CONVENTION CENTER

INTRODUCTION
Development of convention centers, sports facilities, and performing arts
venuesare increasingly acknowledged for role in stimulating local economies
and improving the quality of life of citizens.

Conference and business tourism is a very important sector of the global

tourism industry

Booming convention market necessitates creation of not merely a convention

Centre but a convention destination with exhibition facilities, shopping plazas,
cluster of hotels, and backward – forward linkages with international airport,
mass transit systems and adequate parking which must serve the burgeon ing
MICE industries too
Multi-functional Building- designed to hold a convention, individuals and groups
gather to promote and share common interests.

Designed, for purpose of conducting meetings, rallies, or seminars. Adopted for

specific events, such as appearances by well-known speakers or musicians.

Receives guests from local, national and international markets.

The MICE Industry ( Meetings, Incentives, Conferences and Exhibitions)

Represents a sector of tourism which includes business events and activities

The Incentives part of MICE is the odd one out though it is related to business,
provided to employees or dealers/distributer as a reward, tends to be leisure
based.
Major Convention Center elements

Arrival Zone
Site access should provide an arrival zone along one face of the building that is
for shuttle buses, taxis.

The open space should clearly establish a visual demarcation line between
pedestrians and vehicles.

Arrival zone configuration must accommodate turning radius and loading for
coach buses.

Off-site, directional signage to parking area should be provided on the major

approaches to the property to separate attendees whose first stop is the
parking area.

On site, traffic flow should allow convenient access to Parking for those
vehicles unloading passengers at the door.
Registration and Prefunction
Large-scale registration should occur either just inside the arrival zone or in
prefunction space outside of the exhibit hall.

Depth of space should allow for registration nodes to be set up in lobby

vestibules so as not to interfere with lateral circulation.
Exhibition Space
It is the heart of the convention center. The basic layout of the hall follows a 30-
foot by 30-foot grid derived from a 10-foot by 10-foot booth(1). The exhibit hall
should be divisible into four or five roughly equal sections using operable walls.
The minimum clear height to any obstruction should 6e 30 feet
Meeting Rooms
Rooms are to be subdivided with movable partitions at 30 feet on center, with
the minimum room division a 30 ft . x 60 ft. module using a 30-foot structural
grid.(2)

Service corridors provide access to the rear of meeting rooms. The layout
should provide service access to all meeting and banquet rooms without
crossing public spaces.
Ballroom
The ballroom is a large, column free space that should be divisible into at least

three sections. Clear height to ceiling obstructions should be 30 feet.

The highest level of service in the ballroom will be for banquet func tions. At
50,000 square feet, this room should be able to serve 3,000 people comfortably
using 72-inch diameter tables.

Lectures or similar presentations using theater-style seating could host up to

4,000 people.(3)
Back-of-House and Loading Dock
Should have direct access from the loading dock into the exhibit hall to
facilitate move-in/move-out.

Each hall division shall have own service entrance. Cross circulation shall allow
each vehicle parking space to have access to each hall service entrance.
Client Support Areas
Public restrooms, telephone alcoves and a concierge service or information
desk, temporary show offices, dedicated registration storage spaces and
central recording rooms should be provided for event man age ment.
Public Movement Pattern for Convention Centers
Communication and functionality can be improved by implementing efficient
circulation pattern. People visiting or working can be divided into following
categories:
General Public Flow
Dignified personalities are invited depending on the nature of conference. They
can also have relatives and public guests invited by organization.
Public guests also have access to the exhibition areas and hence these areas
should have a seprate access to manage the public flow during peak hours
efficiently.
Delegates Flow
Delegates form the most important group of users for a Convention Center.
They must be able to find the level of their event and easily find rooms
registration and facilities on each level. An unobstructed delegate movement
is very important
VIP Flow
They shall directly lead to the main hall or shall enter through the VIP entrance
which is connected to a VIP lounge. Usually escorted by a staff member or
Client.
Staff Flow
The staff can be divided into two categories:

Technical staff: who are responsible for the efficient working of the Convention
Center.

Administrative Staff: exposed to the people coming to the center. Paths of the
technical and administrative staff diverse at the staff entrance
Performers Flow
A green room and stage door is required for access via front of house and
back of house. Performers will need access to backstage dressing rooms.
Speaker Flow
Speakers will need access to back stage dressing rooms and speakers presenta
tion areas. Speakers may also be offered access to the VIP suite.
Journalist Flow
It includes press people, cameraman and diplomats. They shall have a direct
access to the documentation center and the TV studio of the Convention
Center.
Client Flow
The client will need to have access to public, delegate, performer, VIP and
speaker areas in addition to their registration, client office and store
Auditorium
The three-dimensional volume of an auditorium is conditioned by the need for
all members of the audience to be able to see the whole of the platform or
stage; and to hear the actor, singer, musician or speaker.

Seating
Auditorium Design
Audience requirements
Every member of audience should be able to see and hear clearly whatever is
happening.

The greater the encirclement of the audience of platform or stage, more

people can by accommodated within the aural and visual limitations up
to180°encirclement.
Number of seats in a row
With traditional seating maximum number is 22 if there are gangways at both
ends of the row,and 11 for gangway a tone end. Rows with more than 22 seats
are permitted if the audience is not thereby imperiled.
Row-to-row spacing
Spacing is controlled by the clearway between the leading edge of the seat
and the rear of the back of the seat in front.

For traditional seating the minimum clearway for people to pass along the row
is 300 mm and this dimension increases with the number of seats in a row.

