Works will begin on May 31st 2006 and, on March 31st 2008, Rimini will have a new Conference Centre.

After having consigned the definitive project to obtain the construction permit from the town council offices, Rimini Fiera officially announced the starting and finishing dates of the works, respecting the timetable it had set for achieving its final aim: to build the largest conference centre in Italy, unique for the originality of its structure, the state-of–the-art technical features and its importance as a link with and a draw for the local area.

At the beginning of December 2005, tender procedures were carried out, with the first presentation of the project to the selected firms. Rimini Fiera is also completing procedure for the approval of the PUC (Established Unitary Project) for the entire area involved which, as known, other than the new Rimini Palacongressi conference centre along Via della Fiera (the old expo centre site), also foresees a Music Auditorium (which will be built by Fondazione Cassa di Risparmio - Rimini's Savings Bank Foundation), based on a project designed by architect Mario Botta, management offices, landscaped areas and underground parking facilities.

The company that will be in charge of the construction of the new Rimini Palacongressi will initially belong entirely to Rimini Fiera, which, according to an established schedule, will later be joined by public (Rimini Chamber of Commerce, Provincial Government and Municipality, and Emilia Romagna Regional Government) and private shareholders. The company will retain ownership of the premises and entrust its management to Convention Bureau della Riviera di Rimini.

The new Rimini Palacongressi will occupy an area of 38,000 square metres, the same area that was the site of the old expo centre until 2001. The opposite side of Via della Fiera, where the present Palacongressi is located, and where the area is also of approximately 38,000 sq.m., will be occupied by the Music Auditorium.

The design is by architect Volkwin Marg of Hamburg’s Studio GMP, who also designed the new Rimini Expo Centre, and who is listed as one of the fifteen major contemporary town planning "names".

The Studio will create new buildings on the occasion of the Beijing Olympics in 2008, and has been entrusted with the design of the new wing of the Chinese capital’s National Museum.

The main technical studios collaborating on the design have also been confirmed: Studio Favero e Milan for the structures and Studio TI for the systems.

Extreme flexibility of use with the possibility of hosting numerous events simultaneously, modular conference and expo areas, a wide amount of underground parking space and great care for the environment: these are the key features of the new venue, which starts out with the prospect of being Italy’s largest once finished.

Rimini’s new Palacongressi will feature two main blocks connected by a large foyer system with relative services and three entrances. Floor space will be of approximately 29,000 sq.m.

The first block, which hosts the main entrance, will have two floors and a maximum height of 23 metres.

On the ground floor, a large entrance foyer (approximately 4,000 sq.m.), facing towards the sea, will also be able to host completely independent events.

The first floor (7.35 m. high) features the large 1,600 seat shell-shaped amphitheatre with fixed seating, which can be divided into two 800-seat rooms.

The second block, located behind the first, connected and integrated thanks to the foyer, will contain the main room (4,754 sq.m. and 4,700 seats available), which can in turn be divided (by means of mobile acoustically isolated partitions) up to eight independent rooms (each with its own entrance).

The external height of the main room is of 17 metres whereas the internal height is of 12 metres.

Also on the ground floor, there will be two more modular rooms, seating 600 and 450 respectively (each dividable into two rooms), as well as a 300-seat room and three breakout rooms.

On the first floor, a 300-seat room with fixed furnishing and a sloping floor, six 30-seat breakout rooms, twelve rooms (five of which dividable) seating from 40 to 120 are also planned, for a total capacity of 1,535 seats. There will also be spaces dedicated to services, offices, catering, etc.

In total, there will be a maximum capacity of 42 rooms, seating for 9,300 and a main room able to host 4,700 guests.

Alongside the rooms, Rimini’s Palacongressi will also include spaces for the set-up of exhibition areas up to 4,000 sq.m. The new offices of Rimini Riviera Convention Bureau will also be at the venue.