After
Expo '98 closed its doors on 30 September 1998. The site remained closed until February 1999, when it reopened as Parque das Nações (Park of the Nations), a free-access park, keeping the gardens, Oceanarium (Europe's then largest aquarium), observation tower, funicular, and the Virtual Reality pavilion. Other buildings were re-purposed for the opening, including:
- the main entrance (sun door), converted to Centro Vasco da Gama, a regional shopping mall (opened on 27 April 1999)
- the main exhibition pavilions, converted to Feira Internacional de Lisboa (Lisbon International Exhibition Fair)
- Utopia Pavilion, converted to Pavilhão Atlântico, Lisbon's main multi-purpose indoor arena
- Knowledge of the Seas Pavilion, converted to Knowledge Pavilion, a hands-on science museum
- another exhibition pavilion, converted to a bowling alley, but subsequently demolished
- Future Pavilion, now the Casino Lisboa.
Within Parque das Nações, every other building or vacant parcel lot was sold for office or living space, to offset the Expo's costs. The Virtual Reality Pavilion is currently scheduled for demolition. The area today is thriving, modern, stylish, and safe, attracting 18 million tourists a year to its gardens, museums, commercial areas and modern buildings. It has also become permanent residency for up to 25,000 people and one of Lisbon's premier business centers, with many multinational corporations basing their headquarters in its main avenue.
Parque Expo has lived beyond Expo '98, not just being still the manager of Parque das Nações but, having acquired the know-how in urban conversion and planning, sells its advising and consultancy services to other cities around the world.
Read more about this topic: Expo '98