expected to go some way to helping Cape Town absorb some of its additional hotel bed capacity.
Executive deputy mayor of Cape Town and mayoral committee member for finance, alderman Ian Neilson, said: “It is gratifying that the Council’s initiative has enabled the project to get to this stage. We look forward to the finalisation of all contracts and the start of construction so that the City’s objectives of job creation and economic growth can be realised.”
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