Crews are almost done building the new expo center in downtown Appleton.

The $31 million facility opens next Thursday.

City Facilities Director Dean Gazza led a tour of the building this morning. He says they understood it would be a challenge to finish the project in 15 months, but that’s what they set out to do. He says the longer the project would take, the more potential events they wouldn’t have a chance to host.

Ten communities agreed to use a portion of their hotel room tax revenue to pay for the Fox Cities Exhibition Center.

The grand opening is set for next Thursday at 5 p.m.