Qatar National Convention Centre going for gold

The 177,000 square metre facility is going for gold in the Leadership in Energy and Environment Design (LEED) Green Building Rating System.

As the world's first high-performance green convention centre, it will have state-of-the art systems for water savings, energy efficiency and indoor environmental quality.

QNCC General Manager, Mr Paul D'Arcy said they have combined cutting edge design, functionality and sustainability to meet the complex needs of meeting planners, exhibitors and attendees.

D'Arcy said:

"In terms of its environmentally sustainable construction, the venue is on course to achieve Gold Status under the (LEED) Green Building Rating System. To the best of our knowledge it is the first such venue of this nature to achieve such a standard in its entirety."

"For example, to capitalise on Doha's endless sunshine, over 3,600 metre square solar panels on the Centre's roof will produce 12.5% of our total energy requirements," stated D'Arcy.

But it's the world first signature features that will set a new benchmark in venue design, such as:

- Wireless Conference Management System

- 108 inch (minimum) LCD screens in all Meeting Rooms

- LED lighting for the Exhibition Halls (no metal halide)

- Full colour LED lighting in Exhibition Hall 6 (designed for banqueting)

- 35,000 m2 of modular mobile rigging grids within the Exhibition Halls

- 100% Fibre Optic connections for all service pits in the Exhibition Halls

- Two (2) interactive LCD screens for public use each measuring 5 metres long by 2 metres high

- 3,676 m2 of solar panels that occupy 7,080 m2 of roof area to produce 12.5% of the buildings total electrical requirements

It is not just the convention industry that is excited about these world first achievements, global conference organisers responsible for selecting venue location in the years ahead are also taking great interest in the Qatar Foundation's stunning new development in Doha's Education City.

The World Petroleum Council (WPC) Executive Committee recently undertook a venue site selection tour of the Centre and its building progress. WPC's Director General, Dr Pierce Riemer commented not only on the spectacular nature and design features but was particularly impressed that the Centre would qualify for the LEED Gold Rating.

The World Petroleum Congress is one of the energy industries most prestigious events and will be held in QNCC's opening year.

Construction is on schedule with Stage 1 capturing the imagination of all that pass by. Designed by world renowned Japanese architect, Arata Isozaki, the stunning architectural creation with its external steel façade resembling the significance of the sidra tree in Qatari culture is already identifiable as an iconic landmark of the city.

Full enclosure of the building envelope is on course for September 2009 and groundwork has commenced for the 35,000 square metre exhibition halls, or Stage 2, of the construction process.

With construction in full swing, the QNCC team are working in partnership with the Qatar Foundation, Qatar MICE Development Institute (QMDI) and Qatar Tourism & Exhibitions Authority (QTEA) to secure more convention and exhibition business to assist the country in achieving its goal to become one of the most dynamic knowledge-based economies in the world.

"The combination of Qatar's passion and commitment to excel in the future direction of our industry, their focus on becoming a global knowledge leader, and the outstanding facilities of the Qatar National Convention Centre make it a vibrant, exciting choice to host our 20th World Petroleum Congress in 2011," said Dr Pierce Riemer, Director General for the World Petroleum Council.