In the recent wake of  Hurricane Sandy’s devastation and the following Nor’easter storm, climate change has never before been such a heated issue. Next week the United Nations will hold its Climate Change Conference in Qatar to discuss what exactly is going on with our environment and how we treat it. And what better place to host this summit than the Qatar National Convention Center? LEED Gold certified and large enough to accommodate thousands of people, the striking structure built by Arata Isozaki and RHWL architects has gained international recognition not only for its eco-friendly features, but also for its stunning facade, which consists of a giant span of steal bent into the shape of a native sidra tree, symbolizing its dedication to the environment. Read more.

The Qatar National Convention Center achieved its LEED status with a number of low-energy, high-efficiency features. The solar-paneled roof harvests the sun’s rays to collect clean energy. Occupancy sensors activate LED lights and energy-efficient air control systems when rooms contain people and shut off once they leave. These small adjustments greatly reduce the building’s energy consumption.

While this building certainly ranks highly among the world’s greenest centers, it may also be one of the largest. The $720 million structure includes 10 performance spaces, a 4,000-seat conference hall, a 2,500-seat theatre, 52 meeting rooms, and 40,000 square meters of exhibition space.

Images: courtesy of Arata Isozaki

[via designboom]

by Molly Cotter

posted in Uncategorized

tagged Arata Isozaki, climate change, Climate Change Conference, environment, LEED certified platinum, qatar, Qatar National Convention Center, RHWL architects, united nations

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