New Plan For NPE 2009 Replaces East Building With Innovative McCormick West
Show Will Be Held in South, North, and West Halls; Exhibit Space Drawing Slated for February of 2008 Will Take Place in West Hall's New Ballroom—Chicago's Largest
Washington, D.C. — Just as Chicago's McCormick Place completes construction of its West Building, The Society of the Plastics Industry, Inc. (SPI) has reached an agreement with the exposition center to add this large and innovative structure to the facilities available for the NPE 2009 international plastics show, SPI announced today.
The show, sponsored by SPI, will take place June 22-26, 2009 in the South, North, and West halls and, for the first time since NPE 1971, will not include the East (Lakeside Center) building. In addition, on Feb 19-20, 2008, SPI will hold the NPE 2009 Exhibitor Space Drawing in the West Building's 100,000-sq.ft. (9,300-sq.m) ballroom—the largest ballroom in the city, according to Chicago's Metropolitan Pier and Exposition Authority (MPEA), which operates McCormick Place.
"McCormick West is full of amenities and conveniences that will enhance NPE 2009 participation by both exhibitors and visitors," said William Carteaux, SPI's President and CEO. "By adding extensive state-of-the-art meeting facilities, this new building will play a valuable role in SPI's plan to develop the largest and most diversified educational program ever provided at an NPE."
McCormick West has 470,000 sq. ft. (43,700 sq.m) of gross exhibition space. In terms of available net space, the three halls to be used for NPE 2009 will have 68,000 sq.ft. (6,300 sq.m) more than if the East building were used instead of the West. The new facility will also have 250,000 sq.ft. (23,200 sq.m) of meeting space divided among 61 meeting rooms. The MPEA says this represents one of the country's highest meeting-to-exhibit ratios.
The new five-level facility has a central concourse on each level, putting the exhibit hall, meeting rooms, business services, and common areas in close proximity.
Logistical features cited for McCormick West by the MPEA include dedicated roadways for freight, with direct connection to truck marshalling; a transportation center accommodating front-door arrival of up to 16 buses simultaneously, along with taxis; a parking garage within the building; a large indoor area for crate storage; and direct access from the show floor to the exhibitor service center. Amenities will include an 8,000-sq.ft. (750 sq.m) rooftop garden with capacity for 800 people and extensive dining and retail areas.
SOURCE: The Society of the Plastics Industry, Inc.