Aerial view of ExCeL in 2008, before its first extension
The Centre was designed by Moxley Architects and built by Sir Robert McAlpine. It opened in November 2000.[5][6] In May 2008 it was acquired by Abu Dhabi National Exhibitions Company. Phase II of development, which included building London's first International Convention Centre (ICC) and creating an "eastern arrival experience", was completed on 1 May 2010.[7] Phase 3 is expected to be completed in October 2024.[8]
In 2015, CentrEd at ExCeL was opened,[9] which expanded the centre's facilities to incorporate training and meeting space near the western entrance of the venue overlooking Royal Victoria Dock.
The Royal Victoria Dock was closed to commercial traffic in 1981, but it is still accessible to shipping. The Centre's waterfront location allows visiting vessels to moor alongside the Centre. An example of this is HMS Sutherland visiting the 2005 London Boat Show.[10]
The design of the exhibition building consists of two column-free, rectangular, sub-divisible halls of approximately 479,493 sq. ft. (44,546 sq. m.), on either side of a central boulevard containing catering facilities and information points.[11][12] There are also three sets of function rooms, one overlooking the water, another above the western end of the central boulevard, and the third on the north side of the building which are used for smaller meetings, seminars, presentations and corporate hospitality. The property is surrounded by six hotels,[13] bars and restaurants, and 1,800 parking spaces situated underneath the property with 85 accessible spaces.[14]
In 2011 ExCeL London was awarded the Business Super brand,[15] and welcomed its 20 millionth visitor on 18 June 2014.[16] ExCeL has also been awarded 'Venue of the Year' on several occasions at various industry ceremonies.[17] In 2012, ExCeL hosted several events for the Olympics and Paralympics, and has since erected a "legacy wall" featuring the handprints of athletes who won Gold at the venue and the former Mayor of London Boris Johnson.
In 2014 ExCeL hosted the Global Summit to End Sexual Violence in Conflict,[18] chaired by American actress and UN Special Envoy Angelina Jolie and attended by 79 ministers from 123 country delegations.
Aerial view of ExCeL in 2015, after its Phase 2 extension
From 1 to 8 July 2019, 150 events took place as part of London Climate Action Week 2019.[19]
It was announced on 24 March 2020 that the Centre was to be temporarily converted into the 4,000-bed NHS Nightingale Hospital as part of the response to the 2020 coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic. Military engineers and contractors supported the erection of the facility, and army medics assisted the NHS nurses, doctors and other staff.[20] The Nightingale was opened on 3 April 2020 by Charles, Prince of Wales via video link.[21]
Transport
ExCeL London is served by two Docklands Light Railway (DLR) stations, which span the full 600-metre length of the venue. The western entrance is directly linked to Custom House for ExCeL station, which serves the Platinum Suite and the event halls and is located next to the glass pyramid. Since 24 May 2022, the western entrance of ExCeL has been served by the Elizabeth line (known as the Crossrail project during construction), connecting the venue to central London in 12 minutes.[22]
The eastern entrance is connected to Prince Regent station. The eastern entrance serves the International Convention Centre (ICC at ExCeL), which was opened in 2010 by then-Mayor Boris Johnson and is London's first and currently only ICC. During major shows with large visitor attendances, extra shuttle trains are run between the venue and Canning Town station, which connects with London Underground's Jubilee line. Since June 2012, the Emirates Air Line cable car now links ExCeL to The O2 on the Greenwich Peninsula.
ExCeL London is also located near London City Airport station, which is linked by the DLR and a number of dual-carriageway roads which also provide onward access to the office and commercial district of Canary Wharf.
