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New pavilion for Royal Cornwall Showground
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| Show secretary Chris Riddle in front of the new building |
Construction of Cornwall's latest meeting venue is bang on target for opening in June during this summer's Royal Cornwall Show June 5-7.
The £1.8million Pavilion Centre at the Royal Cornwall showground will give the county a brand new, state-of-the-art and purpose-designed venue for all kinds of business and social gatherings.
As the striking new building emerges at the heart of the showground, the Royal Cornwall Agricultural Association has announced the appointment of a conference and banqueting manager whose aim will be to generate business for the centre.
Lauren Menzies sees much of that business coming from within Cornwall and the wider west country.
She also believes the Pavilion Centre will bring new business into the county from further afield, which will have a significant, positive effect on the local economy.
She and association secretary Christopher Riddle say the time is absolutely right for this new venture.
"There is a lot of hotel development happening in Cornwall - and in this part of Cornwall particularly - which will work hand in glove with our own marketing plans.
"Other established local businesses such as restaurants and hotels will also feel the benefit. We are not necessarily in competition with existing facilities. Ours is a unique product which will have a knock-on effect on many other local enterprises. We certainly want to work closely with them all," she said.
Lauren, who until recently ran events at the Eden Project, says prospective clients will have much to be impressed by.
Décor and furniture have been chosen carefully to match the individual character of the building and its spectacular setting, she says.
"There has been proper investment in quality, and people will notice."
The new Pavilion Centre replaces the former Members' Pavilion and Royal Pavilion, which dated back to the 1960s.
Both were demolished after the 2007 show and progress on the new building has been rapid - it has also been on schedule and on budget.
The building has a frame of laminated timber. Walls are clad externally in Siberian larch and large north and east-facing windows provide far-reaching views and natural light to keep energy costs down.
Design throughout has been environmentally sensitive, to provide a versatile building, in keeping with its surroundings and purpose.
Its profile resembles the tented pavilion structures that appear on the showground during the annual Royal Cornwall Show.
A coating-free aluminium roof gives the Pavilion Centre a distinctive look. The material has also been chosen because it is easy to recycle, a process which requires only five per cent of original manufacturing energy.
A fireproof fibre made from naturally occurring volcanic material - provides roof insulation.
A one-metre overhang to the roof edges will help to protect the natural timber claddings and provide a degree of sun screening in summer.
An internal environment management system monitors Co2 in the atmosphere and draws in the required amount of fresh air - heated needed.
A low-energy lighting system incorporates automatic switch off which senses when rooms are not being used.
The site on which the pavilion is built slopes west to east, so the intriguing design features one storey in the west and three storeys in the east. The lower basement storey is partly underground.
Christopher Riddle said the building is already attracting bookings.
"We have bookings for a wedding reception, dinner dance and business meetings - exactly the range of occasions we are aiming at.
"People who have seen it like the fact that it is an unusual design - it is clean and contemporary. They also like the countryside setting and the fact that car parking is so easy."
The main hall will seat up to 300 people, theatre-style, and more for standing events such as receptions.
It can be divided to create two smaller spaces and there are four further function / meeting rooms of varying sizes, a commercial standard kitchen, extensive toilets and other facilities.
Event organisers will be able to choose from three local catering companies; Scott Young (Concierge Catering) of Truro, Barnett Fare of Bodmin and The Old Inn of St Breward, the latter also running the pavilion's licensed bar. A strong emphasis will be placed on the use of quality, local produce with a wide choice of menus available from light business lunches to elaborate dinners.
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