Future as an Exhibition Centre
During the construction work that followed, there were some fascinating discoveries that helped to tell the story of this grand old building. Firstly, when the arches were being examined, workmen discovered the original plans of the site and also original work schedules. The second find was even more interesting, although the real mystery surrounds the identity of the person who first brought it to the attention of the workers. Local rumour has it that as building work began, the men working on the site were approached one day by a young man from Moss Side. He had been told by his Grandfather that if there were ever any changes made to the Central Station building, someone should look behind the famous clock face. When they did, the workers found a time capsule that had been left there when the station was built in 1880. Whilst the contents of this time capsule – including one of the first Manchester Central train timetables - have been preserved, mystery surrounds the identity of the young man, who first alerted people to the historical significance of the hidden capsule.
The conversion of Central Station into one of the UK’s greatest exhibition centres was one of the first urban regeneration projects ever to be undertaken. At the time, it was a pioneering piece of work to take a disused railway station shell and give it a new lease of life as a venue for events, exhibitions, concerts and conferences. It would come to symbolise what was significant and unique about the Manchester landscape, which is renowned for the way it seamlessly blends contemporary and cutting-edge architecture in a setting that features centuries-old buildings, which define the city and tell its history.
The redevelopment of Central Station cost more than £20million and was designed by Architect Mr Jack Bogle of Manchester firm EGS Design. The work attracted several design and industry awards including a Civic Trust Award in 1987.
The Greater Manchester Exhibition and Events Centre, or GMEX as it became known, was opened on 21st March 1986 by her Majesty the Queen. A staggering 200,000 people from all over the world attended the first exhibition (Enterprise North West) and the venue remained fully booked for the first two years.
Over its lifetime, GMEX became a major part of the civic and cultural life of Manchester. The venue played host to numerous national trade and public exhibitions, high profile concerts and international events, including a major role in Manchester’s 2002 Commonwealth Games.
The addition of Manchester International Convention Centre (MICC) in 2001 extended the venue and created a unique concentration of convention facilities right at the heart of Manchester’s vibrant city centre.
