SCC scoops TPSA technical venue of choice

Receiving the award on behalf of Sandton Convention Centre, Charles Drewe, the centre's general manager: sales and marketing, paid tribute to his team and the world-class standards they maintain. "This award, which the centre received when this category was introduced in 2004, reinforces the extremely high technical and technological standards we have set ourselves at the convention centre. These are truly in line with global expectations and this award is evidence of that."

The fourth TPSA Event Awards included winners - companies and individuals - in 16 categories ranging from "Favourite AV Rental Company", "Favourite Set Construction Company", "Special Effect Company of the Year" and "Favourite Staging Company" to "Favourite Engineer of the Year", "Lighting Designer of the Year", "Personality of the Year" and "Lifetime Achiever Award".

"There is only one award presented to a specific venue, and Sandton Convention Centre has scooped it for the second time in three years. I would like to congratulate our team and our technical partner of choice, LP Unlimited, for the world-class service they continue to deliver to our clients and suppliers," added Drewe.

Technical specs

Sandton Convention Centre was constructed to accommodate equipment up to 500kg per square metre in the conference spaces and up to 1500kg per square metre across the centre's various exhibition areas.

There are 3000 analogue points positioned throughout the convention centre, offering both voice and data lines, and the building also offers wireless technology. Interconnecting floor boxes with 3-phase power, plug points, data lines and drainage are available in all the exhibition and banqueting halls, which also have overhead power supply ranging from 16amp to 120amp connectivity. The building's electrical circuits also offer connectivity through marachel adaptors, which can be adjusted for phase rotation.

The hanging points and draping bars within Sandton Convention Centre range from 70kg per hanging bar metre up to 250kg per hanging point, and are conveniently situated within each hall on all the levels. Ease of load-in and load-out is facilitated through the use of two 3500kg freight lifts, which have the ability to transport equipment and motor vehicles to the relevant exhibition level.

"Sandton Convention Centre is recognised as one of the most technologically-advanced conference centres in South Africa, across the continent and on the global platform. The winners of the TPSA Event Awards are nominated and voted for by colleagues and members within the industry who make use of the various services and facilities on a daily basis. This recognition by the industry of our technical expertise, and the fact that our centre is their favourite technical venue in which to stage events and conferences, is high praise indeed, and we are delighted to be acknowledged as such," concluded Drewe.