Manchester Central Convention Complex

Manchester Central Convention Complex
Former names	Greater Manchester Exhibition Centre (1986–2006)
General information
Status	Grade II*[1]
Architectural style	19th-century railway terminus, cast iron and red brick
Location	Manchester City Centre
Address	Windmill Street Petersfield, Manchester Greater Manchester M2 3GX England[2][3][4][5]
Coordinates	53°28′34″N 2°14′49″W / 53.476°N 2.247°W / 53.476; -2.247
Construction started	1982
Completed	1986
Opened	21 March 1986
Renovated	2008–09
Cost	£20 million (1986)
Renovation cost	£30 million
Owner	Manchester City Council
Height	90 feet (27 m)
Dimensions
Other dimensions	Arch span: 210 feet (64 m) Hall length: 550 feet (168 m) long
Technical details
Structural system	2-storey brick building with single-span segmental iron and glass arched roof
Design and construction
Architecture firm	EGS Design
Main contractor	Alfred McAlpine
Designations
Listed Building – Grade II*
Official name	G MEX
Designated	18 December 1963
Reference no.	1270514
Renovating team
Renovating firm	Stephenson Bell
Website
Venue website

Manchester Central Convention Complex
Operator	Manchester Central Convention Complex Ltd.
Banquet/ballroom	1,200 (Exchange Hall)
Theatre seating	10,900[6] (Central Hall) 804 (Exchange Auditorium)
Enclosed space
• Total space	17,776.71 m2 (191,346.9 sq ft)
• Exhibit hall floor	11,834.56 m2 (127,386.1 sq ft)
• Breakout/meeting	2,820.15 m2 (30,355.8 sq ft)
Public transit access	St Peter's Square Deansgate-Castlefield Deansgate Manchester Oxford Road

Manchester Central Convention Complex (commonly known as Manchester Central or GMEX (Greater Manchester Exhibition Centre)) is an exhibition and conference centre converted from the former Manchester Central railway station in Manchester, England. The building has a distinctive arched roof with a span of 64 metres (210 ft) – the second-largest railway station roof span in the United Kingdom,^[7] and was granted Grade II* listed building status in 1963.

After 89 years as a railway terminus, it closed to passengers in May 1969. It was renovated as an exhibition centre formerly known as the G-Mex Centre in 1982 and was Manchester's primary music concert venue until the construction of the Manchester Arena. After renovation the venue reverted to its former name Manchester Central in 2007.

From April 2020 until March 2021, the complex became a temporary field hospital for non-critical COVID-19 patients,^[8] part of a network of temporary NHS Nightingale Hospitals.^[9]