Merseyside venue complex ACC Liverpool’s final completion was marked late last month as a major event was held in all parts of the new BT Convention Centre for the first time.

Around 1,700 delegates from the British Society for Rheumatology (BSR) made use of all of the BT Convention Centre’s stunning new facilities – including its three state-of-the-art auditoriums and 18 breakout rooms on the newly completed upper floor.




Finishing touch: The BT Convention Centre is now fully operational


The organisation’s four-day Annual Meeting, from 22-25 April, which includes a conference and exhibition, was the final part of the phased opening of ACC Liverpool, which has been taking place since the launch event of Liverpool’s year as Capital of Culture at the Echo Arena, the other venue in the complex, on 12 January.

This was followed by the opening of the lower part of the BT Convention Centre in late February -– with its 3,725 square metre multi-purpose hall being used for events such as the Liberal Democrats Spring Conference.

The BSR exhibition and conference, however, was the first time all parts of the facility had been used and was the biggest event so far to be held in the BT Convention Centre. The organisation has signed a two-year deal to come to the city in 2008 and 2014 and is hoping to extend this further.

“There are few venues capable of hosting an event as large and complex as ours, which has both conference and exhibition elements,” said Sarah Abbott, head of education and events at BSR. “ACC Liverpool’s facilities are absolutely ideal for both.“

Commenting on the landmark event, Jacquie Rogers, general manager of the BT Convention Centre, said: “BSR’s Annual Meeting is one of the most prestigious events in the industry and we’re absolutely delighted that they have committed to come to Liverpool for two years.

“Attracting organisations of this calibre serves as a testament to the quality and flexibility of our outstanding new venue. This sets the tone for the standard of business we will be bringing to Liverpool in our first year and beyond.”

ACC Liverpool was a landmark regeneration project on the outstanding Mersey River Waterfront sited next to the famous grade one listed Albert Dock. Designed by the award-winning architects Wilkinson Eyre, the venue complex houses the versatile BT Convention Centre, with facilities including a 1,350-seat auditorium and up to 7,000 square metres of exhibition space, and the Echo Arena capable of seating over 10,000 concertgoers.

It is also one of the most sustainable venues in Europe, designed to produce half the carbon dioxide emissions it would without any of the environmentally friendly measures that are currently in place.