New hall complex for 2013

Press release

The revision of the "Basel Exhibition Center" project compiled by architects Herzog & de Meuron has been successfully completed. It has proved possible to attain the objectives, with the specified cost ceiling being observed and the architectural concept maintained. And the optimised new hall complex project still satisfies the stringent demands of the BASELWORLD Watch and Jewellery Show.

The cost ceiling for the overall project – the new hall, plus all the additional sub-projects, including preparatory work, removals, provi-sional measures and management etc. – now stands at CHF 430 million.

The new hall has a floor plan of some 220 by 90 metres and a height of 32 metres. With the new complex, the exhibition site in Basel will have a gross exhibition surface of 141,000 square metres in all, thus satisfying the operational requirements for the World Watch and Jewellery Show. The basic structural concept and the technical fittings (load-bearing capacity, supporting-pillar configuration and media grid, etc.) for the new hall have been designed along the same lines as for the existing Hall 1.

Improved construction schedule

It was decided in March 2009 already that the opening of the new hall would be moved back from January 2012 to BASELWORLD 2013. This will also permit an improved construction schedule, thanks to the extended construction time slots then available. After completion of the preparatory work, the first step, once BASELWORLD 2011 has come to an end, will be to construct the building over Exhibition Square. When BASELWORLD 2012 is over, Hall 3 will be demolished and rebuilt, together with the front section of Hall 1. This arrangement will ensure that the World Watch and Jewellery Show is not affected by the building work and can be held in its customary surroundings each time.

The need for a project like the "Basel Exhibition Center" to be revised is nothing unusual in the case of such big and complex projects, says Ulrich Vischer, Chairman of the Board of the MCH Group Ltd., which organises BASEL¬WORLD. "The fact that we are paying great atten¬tion to cost control is in the interests of all those involved – not just with regard to our company but also in respect of the public authori¬ties who have given their support to the project." For René Kamm, CEO of the MCH Group Ltd., the quality of the project has been enhanced through its revision. "The compatibility of the new complex has been upgraded in urban planning terms – without any loss of functionality."

HRS Real Estate AG was commissioned to optimise the project. At the same time, the authorities of the City of Basel were also involved in the process. The Cityscape Committee took note of the revised ver¬sion in positive terms. Those in charge of the project can view this public support for the construction project as fundamental support for BASELWORLD within the Basel region too.