Qatar National Convention Centre and Exhibition Hall wins LEED Gold
The Qatar National Convention Centre and Exhibition Hall, on the Education City campus in Doha, Qatar, has received LEED Gold certification.
The facility is the first of its kind to earn the certification and also the first project on the Qatar Foundation campus to achieve LEED certification. Kansas City, Missouri-based Burns and McDonnell, served as the executive architect on the Convention Centre Extension and offered the civil, mechanical and electrical engineering services. Vertegy assisted with the project's eco-friendly design.
The facility spans 1,157,500 square feet featuring spacious exhibition areas, conference spaces and offices. Other features include circulation, arrival concourse and back of house support areas. There is an external link bridge which acts as a liaison between the new exhibition hall and the existing Qatar Science and Technology Park. It also functions as the mass transit system (People Mover) station for these two buildings.
The building has been designed to reap energy cost cuts and imbibes onsite-renewable energy sources which help meet some of its energy requirements. The roof surfaces incorporated in the structure support a photovoltaic array or are covered with a high-albedo roofing material to repel heat.
The facility has also been fitted with a high-performance HVAC system which makes use of ASHRAE 62-2004 as the basis of design. Quality of indoor air is maintained in the building through implementing a non-smoking policy indoors and within 25 feet of the building.
The property comprises a greywater capture system which is fed from all of the low-flow showers, fixtures and sinks installed for the sewage conveyance from the building. Use of a combination of cast-in-place and precast concrete and a steel super-structure for the building composition adds to its sustainability. Other green features include use of concrete floors and other reclaimed finish materials, and locally-manufactured materials. Presence of bicycle storage racks within 200 feet of a primary entrance boosts the green venture.
