香港會議展覽中心(會展)一期嘅竣工觸發咗香港展覽業蓬勃嘅發展📈，導致展覽空間供不應求，於是會展決定進行二期嘅擴建。二期建於1994至1997，樓高五層，座落於一期北面嘅一個人工島。二期頂部戴有四萬平方呎嘅鋁合金，形像猶如飛翔中嘅雀仔🦅。新建嘅大會堂採用咗無柱式嘅設計，加上拱形嘅屋頂同33米高嘅玻璃牆，無疑將本港最靚嘅維港景色映入眼簾🤩。總括嚟講，呢次期擴建為會展增加咗一倍有多嘅展覽空間。

由2006至2009年會展經歷咗第二次嘅擴建。呢次嘅擴建就將兩期中間維港水道嘅上空加建更多嘅展覽廳，增加咗42%空間。由於要預留位置俾沙中線🚇等建設項目，唔可以喺水道範圍做永久樁柱，更採用咗反傳統由上而下嘅「倒吊」式興建，吊起咗4個巨型鋼架之後再喺裡面砌上地板同牆。

十二年後嘅今日，會展再次計劃進行第三期嘅擴建。項目包括拆卸一期南面三座樓齡三十幾年嘅政府大樓同埋鄰近嘅港灣消防局🚒，並喺上面興建一座47層高嘅大樓，其中10層為展覽館，其他則會係辦公室同酒店用途👔。而大樓本身就會連入灣仔嘅行人天橋系統。

The completion of the first HKCEC phase triggered a boom in Hong Kong’s exhibition and events industry, and soon an extension was inevitable👷🏻‍♂️. The second phase, located on an artificial island just north of the first, was constructed from 1994 to 1997. The 5-storey tall structure’s crowning feature was the 40,000 square feet aluminium alloy roof, made to resemble a bird taking flight 🦅. The new Grand Hall adopted a pillarless design. When coupled with the arched ceiling and a 33-meter high glass wall, provided one of the best panoramic views of the Victoria Harbour😲. All in all, phase 2 more than doubled HKCEC’s exhibition spaces.

A second expansion took place from 2006 to 2009. This time saw the aerial space above the harbour channel between the two phases filled with more exhibition halls, increasing total space by 42%. Due to that channel being reserved for future projects like the Shatin-Central Link 🚇, permanent foundation work was not possible. Instead, the construction followed a “top-down” approach where 4 gigantic steel frames were hung above the channel before floors and walls were assembled onto them on site.🏗

Now, 12 years later, a phase 3 of HKCEC is being planned. The most recent proposal is situated to the south of phase 1 and involves the demolition of the three late 80s governmental towers and the nearby Kwong Wan Fire Station🚒. In place, a 47-storey tower with uses including 10 exhibition floors, and many more floors of office space 👔 and hotel rooms, will rise along with footbridges connecting to neighbouring buildings. 

🏗 作者 Builder: Phats
💻 製圖 Rendering: Howard
📸 攝影 Photography: Hero Cerebrum