It is learned from the Beijing Major Projects Construction Headquarters Office that the Convention and Exhibition Center, main building of the Phase II project of the China National Convention Center (CNCC), has been completed after six years of construction. Located in the central area of the Olympic Park, the center has successfully passed the completion appraisal and fire control appraisal. All facilities in the center have reached the standard for operation, ready to host various kinds of events.
The CNCC Phase II Convention and Exhibition Center completed its final inspection this morning. The photo shows the Reception Hall of the center.
After official operation, Phase II will be integrated with the CNCC Phase I, forming a convention and exhibition complex with a total area of over 1.3 million square meters. It will serve as a key platform and a showcase for Beijing’s international exchanges.
Featuring the Largest Motorized Roof in China
The convention and exhibition center has a construction area of approximately 419,000 square meters, equivalent to that of over 58 standard football fields. Of this total, 256,000 square meters are above ground, spreading across three floors, while 163,000 square meters are underground, spanning two floors.
Upon entering the first floor, the Reception Hall with a clear height of 25 meters and an expansive view immediately catches the eye. On the two sides are an 18,000-square-meter exhibition hall and an 8,000-square-meter main venue. The spacious venue has no structural columns. It is learned that the main structure of the convention and exhibition center features multi-level, large-span, and column-free spaces.
Chi Mingzhi, Project Manager of CNCC Phase II from Beijing Construction Engineering Group, explained that during the structural construction, a total of 205 temporary support columns were installed on the first floor for load-bearing purposes. These columns were later removed through trusses, allowing the steel structure to disengage from the temporary supports. The gravitational forces within the trusses were distributed throughout the structure, balancing the counterforces at the support points and enabling the structure to achieve independent load-bearing. “This approach to unload temporary supports through an ultra-large steel truss transfer structure, carrying out in tandem with the concrete structure, marks a first in China’s construction industry,” said Chi.
Looking around, the center’s distinctive curtain wall adorned with “bird windows” enters view. “We assembled 2,736 curtain wall units into a seamless surface,” explained Chi. The curtain wall system integrates automotive mold casting technology and features enameled steel panels renowned for their exceptional durability. These panels deliver lasting performance, resist fading, and showcase a distinct, textured glaze finish.
On the second floor, there are dozens of multi-functional meeting rooms of various sizes, suitable for hosting professional international conferences, exhibitions, forums, banquets, and other events.
The top floor of the building features a 2,900-square-meter motorized retractable roof, with a total projection area of 24,000 square meters, making it the largest of its kind in China. For the steel roof construction, all parties involved adopted an innovative approach of “preliminary assembly on the ground, further assembly on the scaffold, and hydraulic pushing and sliding into position”. After 30 days, a massive steel roof was “assembled” like building blocks at a height of 52 meters above the ground, achieving a successful closure.
To ensure the tightness of the roof, the project team installed a set of waterproof profiles parallel to the 4,005 equilateral triangular glass skylight panels. They also set up a water diversion slope to ensure proper drainage. The glass curtain wall, waterproof profiles, and steel roof were seamlessly integrated, therefore successfully withstanding the test of a torrential downpour.
Serving Various High-Level Conventions and Exhibitions after Opening
According to Zhao Lei, Deputy Director of the Coordination Department of the Beijing Major Projects Construction Headquarters Office, CNCC Phase II is a pivotal project aimed at enhancing Beijing’s role as a center for international exchanges. T he goal is to create “a distinctive landmark in the capital development and a world-class convention and exhibition center in the new era”.
“The construction of the convention and exhibition center began at the end of 2018, and areas that completed earlier have already hosted several major international events, including serving as the Main Media Center for the Beijing 2022 Olympic and Paralympic Winter Games, as well as hosting special exhibitions for the China International Fair for Trade in Services. Following this official launch, the CNCC Phase II will mainly serve state and government affairs, and various high-level convention and exhibition activities, becoming a ‘national reception hall’,” said Zhao.
CNCC Phase II includes the main convention and exhibition center, two hotels, a shopping center, and several office buildings. It covers an area of approximately 13.88 hectares, with a total construction area of about 785,000 square meters, according to Dong Xiaoguang, Assistant to the General Manager of Beijing North Star Exhibition Investment Company.
By far, the construction of the main building, the convention and exhibition center, has been completed. “The supporting buildings located on the western plot of the main structure cover an area of approximately 366,000 square meters. The 5A office buildings and premium commercial complex on the southern plot are already in operation, while two supporting hotels will be built on the northern plot,” Dong revealed. Upon official operation, CNCC Phase II will become another landmark in the central area of the Olympic Park and a new symbol for Beijing’s international exchanges.
(Edited based on the relevant information of Beijing Daily)