For continental seating the clearway is not less than 400 mm and not more
than500 mm.
Gangways
Gangways are essential escape routes, their widths are determined by the
number of seats served.

8.5%if likely to be used by people in wheelchairs.

Seating geometry
Seating is usually laid out in straight or curved rows focused to wards the
platform or stage . Further forms are angled row with curved
change of direction and straight rows with in emphasized blocks Of seats.
Seating Density
Seats with arms and tippable seat can occupy a space as small as 500 mm
wide with a row-to-row dimension of 760 mm; but can be as large as 750 mm
wide by 1400 mm. The area per seat therefore varies between 0.38m2 and
3.05m2.

Sight lines for a Seated Audience

For every member of the audience to have an uninterrupted view of the
platform or stage over the heads in front and clear of overhangs the section
and plan of the auaitorium need to conform to certain limitations set by
vertical and horizontal sightlines.

Wheelchair
Location:Regulations require a minimum of six places for wheelchair users,
or 1/1OOth of the audience capacity, whichever if the greater. Their location
as discrete areas can be at the rear, front, side or within the seating.
Wheelchair location
Regulations require a minimum of six places for wheelchair users, or 1/100th of
audience capacity,

Whichever if the greater. Their location as discrete areas can be at the rear,
front, side or within the

Seating.
Means of Escape
Travel distance:

The maximum travel distance from seat to exit with in the auditorium is deter
mined by the need to evacuate from each level of the auditorium within 2%
minutes.

For traditional seating the maximum travel distance is 18 m measured from the
gangway, for continental seating 15 m from any seat.

Exits:

From each level of the auditorium two separate exits must be provided for the
first 500 seats with an additional exit for each further 250 seats.

Each exit from the auditorium must lead directly to a place of safety.
Stairs:

Staircase flights should have at least two risers and not more than 16. All treads
should be 275 mm and risers 180 mm.

Ramps:

Wheelchair users should be provided with flat or ramped escape routes

which may be separate from other routes.

Ramps Should not be longer than 4.5m or steeper than 8.5%.

Total exit widths required by legislation
Conference Rooms
Room provided for singular events such as business conferences and
meetings. Sometimes other rooms are modified for large
conferences such as arenas or concert halls. Can be windowless for
security purposes.

Space Standards
Consideration must be given to clearances and circulation around the larger
conference table as indicated in Figure
Exhibition Galleries
An exhibition, is an organized presentation and display of a selection of items.
This flexible space is intended to be the heart of the Convention Center.

The physical layout should meet the basic requirements of an exhibit hall and
the overall room should be divisible into roughly equal size compartments.
General planning
The relationship between functios are common to all museum and art galleries.

The figure a show collection item movements in the operation of collection

services, but not

Every operation necessarily requires a separate space, and some services may
be provided

by outside agencies.

As far as possible, collection movement and public circulation should be kept

separate.

Figure b shows one approach to zoning and expansion based on this principle.
Space standard
Basic layout follows 30 feet by 30 feet grid derived from 10 feet by 10 feet
booth. The booth-asile-booth module may be arranged along either axis
depending on the particular event’s organization or preference for flow.

Column- free exhibition halls are more desirable. If column are used, column
spacing on a multiple of 30 feet with a 90 feet square minimum. Exhibit hall
should be divisible into four or five roughly equal

Sections using operable walls. The minimum clear height should be 30 feet.
Entrance and exit – Queue management
Restaurant
place where people pay sit and eat meal that are cooked and served on the
permises. Various restaurants are classified based upon menu style, preparation
methods and pricing.

Relationship main elements:

Dependent on the type of facility.

Kitchen and preparation areas are equal about 50% of dining space.

Ancillary and storage – 1.5 – 2 times the kitchen area.

Space standard
Should be planned so that a variety of seating arrangements are possible

To eat comfortably, a person requires a table 600mm wide and 400 mm deep.
Area required per person ranges from 1.3-1.9 m2.

Services asiles- minimum 900mm to 1350mm used both by trolleys and guests.

Must be clarity in organization between self service, fast food, etc. and a
separate smoking area.
Bar services
To encourage business from non- diners the main bar may have an external
entrance. A fairly long bar counter supported by bar store and place for
seating should be provided.

Cocktail lounge (confortable) 1.8-2.0 m2 per person.

General bar (some standing and on stools)1.3-1.7 m2 per person.

Central kitchen
Kitchen reqirements vary depending on preparation method used. The
capacity of the kitchen is primarily dependent on the number of customer
seats, customer expectations and the proportion of raw materials which have
to be freshly prepared.

Group catering for large number of people requires labour saving

mechanization and automatic units programmed kitchen

from meals plan, through goods procurement to meal distribution and crockery
cleaning fro more than 800-1000 table places.
Allows approximents 50% extra for staff toilets (0.4m2 / person), locker and
changing room (0.6m2/person).

The kitchen should be planned on one level to serve all catering outlets.

If this is not possible, the main kitchen should be on the same level as the main
restaurant, with preparation and

Stores on different level.

Banqueting service area not next to kitchen should be linked by service lifts and
stairs and have their own forward
service equipment.

Certain of the preparation processes may be located in seprate floors. A

bakery for example, may be tucked out of

the way, but thought must be given to the flow of materials to and away from
the area.

Generally the plan is a contiguous process, always moving forward from one
step to the next, with back- tracking

Limited as far as possible.

Vertical circulation

escalators
Reqiure for contious mass transportation of people

Standard dimensions for various depth are prescribes

in following table
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