Facility expansion for OutDoor and Eurobike trade shows underway

Friedrichshafen, Germany – Heavy construction machinery has been put to work now that the expansion of the exhibition grounds is in full swing at the East Entrance. Mayor Josef Buechelmeier, chairman of the Messe Friedrichshafen supervisory board, has given the go-ahead for work to begin on the expansion of the exhibition grounds, scheduled for completion in 2009.
In addition to new parking facilities in the immediate vicinity of the grounds, the expansion plans include the construction of two additional clear-span halls and a new entrance complex complete with seminar and conference facilities. The new exhibition halls are expected to be already available for use in autumn 2008. The revamped East Entrance, complete with Foyer and conference rooms, will be inaugurated in summer 2009, with Eurobike and the international OutDoor trade show scheduled to use the halls for the first time that year.
Northern access routes for the exhibition grounds will improve dramatically following these changes. Vehicles heading north to Meckenbeuren, Ravensburg und Ulm will benefit from a new roadway and roundabout under construction at the East Entrance. The numbers of parking spaces available at the exhibition grounds will also increase significantly with the expansion.
With a total of 85,000 s qm of exhibition space in 12 halls, the international facility on the shores of Lake Constance is joining the ranks of Germany’s top 11 trade show locations. Messe Friedrichshafen CEO Klaus Wellmann: “We are expanding the exhibition grounds in order to satisfy market demand for more space. Leading trade shows like Eurobike, Fakuma and OutDoor have all grown significantly at our new site and will require even more exhibition space in future.”
The new plans include two additional exhibition halls (A7 and B5 – each covering 6300 sq m) and a complete overhaul of the East Entrance, plus the construction of new service facilities and conference rooms. The expansion plans were drawn up by Hamburg-based architectural firm Gerkan, Marg & Partner, which also created the existing “new” exhibition grounds just a few years ago. The design of the latest new facilities reflects the style of the site, with the vaulted roofs and colonnades completing the architectural ensemble on the eastern perimeter of the exhibition grounds. The clear-span halls will also be interconnected via a central entrance and exhibition area.