The organisers of BaselWorld have stated that the new hall complex developments for the 2013 show is on schedule, with the show set to open punctually on April 25.
The shell of the new BaselWorld exhibition halls was designed by the architects Herzog & de Meuron and was finished in September 2012. At present the facade of the new complex is being mounted and the interior fittings installed.
Work is now in full swing on fitting out the interior of the 32-metre-high halls, with a stand-out facade said to be finished by the end of the year.
The developments have included a 420m extension of Hall 1 on three exhibition storeys, totalling 141,000 m2 of exhibition space. A total of CHF430 million (£280m) has been invested in this project, with a more joined-up layout to the halls enabling for a more compact-feeling site that is more convenient for attendees.
Since BaselWorld this year, the old halls have been entirely demolished and a total of 3,500 tons of steel girders, 45,000m3 of concrete and 5,200 tons of reinforcing steel have gone into the new complex.
The new building complex will be handed over to the MCH Group, its then owner, on February 8. Work will then commence on assembling the stands for BaselWorld 2013, some of which have several storeys.
