SPICE Convention Centre
| SPICE Convention Centre | |
|---|---|
 | |
 | |
| Address | 108C Jalan Tun Dr Awang, Bayan Lepas |
| Location | George Town, Penang, Malaysia |
| Coordinates | 5°19′47″N 100°16′48″E / 5.3297°N 100.28°E |
| Owner | Penang Island City Council |
| Operator | S P Setia |
| Architect | Arup Group |
| Opened | 2017 |
Theatre seating | 8,000 |
| Enclosed space | |
| • Exhibit hall floor | 78,959 m2 (849,910 sq ft) |
| • Breakout/meeting | 1,445 m2 (15,550 sq ft) |
| • Ballroom | 4,060 m2 (43,700 sq ft) |
| Public transit access | 302, 303, 304, 308 |
SPICE Convention Centre is a subterranean convention centre in George Town within the Malaysian state of Penang. Situated within the suburb of Bayan Lepas, it was completed in 2017 and forms part of the Setia SPICE complex. The convention centre contains an event space of 78,959 m2 (849,910 sq ft), the largest in Penang.
History
[edit]In 1997, the 25.4-acre (10.3 ha) Penang International Sports Arena (abbrev. PISA) was built by the Penang Island Municipal Council (now Penang Island City Council) at a cost of RM102.5 million.[1][2] At the time, the PISA complex comprised an indoor arena (now renamed SPICE Arena) and a centre for aquatic sports.[1] Although PISA was subsequently selected as a venue for the 2000 Sukma Games and the 2001 SEA Games, the complex was plagued by poor design and maintenance.[3][4][5] By 2011, the municipal government estimated a budget of RM25 million to extensively repair PISA.[5]
After the 2008 state election, the new Pakatan Rakyat-led state government saw the construction of an international-grade convention centre as a necessity to diversify the state's economy.[5] However, as the municipal government lacked the financial means to undertake its construction, the state government under Chief Minister Lim Guan Eng initiated a request for proposal to redevelop PISA.[5][6]
In 2011, Malaysian property developer S P Setia was granted a 30-year concession from the municipal government to redevelop PISA, which was subsequently renamed Setia SPICE.[7][8] A key requirement of the tender was to preserve the existing greenery on the site. S P Setia's proposal included a new subterranean convention centre topped with a layer of grass, as well as a playground and a spice garden.[9] Construction of the SPICE Convention Centre commenced in 2012 and was complete by 2017.[10][11]
Description
[edit]Designed by Arup Group, SPICE Convention Centre contains a meeting space of 74,899 m2 (806,210 sq ft), distributed across 16 rooms located on two floors – one at ground level and another 3 m (9.8 ft) below ground.[12][13][14] Additionally, it has a 4,060 m2 (43,700 sq ft) pillarless ballroom, recognised as the largest in Malaysia by The Malaysia Book of Records, with a seating capacity of 8,000 in theatre configuration.[13][15][16]
The convention centre features a 7-acre (2.8 ha) public park situated on its roof, also touted as the largest in the country.[14][16] The park includes a playground, a bamboo park and a spice garden, and is equipped with a rainwater harvesting system.[14][16][17] In addition, it is illuminated by 654 solar-powered light-emitting diodes (LEDs) and incorporates daylighting features to help reduce the structure's internal temperature.[10][16][18] The design of the centre necessitated the installation of 40 m (130 ft) span trusses with fabricated joints to accommodate the added weight of the garden.[14]
References
[edit]- ^ a b "MESYUARAT PERTAMA PENGGAL KEEMPAT DEWAN UNDANGAN NEGERI PULAU PINANG KESEMBILAN". Penang State Legislative Assembly (in Malay). Retrieved 18 Apr 2025.
- ^ Rafee, Hannah (2 Nov 2018). "Green convention centre raises the bar". The Edge. Retrieved 18 Apr 2025.
- ^ "Poor Seating Facilities For Fans At Sukma". New Straits Times. 20 Jun 2000. p. 34. Retrieved 18 Apr 2025.
- ^ "Judo gets local and foreign assistance". New Straits Times. 15 Sep 2001. p. 38. Retrieved 18 Apr 2025.
- ^ a b c d "The economic flavor that sPICE will bring" (PDF). Buletin Mutiara. Nov 2011. Retrieved 18 Apr 2025.
- ^ Katahenggam, Nagathisen. "Fiscal Analysis and Governance of the City Council of Penang Island 2002–2011" (PDF). Taylor's University. Archived (PDF) from the original on 4 February 2024. Retrieved 4 February 2024.
- ^ "SP Setia's long term growth banks on recent land bid wins – Analysts". The Borneo Post. 18 Jan 2011. Retrieved 18 Apr 2025.
- ^ Ann Tan (16 Jan 2011). "RM300mil SPICE Centre for Penang". The Star. Retrieved 18 Apr 2025.
- ^ White, Steve (1 Jun 2017). "Meet in Penang: Malaysian spice". Business Traveller. Retrieved 18 Apr 2025.
- ^ a b Rafee, Hannah (2 Nov 2018). "Green convention centre raises the bar". The Edge. Retrieved 18 Apr 2025.
- ^ Tan, Sin Chow (21 Oct 2015). "SPICE project to wrap up final 20% of construction by end 2016". The Star. Retrieved 18 Apr 2025.
- ^ "Setia SPICE Convention Centre" (PDF). SEMICON Southeast Asia. Retrieved 22 Apr 2025.
- ^ a b "SETIA SPICE CONVENTION CENTRE". Setia SPICE. S P Setia. Retrieved 18 Apr 2025.
- ^ a b c d "The largest column-free subterranean ballroom and the largest rooftop recreational park in Malaysia". Arup Group. Retrieved 22 Apr 2025.
- ^ Penang Meeting Planners Guide 2022–2023 (PDF). Penang Convention & Exhibition Bureau. 2024.
- ^ a b c d "Iconic landmark a pride of Penang". The Star. 18 Nov 2018. Retrieved 21 Apr 2025 – via PressReader.
- ^ "Setia SPICE Convention Centre honoured at ACEM Engineering Awards 2019". S P Setia. Sep 2019. Retrieved 18 Apr 2025.
- ^ Thevadass, Logeiswary (20 Mar 2017). "SPICE Convention Centre runs on hybrid solar power". The Star. Retrieved 18 Apr 2025.