Sustainability and corporate social responsibility
ExCeL London participates in the UN Global Compact Scheme,[23] the world's largest corporate sustainability initiative which invites companies to align with universal principles on human rights, labour, environment and anti-corruption. As part of this scheme, ExCeL hosts annual events to communicate on progress addressing the issues of Human Rights, Labour, Environment and Anti-Corruption. Since joining the scheme in August 2007,[24] ExCeL has undertaken a series of initiatives to reduce energy usage, increase recycling efforts and increase transparency across the business, such as the introduction of a whistleblowing hotline in May 2015.[25]
ExCeL publishes details of its corporate social responsibility (CSR) efforts publicly in the UN Global Compact report and on their website. Currently ExCeL invests in the local community of Newham by supporting select charities, chiefly Newham All Star Sports Academy (NASSA) and Community Food Enterprise (CFE).[26] ExCeL also provides space free of charge to local schools and sports teams, in addition to hosting an annual event called 'ExCeL in the Arts' for local children to attend. In 2016, ExCeL welcomed London celebrity chef, musician and entrepreneur Levi Roots, who in collaboration with a local food initiative organised a cooking class for local children[27]
Sport
Olympics
ExCeL London hosting table tennis events at the 2012 Summer Olympics.
ExCeL hosted two boxing matches on 10 December 2005, the first between British heavyweights Danny Williams and Audley Harrison and the second between Amir Khan and Daniel Thorpe.
The Virgin ActiveLondon Triathlon is held at ExCeL London on an annual basis, with the cycling and running legs taking place within and around the venue and the swim taking place in Royal Victoria Dock, adjacent to ExCeL.
Tennis
ExCeL will host the inaugural Ultimate Tennis Showdown grand final in December 2023, a series of exhibition matches held during the professional tennis off-season.[29]
Motorsport
ExCeL London Circuit
Formula E Circuit (2023) Formula E Circuit (2022) Original Formula E Circuit (2021)
The Formula ELondon ePrix was held with two back to back races at ExCel, in July 2021 with part of the circuit running around the arena and part of the circuit in the exhibition hall itself.[31] It was also due to be held in 2020, however the event was cancelled after the ExCeL was repurposed as a temporary NHS hospital named NHS Nightingale, to deal with the Coronavirus pandemic.[32] It held the final 2 rounds of the 2022-23 Formula E World Championship, after holding the penultimate round in 2022.
In 2003 filmmaker Dominic Leung filmed the music video of Coldplay's single Clocks here with a laser show in front of a staged audience including university students.[36]
In 2005, the Bollywood cultural event, the 2005 Zee Cine Awards for the first time in the event's history.
British International Motor Show 2006 and 2008 attracting over 400,000 visitors to the venue and included a Music Festival with live performances in a 5,000 capacity purpose-built arena each night of the motor show.
Between 27–29 April 2007, the 2007 London Guitar Show (LGS). The show featured two masterclasses on the Saturday with Steve Vai, in which time he answered questions asked by fans through the LGS website prior to the show, and from fans at the masterclass.
Between 13–15 July 2007, it hosted Star Wars Celebration Europe; the first Star Wars fan event of its kind held outside the United States which attracted nearly 40,000 visitors over the three days.
On 2 April 2009, annual G-20 Leaders' Summit on Financial Markets and the World Economy, commonly called The London Summit 2009, the largest gathering of world leaders London has seen since the first United Nations General Assembly in 1946.
From 22–24 November, the ExCeL played host to the Doctor Who Celebration convention, in celebration of the 50th anniversary of the BBC television series, Doctor Who.
University College London has held its graduation ceremonies at Excel since 2022 (including the postponed 2020 and 2021 graduations).[41][42]
The 2022 Pokémon World Championships was held at ExCeL on 18–21 August 2022, becoming the first edition of the World Championships to be held outside of North America, as well as the first edition to be a four-day event.
Demonstrators camped outside ExCel to protest against the DSEI fair in 2019, in an attempt to block access, which resulted in the police arresting 100 people for allegedly obstructing the highway.[45][46]
^"ExCeL". London2012.com. UK: LOCOG. Archived from the original on 5 December 2012. Retrieved 13 December 2012.
^Dunn, Carrie (13 October 2023). "London confirmed as host for UTS Grand Final". Tennis Majors. Archived from the original on 23 November 2023. Retrieved 23 November 2023. ExCel London will stage the eight-man event from December 15-17
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