Melbourne Convention and Exhibition Centre Expansion

The Melbourne Convention and Exhibition Centre (MCEC) and South Wharf Expansion Project consolidates and completes the South Wharf precinct. The masterplan is a collective of three key components: the MCEC Expansion boasting an additional 9,000m2 of unencumbered Exhibition Space, and a series of Banquet, Meeting and Hospitality spaces; a multi-deck Car Park; and a 4-star Hotel. A new Pedestrian Link within the carpark provides a public connection from the southern Fisherman’s Bend Precinct through to the Yarra River, forming part of an overall upgrade of the public realm, access and links in the precinct. The architectural intent of the MCEC Expansion is reflexive to its context, proceeding to reference, refine and integrate the architectural language of the existing Melbourne Exhibition Centre (MEC) and Melbourne Convention Centre (MCC). This results in an individuation of each building, clearly presented as distinct identities, yet forming a recognisable collective. Drawing reference from Victoria’s historic Gold Rush period and continuing the ‘metallic language’ of the MEC and MCC, the Expansion chromatically distinguishes itself from its zinc and silver siblings. The serrated northern facade of the Expansion building references the colonnade of the existing MEC and the structural rhythms of MCC’s northern glazed facade. A 13-metre high concertina of alternating glazed units and gilded western-orientated blades offers visual porosity and solar protection along Convention Centre Place. The facade’s serrations offer users multiple unique views created by each glazing bay. Clad equally in gold, a seven-metre cantilevered soffit, slanting from the serrated facade gathers the Expansion and hotel entry in a single expression. The cantilevered facade shelters the northern facade from heat loading while reiterating the dominant architectural motif of the MCC: the northern soffit. The multi-deck car park’s serrated northern façade in perforated gold aluminium cladding continues this architectural expression and provides an integrated and unified identity along Convention Centre Place. The Hub acknowledges its urban context as a gathering space and internal plaza linking the MEC, MCC and the Expansion. A kind of enclosed agora beneath the existing javelin-like MCC soffit (its metal roof colour-matched to the MCC zinc), the Hub plunges into a glazed courtyard space between itself and MEC. The glazed Hub facade is designed to offer its activities externally and be a visual gateway to the northern concourse beyond. Within the Hub, a Cafe showcases the “farm to fork” food and beverage offer managed and operated by the MCEC. Seven metres wide and more than 100m long, the ground level Pedestrian Link between the multi-deck Car Park and Hotel activates the edge condition on both its frontages. An illuminated protruded canopy signals the southern entrance – an architectural gesture and wayfinding solution for the southern end of the precinct.