Description
Lithuanian exhibition centre LITEXPO is about to become a member of the world class exhibition grounds. Specialists claim that the newly opened exhibition hall is the most modern exhibition and convention area in the Baltic States. The new exhibition hall occupies 3 500 square metres, which is allocated for expositions and can be easily converted into a 1800 seat modern conference hall. Total area of the new exhibition hall amounts to 10 000 square metres.
This marks the first stage of the modernisation of the exhibition centre. It puts a great emphasis on quality. Up till now exhibition centre LITEXPO did not have a unified urbanistic concept or logical development strategy. The first exhibition hall was built in 1980. During the years of independence new buildings were erected, however, they reminded more of warehouses than of exposition halls.
At that time the key feature was simple forms and parametres as well as inexpensive materials, which resulted in a middle class type exhibition centre. Motiveless functional circuits caused inconvenience for both exhibitors and visitors.
Fundamental changes occurred when Lithuanian joined the European Union (the EU). With new financing opportunities modernisation programme was started. Total amount of new building sites reaches 28 million Litas. The EU structural founds provided a subsidy of 8 million Litas for LITEXPO. The rest was financed by LITEXPO. The key emphasis of the modernisation programme is the new conference hall and convention events centre, erected under the design of Rolandas Palekas architectural studio design, which had won the competition.
„By enlarging the area, providing quality an installing 10 variuos size conference halls, we finished a two year long development and modernisation period. By becoming the largest exhibition and convention centre we have established exceptional position in the international market“, Aloyzas Tarvydas, Director of Lithuanian exhibition centre