venue profiles: convention centres: Qatar National Convention Centre (QNCC)
Qatar National Convention Centre (QNCC)
Set to open in mid-2011, the Qatar National Convention Centre (QNCC) is being developed as part of Qatar Foundation’s Education City and is located 20 minutes from downtown Doha in the new business district.
Space
Flexible exhibition space covering 40,000 square metres, an adjoining 2,300-seat theatre, a conference hall for 4,000 delegates, three tiered auditoriums plus theatre-style seating and banquet space for up to 10,000 guests, with 57 meeting rooms in total
Facilities include a grand entrance foyer, pre-function space, a ceremonial drop-off area, conference rooms, meeting centre which can be used for dining functions or large meetings, a 1,900-square-metre grand ballroom, separate mosques for men and women, secure loading zone and crate storage for exhibitors, and parking for over 2,300 vehicles which connects directly with the convention centre.
The ceremonial drop-off area to the QNCC building provides a grand entrance to the exhibition halls. The main South Foyer connects all exhibition hall entry points so that numerous events can run concurrently.
Ample underground public parking is available with direct access to the South Foyer.
Coming up
QNCC is already confirmed as the venue for the 20th World Petroleum Congress which will be held December 2011.
Going green
QNCC is the first of its kind being built to Gold level standard of the US Green Building Council’s Leadership in Energy and Environment Design (LEED) programme.
Its large roof overhangs minimise the direct solar impact, reducing cooling loads. Expansive glass façades of double-pane solar control glazing provide ample natural light, reducing the energy cost and heat gain of artificial lighting. The roof skylights fill the halls with natural light, eliminating the need for artificial lighting for daytime general illumination.
The large exhibit halls employ the concept of temperature stratification, cooling the occupied visitor zone and allowing the upper hall zones to be warmer, rather than cooling the entire enclosed airspace.
Hospitality
The adjacent 105-storey mixed-use tower will include office space, high-end residential apartments, a luxury hotel and penthouses.
A number of major international hotels are located within easy reach of the venue providing additional conferencing and dining venues.
Technology
The latest in smart technology controls every aspect of operation from lighting and fire control to wireless Internet access.
A number of 18-metre high motorised moveable wall partitions allow the main hall to be divided in five locations, resulting in a wide range of possible hall sizes.
There is also a state-of-the-art smoke evacuation system. All halls are fully air-conditioned and have selectively controlled natural and artificial lighting.
The main exhibit hall floor loading of 33.75kN/qm can accommodate major exhibitions requiring heavy floor loading.
Why QNCC?
• One of the largest and tallest single exhibition spaces in the world
• The main South Foyer connects all exhibit hall entry points so that numerous events can run concurrently
• State-of-the art loading facilities, ample on-site crate storage and large exhibitor offices allow for easy set-up and tear down of events
