Tianjin National Conference and Exhibition Center completed
With the Tianjin National Conference and Exhibition Center (NCEC) another exhibition center of international standing has been created in China. The center, which was designed by the architects von Gerkan, Marg and Partners (gmp), has a total exhibition area of 550,000 m²; it is the largest exhibition facility in the north of China and has the potential to develop into an important new trade center in the Beijing-Tianjin-Hebei region.
The site is located between the River Hai He to the north and Tianjin Avenue, which links the historic city center with the Binhai New Area development. In that space, the central circulation axis of the exhibition ground provides a link between the road and the water course.
The building schedule of the NCEC involves two almost identical construction phases. These consist of a central entrance hall from where a main concourse leads to 8 exhibition halls on each side. Outside exhibition areas and a conference center with hotel and offices round off the exhibition facilities. The second construction phase, which has not yet been completed, establishes the connection to the river. This also includes a ferry pier, which makes it possible to reach the exhibition center directly from the river.
The middle of the new exhibition center is formed by the 28,000 sqm entrance hall with 32 umbrella-like columns. Together with the 32-meter-high free-standing glass facade they create a light-filled foyer for the exhibition center. The entire exhibition area is on one level. The exhibition halls are aligned on both sides of the foyer and are connected with the entrance hall via the main concourse. Service functions, meeting rooms and several restaurants are located between the halls and along the concourse. The shed-like roof construction of the halls allows natural daylight to flood into the building.
The NCEC was opened at the end of June 2021 with a specialized exhibition headlined “China Building Science Conference and Green Building Expo” that focused on the subject of sustainability and at which gmp was presented with its own stand.
