Designers and architects from all over the world can pitch proposals for how to renovate the Baosteel Stage at the Expo Park, now that Expo Shanghai Group is seeking public opinions on how to best utilize the old factory building.
Baosteel Stage, situated along the Huangpu River on the eastern side of the Expo Park, staged more than 940 performances and exhibitions during last year’s six-month World Expo in Shanghai.
The main open-air stage can seat 3,000 people and a second, smaller auditorium can hold 500 more.
Expo Shanghai Group is looking for a sustainable and innovative proposal for the Baosteel Stage, said Chen Zhu, cultural manager of the Expo Shanghai Group, the company in charge of running the Expo Park.
“Not only are we looking for a sustainable way to use the Baosteel Stage in the future,” Chen told the Global Times on Tuesday. “We are hoping to get new ideas for renovating the venue, so it can serve the public in many ways, not only by providing a stage for performances. The Mercedes-Benz Arena, the former Expo Cultural Center, is already serving a similar purpose.”
Chen added that the Baosteel Stage has great potential as an exhibition facility for events such as fashion shows.
The public comment period will close at the end of October. Expo Shanghai Group plans to decide the winning proposal by the end of the year and aims to reopen the Baosteel Stage to the public in the second half of 2012 at the earliest.
Global Times