ATLANTA (May 30, 2002) It was a monumental morning on May 23 at the Georgia World Congress Center when the first freight arrived for SUPERCOMM at the new 1.4 million-square-foot Phase IV expansion.

"This is one of the most innovative and dynamic centers in the country," said A.J. Janosko, director of trade show operations for SUPERCOMM. "Atlanta has always been a good city to us . we've enjoyed a great partnership since 1998."

The center, originally slated to open the expansion in August, moved forward completion of the project, which includes 420,000 square feet of prime exhibit space, 29 additional meeting rooms and a 25,700 square-foot ballroom, to meet the needs of SUPERCOMM, which will use all 12 halls in the Atlanta convention center. "We know the exhibitors and attendees will be very impressed when they walk in the new facility," Janosko said, adding that the Georgia World Congress Center "set the mark" for other convention centers with its expanded facility. While the expansion is not fully completed, the GWCC pushed forward construction of the four exhibit halls in Building C, giving SUPERCOMM a total of 1.4 million square feet of available prime exhibit space.

"The Congress Center is dedicated to customer service - and when SUPERCOMM show managers said they needed this extra space, we made it work for them," said John Smith, general manager of the GWCC. "This is a great example of our partnership with state government," said Smith, adding that completion of the exhibit halls ahead of schedule is the epitome of how government and private enterprise should work together to for the economic benefit of both.

Originally slated for an August grand opening, the expansion will see its exhibit halls filled June 4 through June 6 during SUPERCOMM 2002 - a show that brings people and technology together to shape the future and prepare for global change. Pre-conference workshops open June 2, with the exhibit halls opening two days later. An estimated 50,000 people will attend the technology show, which presents leading-edge technologies in interactive formats.
After the show, the GWCC Phase IV expansion will close to the public, returning to a hard hat zone where an estimated 1,200 workers will be on the site daily. Before construction is complete, a second show - the Congress Center's largest show to date - will fill the new exhibit halls. The International Woodworking Fair (IWF), which offers a wide variety of supplies, services and machinery for woodworking professionals, opens Aug. 22.

After Woodworking closes its exhibit doors, the project will again be turned over to the construction workers. Completion is slated for early October. InterBev 2002 will be the first show to occupy all areas of the new facility, which also features a new grand entrance, a 3.6-acre landscaped plaza, a ballroom reception area overlooking the new plaza and an eatery, featuring food from around the world.