Contract awarded for £150m Gateshead conference centre
A joint venture between Gateshead Council and Ask:Patrizia has awarded the construction contract for the £150m Sage International Conference Centre to Lendlease.
The conference centre is part of the wider Tyneside development which will also see the creation of an arena and a new hotel.
This comes after Gateshead Council approved revised proposals for the development, which included the relocation of the hotel to an adjacent site and the creation of an urban park in the remaining space.
The development will transform the area into one of the UK’s most dynamic visitor locations, and is expected to bring in over one million visitors to the quayside on an annual basis.
The Sage International Conference Centre is set to include 61,570 sq ft of exhibition space, 27,125 sq ft of adaptable meeting spaces, 17 conference rooms, and a banqueting suite.
Enabling works have taken place over the past two years with Lendlease planning to begin development later this year.
David Cadiot, executive general manager of UK regions for Lendlease, said: “Lendlease has a track record of building, designing and project managing some of the world’s greatest sporting and entertainment venues. We’ll bring the know how to create an exceptional venue, one which local people will be hugely proud to have on their doorstep.”
John Hughes, managing director of Ask Real Estate, on behalf of Ask:PATRIZIA, added: “We’re determined to realise the partnership’s vision for The Sage International Conference Centre and deliver this transformational and ambitious development for the region.”
The project team includes HOK Architects, planning consultants Lichfields, engineers Cundall, QS Core Five, Planit-IE, Crowd Dynamics, and Vectos, and mechanical, electrical, and plumbing consultants Desco.