Baku Crystal Hall construction for Eurovision Song Contest 2012 to end in May 2012

Construction of the Baku Crystal Hall, where the Eurovision Song Contest 2012 is to be held, will be completed by the start of the contest, Gunther Vihing, Technical Director of the ALPINE Bau Germany AG, told Trend.

Construction of the center started in mid-August. The basis was built in late September, construction of the complex started in October. The roof and the hall have been completed, the official says.

The Baku Crystal Hall will host the 57th Eurovision Song Contest 2012. It is located at the State Flag Square. The facility will hold up to 23,000 spectators and allow 16,000 more to watch the semi-finals and finals on huge monitors.

Construction will be completed by May. The basic work will be done by late March, the rest by mid-April, the technical director explains. Brainpool GMBH will start installation of light equipment and stage construction in mid-April, he adds.

Rainer Quenzer, Managing Director for architecture of Nüssli İnternational AG (Switzerland), a partner company of ALPINE Bau Deutschland AG, said that construction of the complex in such little time was achieved by parallel production, shipment and assemblage of the main components – the Modular Stadia, the basis of the complex, the ceiling and the façade.

Baku Crystal Hall is peculiar for sparkling like crystal. There will be about 45,000 colour tones. The façade and the hall itself would be used for the show. It was designed according to standards of the European Broadcasting Union (EBU).

Azerbaijan won the right to host the Eurovision Song Contest 2011 in Dusseldorf (Germany) in May 2011. Semi-finals of the 57th contest will be held on May 22 and 24, final – on May 26.