Exhibition News December 2019 | Page 63

Venue Focus Westfield’s new venue Exhibition London has now opened its doors, after 10 months of renovation and redevelopment E xhibition London, a brand-new venue and event space, is now ready for use for exhibitions, conferences, brand activations, and much more. A collaborative project from Unibail-Rodamco- Westfield and venue specialists Broadwick Live, Exhibition London is part of the £8bn regeneration of White City. Renovations included designing a mezzanine floor; fitting a new acoustically rated roof; preserving the existing windows; retaining an original gantry crane that was used when the building portrayed the Acme Factory in the 1988 cult classic Who Framed Roger Rabbit?; and installing a system of acoustic louvres. The venue takes its name from its proximity to the site of the Franco-British Exhibition of 1908. The Grade II* listed Dimco building was first built at Westfield London in 1899 as an engine house for Central London Railways, was later used as a bus shelter, and is now an event space. The extensive developments have preserved the venue’s heritage – like the TFL brickwork and other original features – whilst also modernising it; the Victorian structure has been integrated with high-end design work. December — 63