Accessibility: A First Priority

Now that our expansion plans are well underway, users of the Centre will have noticed a number of changes taking place to minimise the impact of this massive construction project. One major change has been the opening of the new Hall 1 Concourse on 28 May, which will now provide the main access between the Centre's Harbour Road and Expo Drive entrances until the expansion project is completed. We've made sure that this temporary route is spacious and comfortable, with a 4.5m ceiling height and a width of up to 14m in some places.

Naturally, we've installed excellent lighting and air-conditioning, and decorated the concourse attractively throughout. Another practical point: we've added rigging points along the concourse, which can be used for hanging signs giving directions to event venues or for advertising. Our Marketing and Sales and Event Planning and Co-ordination teams are more than happy to advise event organisers on rigging positions and availability.

As part of our commitment to ensuring that the Centre remains fully accessible to guests during the complex expansion period, we've recently introduced a lift platform for disabled users, connecting the Harbour Road entrance lobby and the entrance to the Hall 1 Concourse. This temporary feature will do service until a permanent guest lift serving all levels of the Centre is installed, which will come into use once the expansion is completed in early 2009.