Vancouver, British Columbia’s main convention center opened in 1987 and was so popular, it reached capacity within 10 years.

Overlooking the harbor and with spectacular views, the center had to expand because it was losing millions of dollars in business since it could not accommodate all groups wishing to hold conventions in the city. The addition of 1.2 million square feet would triple the center’s existing capacity and help generate an additional $107 million (U.S.) annually in convention attendee spending.

The exhibition hall alone is 56,000 square feet and was described as “massive” by Dan Taillefer, operations manager for Viaduct Sheet Metal Ltd., the sheet metal contractor for the project.

“We had just finished an airport expansion project, so for interest I scaled off a 747 and was surprised to find that you could fit three such planes in the exhibition hall,” Taillefer recalled. “Just over 12,000 linear feet of 24-inch spiral ducting was specified for the exhibition hall and this positioned us very well to purchase a spiral machine.”

Viaduct, located in Surrey, British Columbia, was incorporated in 1988 with a staff of 10 in a 1,500-square-foot facility. It has grown to a staff of over 100 in a nearly 50,000-square-foot building. Officials attribute the growth to uncompromising performance and forward thinking.

A large step

A waterside look at the convention facility’s 1.2 million-square-foot expansion.

Goals

Unidentified construction workers at the convention center discuss the progress of the exhibit hall’s expansion.

Savings

The completed lobby in the newly expanded convention center.