Turner & Townsend lands AECC construction programme management role

Global construction consultancy Turner & Townsend is to play a key role in programme managing a masterplan development which includes building of the £333 million new Aberdeen Exhibition and Conference Centre (AECC).The 105,000sqm complex, due to be completed in time for the Offshore Europe Conference in 2019, will include a 9,000sqm 12,500-capacity arena, which has the flexibility to double up as an exhibition hall.The AECC includes an adjoining 4-star hotel, with a further two hotels located adjacent to the main building, which will be developed within the first phase. The masterplan for the site allows for future development of up to 60,000sqm of offices and 6,000sqm of leisure.The new facility will be fully serviced by an energy centre and anaerobic digestion plant. This will provide a sustainable source of power, heat and cooling for the complex, along with the two further hotels. This will also supply an income stream that will help cover the cost of the development.The AECC, which will be located off the A96 adjacent to Aberdeen International Airport, is expected to attract an extra 31,000 business tourists a year to Scotland and lead to an additional visitor spend of £11million per annum.Turner & Townsend, which was chosen for its strong track record in successfully completing similar schemes, will be working for specialist property developer Henry Boot Developments Ltd who are partnering with Aberdeen City Council on this scheme.The consultancy will project manage the first phase of construction and be responsible for the overall programme management of the masterplan, which will be built out on the site of the Rowett Research Institute at Bucksburn. The Institute is relocating to another part of the city.