The North American International Auto Show over the last few years has spread over every nook and cranny of the 700,000 square feet of exhibit space available at Detroit's Cobo Center.

Over the last few years, exhibitors have wanted more area, but the only space left to build in the hall is up - in the form of double-deck displays. The two-story displays were a novelty a few years ago, but now, as the saying goes, everybody's doing it.

We love the double decks, we're seeing more of them and putting them up provides us with a lot of work," said Mark Schwartz of IBEW Local 58 and superintendent for Trade Show Electric. "They talk about expanding Cobo, but I'd kind of like to see them keep it the same size - and keep building up."

Reflecting a booming auto industry - which has started to falter in recent months - automakers have poured millions of dollars into auto show displays. Schwartz said in order to get the show ready on time for the press and the public, the set-up time has been extended to the point where building trades workers were on site this year the last week of October, a few weeks earlier than usual.

The auto show consistently employs more than 500 union electricans, iron workers, riggers, stagehands and teamsters. The show opens with a press preview on Jan. 8, and is open to the public Jan. 13.

PONTIAC BUILDS excitement, and Ken Kenny and Andrew Towns of IBEW Local 58 and Trade Show Electric help build the Pontiac display at the North American International Auto Show at Cobo Center. Cobo Hall's first public event was the 1960 auto show.