Qingdao Exhibition Center / NBBJ

Jul 2010

By Karen Cilento — Filed under: Cultural ,Exhibition ,Mixed Use , Aoshan Bay, China, NBBJ, Qingdao

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The first phase of the Qingdao Water City development at Aoshan Bay, designed by the Los Angeles office of NBBJ, will include a new exposition center of 1,940,000 sf. As the ocean sits to one side of the site, and a wetland on the other, a strong emphasis has been placed on how the exposition is shaped by its interaction and proximity to the water.

More images and more about the exhibition hall after the break.

This exposition hall is an important component of the region and the architects feel it will act as “the stimulus for development within the entire city”. Set for completion in early 2011, the center will include 10 flat-floor expo halls, one multi-purpose hall, two lobbies, retail and a central outdoor expo plaza. The hall will serve as the center for international and domestic trade shows as well as host a variety of performances and large scale events.

“The exhibition center design aims to create a sinuous atmosphere to induce associations of flowing water, while the “L” shaped program of the structure provides pronounced edges along the western and southern aspects of the development. Ultimately, the center will embody a gesture of welcoming, implicitly alluring visitors to the Water City development,” explained NBBJ.

Visitors will approach the main lobby, which leads to the different wings of the hall, and experience the reflection of the glass facade that alludes to a deep calm pool of water. An expansive outdoor plaza can be utilized as an exhibit for special events and as a park at all other times. The landscape will rely on natural foliage to minimize the need for irrigation and assist in the absorption of storm water.

Courtyard © NBBJ

The Qingdao Exhibition Center project team includes NBBJ as lead architecture firm and Beijing Institute of Architectural Design (BIAD) as associate architecture firm.

See other NBBJ projects previously featured on AD here.

Credits:

Architect: NBBJ

Location: Aoshan Bay, China

Client: City of Qingdao, China

Size / Scope: Site Area 488,090 sm, Building Footprint 149,520, Floor Area 164,014, Parking 2769

Sustainable Strategies:

• CONSTRUCTION EFFICENCY: all exhibition halls are sized uniformly to expedite construction process and reduce material waste.

• VENTILATION: natural ventilation wherever possible to reduce the percentage of mechanical cooling required, including the use of solar stack vents in the expo halls.

• RENEWABLE POWER: employ a photovoltaic system to take advantage of the surface area of the roof and connect exhibition hall to district-wide Central Heat and Power plant that utilizes the ocean water as a heat sink.

• NATURAL DAYLIGHT: the exhibition center is designed with large windows in locations that receive optimal sunlight to cut back on lighting energy demands.

Cite:
Cilento , Karen . "Qingdao Exhibition Center / NBBJ" 23 Jul 2010. ArchDaily. Accessed 25 May 2012. <http://www.archdaily.com/70079>

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lil jimmy says:

aaaaah boooooooo!
why the arbitrary angles?

# July 23, 2010 at 11:22

Albert says:

Well… even expressive images with bold red (which suppose to symbolize China I believe) don’t do it here.
Another weird mammoth project by another starchitect. Gimme a break!

Want to evaluate the starchitects’ power & skills?
Check out the poll: http://archialternative.com/2010/07/22/poll-starchitects-geniuses-or-not/

# July 23, 2010 at 11:29

fokt says: