GCCEC completes first phase of major technology investment

The Gold Coast Convention and Exhibition Centre (GCCEC) has completed a multimillion-dollar upgrade to the lighting, sound and technical infrastructure across its four exhibition halls, including what the venue describes as Australia’s first installation of a new GDS lighting system.

The first phase of the project forms part of a US$3 million technology investment made across the venue over the past 18 months. Its new lighting infrastructure comprises 168 LED fixtures and more than 840 individually controllable colour channels, allowing the four halls to operate as a unified lighting environment or be programmed separately for individual events. The system is intended to give organisers greater scope to alter the appearance and ambience of the halls without requiring extensive additional production infrastructure, ranging from exhibition lighting to colour washes for gala dinners and special events.

“Our clients should not have to choose between creative ambition and efficient delivery,” commented GCCEC general manager Nick Jeffrey. “This product gives them both, with greater freedom to transform our Exhibition Halls while reducing the time, complexity and cost involved in bringing an event to life.”

The upgrade also includes new loudspeakers, upgraded cabling and a broadcast-standard network-based signal distribution system designed to distribute visual content and AV systems more efficiently throughout the venue.

“We want organisers to see the Exhibition Halls as a creative canvas, not simply a space to fill,” added Jeffrey. “This technology gives us greater scope to shape the atmosphere and identity of an event from the moment delegates walk through the doors.”