Steel frame convention centre opening 'on schedule'

Building teams have completed work on the steel frame of a new exhibition centre in Carolina.

The completion of the steel-frame construction has enabled technicians to move onto the site at Raleigh in the downtown area of the city in order to begin installing electrical and plumbing systems, reports News 14 Carolina.

Estimated costs of the steel-frame building, which is intended to spark the regeneration of the city and surrounding areas, have grown by $41 million (£20.9 million) but city council chiefs hope it will pay for itself once expos and conferences bring thousands of visitors to Raleigh.

Local authority representatives have also insisted that the 500,000 sq ft construction will be completed on time in order to coincide its opening date with the adjacent Marriott Hotel in autumn next year.

The team behind the large building hopes that the Raleigh Convention Centre will become a prestigious venue in the south-east of the US and will cater for both large trade shows welcoming up to 5,000 attendees and smaller group meetings with 50 delegates.