Work is underway to create the new south pavilion entrance to Coventry Building Society Arena ahead of the Birmingham 2022 Commonwealth Games.
It is the fourth stage in a multi-million-pound project to create the state-of-the-art Commonwealth Convention Centre at the venue.
The new south pavilion will be the main gateway to the convention centre and provide seamless access to the 7,750 square metres of indoor conference and exhibition space at the Arena.
Work already completed includes the renovation of the 6,000 square metre Indoor Arena, the aesthetic transformation of the existing 1,750 square metres of space beneath the Arena, which is now the convention centre, and the creation and launch of a popular new sports bar, The Anecdote.
When completed, the pavilion entrance will provide access to the new Convention Centre Lobby, an open plan multi-purpose reception space offering flexible options for event organisers.
The south pavilion is the centre-piece of the multi-million-pound redevelopment of the venue and will be clearly seen from Jimmy Hill Way.
The Commonwealth Convention Centre is set to open its doors in early 2022 as Coventry Building Society Arena gears up to host rugby sevens, judo and wrestling at the Commonwealth Games.
After the games, the convention centre will further cement the Arena as a modern, flexible and market leading facility for the conference and exhibition industry.
The project is funded through the £3.8 million granted to the venue by the Coventry and Warwickshire Local Enterprise Partnership (CWLEP), via the West Midlands Combined Authority (WMCA) as part of the Government’s Getting Building Fund.
An additional £1.4 million has also been made available to Coventry Building Society Arena via CWLEP from the Local Growth Fund and Growing Places Fund.
Stephen Vaughan, Wasps Group Chief Executive, said: “The south pavilion entrance will provide the perfect gateway to our new state-of-the-art convention centre.
“In recent months, the Arena has undergone a significant transformation and the updates we have made so far have been incredibly well-received by organisers holding their conferences and exhibitions with us.
“We are making these changes to further establish the Arena as a market-leading convention and conference centre. The creation of the new south pavilion is integral to those plans and to see construction underway is fantastic.
“With the completion of the south pavilion we will be ready for the attention of the world to be focused on Coventry Building Society Arena as part of the Birmingham 2022 Commonwealth Games.”
Sarah Windrum, Chair of CWLEP, added: “It is fantastic to see another step forward in creating the south pavilion which is certain to attract delegates from across the UK to the city and boost our economy.
“This type of venue is vital not only during Coventry’s year as UK City of Culture 2021 and the Birmingham 2022 Commonwealth Games but also to secure the long-term future of conferencing in the region.”
Caption: Paul Michael (Commercial Director, Coventry Building Society Arena) and Zamurad Hussain (CWLEP).