On July 17, 2023, the Abidjan Exhibition Centre officially opened its doors, with esteemed guests including the Minister of Trade, Industry, and SME Promotion, Dr. Souleymane Diarrassouba, the Prime Minister, H.E. Mr. Patrick Achi, and the Vice-President of the Republic of Ivory Coast, H.E. Mr. Tiemoko Meyliet Koné.
The star attraction of the Exhibition Centre is undoubtedly the 12,000 m² multi-purpose Convention Centre. PFO Africa, the leading construction company in Ivory Coast and designer and builder of the Abidjan Exhibition Centre, has awarded BESIX a contract to build the structure and roof cladding of the Convention Centre. The works, which began in June 2021, included the design, manufacture, transport and installation of a three-dimensional metal structure 37 metres high. BESIX also carried out the concrete shell and the installation of the roof.
A Remarkable Project for the Country
Designed by the renowned architect Pierre Fakhoury, the Convention Centre is an ambitious masterpiece offering seating for 5,000 people, with the flexibility to extend through modular spaces. Its strategic location next to Félix Houphouët Boigny International Airport positions it perfectly to host top-tier economic activities, trade fairs and international conferences, ensuring easy accessibility for foreign visitors.
An Impressive Three-Dimensional Metal Structure
The Convention Centre's extraordinary design features an awe-inspiring three-dimensional metal structure. Constructing it presented a significant challenge, demanding precise lifting and placement of a 38-tonne dome element, expertly integrating it with the pre-installed structure. Completed in June 2022, the stunning spaceframe boasts an impressive 6,000 nodes and 20,000 unique bars, offering a breathtaking view from the interior.
A Roof Like a Puzzle
The Convention Centre's roof is a true marvel, composed of 8,000 unique-sized panels made of aluminum composite tiles, each approximately 2.5 m². Fixing these tiles with stainless steel brackets on an aluminum sub-structure presented a puzzle-like challenge to successfully reflect the architect's intricate design.
Safety First, Always
Safety remained a top priority throughout the roof construction, with workers professionally trained and certified for the task. Equipped with safety harnesses and lifelines for abseiling, they navigated with utmost caution between the tiles' joints to avoid any damage to the supporting understructure. Thanks to stringent safety measures, the project recorded no severe incidents.
“BESIX is immensely proud to have participated in the construction of the Convention Centre. The project was a major undertaking and it is a testament to the skills and dedication of our exceptional team.” – Guillaume Bracq, Project Manager, BESIX Ivory Coast.
A Strong Partnership
The Convention Centre marks BESIX's fourth significant project in Ivory Coast. BESIX is also actively involved in realising the F Tower in Abidjan, another of Pierre Fakhoury's designs, and the Abobo tunnel, part of the Abobo Town Hall roundabout project aimed at enhancing the accessibility of the Abidjan metropolitan area. In 2021, BESIX successfully delivered the largest drinking water treatment plant in the Abidjan region, located in La Mé, serving the greater Abidjan area.
