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THE KONGU CONVENTION CENTRE

ERODE , TAMIL NADU


Client : Kongu Engineering College
Project Cost : INR 52 Crores
Area : 2,00,000 sq ft
Commencement date : October 2007
Completion date : July 2010
Client : Kongu Engineering College

REQUIREMENTS
1. The clients need was to have a large scale auditorium with stage and seating capacity to accomodate 4500 persons.
2. The auditorium will also have multi-purpose usage for indoor sports activity like badminton , table-tennis & basketball.
3.The backroom facilities to also function as seminar rooms & rehearsal rooms.
4. The building will also serve as a background to the athletics arena which also acts a large gathering space for college func
tions.
5. Saluting bay for exterior sports facilities.

ABOUT THE PROJECT

THE SITE

The Kongu Covention Centre consists of a Multipurpose hall, one of the largest
in India with a seating capacity of 4500 persons. Alternatively it has one indoor
basket ball court and four indoor badminton courts which are used as sports
hall. The building follows a massive geometric form culminating base and football stadium. It has the facilities for Conference halls , Seminar halls , Training
centre , Guest rooms and VIP rooms , offices , HighTech audio Visual facilities
for Global conferencing , Cafeteria , Offices etc.

1. Proposed Auditorium
2. Proposed Athletics ground
3. Polytechnic Building
4. Hostel Blocks
5. Future Expansion

LOCATION

Recreation zone

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ERODE
Sun Path

TAMIL NADU

Erode is situated at the center of the South Indian Peninsula, about 400 kilometres
(249 mi) southwest of the state capital Chennai and on the banks of the rivers Cauvery and Bhavani, between 11 19.5 and 11 81.05 North latitude and 77 42.5
and 77 44.5 East longitude.

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THE CLIENT : KONGU POLY TECHNIC


COLLEGE

An institution with volumes of distinctions, established in the year 1983 by Kongu


Vellalar Institute of Technology Trust, Kongu Polytechnic College has been consistently rendering knowledge oriented service in the realms of Science, Engineering and Technology for twenty five years. On the eve of their Silver Jubilee
celebrations , the trust decided to build a mega scale auditorium as a mark of its
leap into the future.

DESIGN OBJECTIVES
1. Achieving fluidity in functions by serving multiple purposes within the same building.
2. Achieving low construction costs
3. Breaking the monotony of the sterile geometry of the Institute campus
4. Designing a symbolic and an iconic structure
5. Incorporated large and ambient column free spaces so that there is no hindrance to visibility
6. Use of sustainable materials and techniques (both active and passive) thereby incorporating energy efficiency
VIEW OF KONGU POLYTECHNIC COLLEGE

CONCEPT

A view of the Kongu polytechnic college

The Architects Prof. Charanjit Shah and Ar. Gurpreet Shah wanted to break the monotony of
the Kongu Engineering Campus. A form that is dynamic and can define identity of the campus was contemplated.

EVOLUTION OF FORM
The basic form of the Auditorium has been inspired from the Garuda (eagle) in flight. In Hindu
religion, Garuda is a Hindu deity usually the mount (vahanam) of Lord Vishnu, having a body
of a strong man with a white face, red wings, and an eagles beak and with acrown on his
head.
This ancient deity was said to be massive, large enough to block out thesun.
The auditorium form evolves from the shape of the Garuda as the buildings central wing being longer & massive (resembling the body of eagle) while both of the side wings having a
lesser volume with cutouts for efficient light & ventilation for outdoor public interaction spaces.

Parking

Back entry
Backstage activities

Secondary entry

Stage

Perforations on the
angled span

Perforations on the
angled span

Left wing

Left wing

Right wing
Services

Secondary entry

Central wing
Services

Central wing
Primary entry

Primary entry
Right wing

Athletics arena

Entry

FUNCTIONAL FLUIDITY

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When the building is not in use as an auditorium it functions as an indoor sports complex for variuus sports activities throughout the year

The main auditorium is flanked by 2 additional seating aisles which


augment the capacity of the auditorium when required and in general,
acts as courts for indoor sports

One large main auditorium serving the purpose throughout the year

Integration of multiple activities in single infrastructure leads to better utlisation of spaces and facilities

THE SITE PLAN


N

Secondary Entry
Backstage activities
North wing

Secondary Entry

Central wing
South wing

Primary entry

Primary entry

Main Entrance
Saluting bay

Main Entrance

Athletics arena

Elements on the site landscape

N
SITE AREA : 8 Acres
BUILT UP AREA : 2,00,000 sq.ft.

FOOTBALL GROUND/
XATHLETICS ARENA

Y
PARKING

PLANS

FLUIDITY IN USAGE

AS AUDITORIUM

As the building functions as both an auditorium and indoor sports complex the plans also undergo
a transformation according to usage. The respective plans in terms of use has been shown below.
This becomes possible with the help of sitting that is not fixed to the floor in spaces alloted to sports
activities

AS SPORTS
COMPLEX

N
AUDITORIUM GROUND FLOOR PLAN

SPORTS AREA PLAN

N
EAST ELEVATION

AUDITORIUM FIRST FLOOR PLAN

ACOUSTICS
Cost effective cladding of perforated gypsum boards
has been
incorporated to cut reverberation

LIGHTING
Sports facilities : When the auditorium is used for sports activities and National Level competitions
level 2 lighting as per International standards has been provided
Stage lights and spot lights also have been used for National level plays and performances
A PANORAMIC VIEW FROM THE STAGE
THE STAGE

SECTION YY

NORTH WING

SOUTH WING

A VIEW OF THE SITTING AREA

THE STRUCTURE
RCC FRAMED STRUCTURE WITH STEEL TRUSS

The truss network, primary , secondary and tertiary used in the structure aids to span large column
free spaces upto 50 m. Double trusses have been used to span over the Central auditorium. The
wings (left and right) are spanned/ supported on the intermediate truss to provide acces to the Central spine without any hindrance

Primary member
Secondary member
Tertiary member
Largest span (49.5 M)

A PICTURE OF CONSTRUCTION STAGE SHOWING THE TRUSS NETWORK

SUSTAINIBILITY
COOLING AND VENTILATION

THE ROOF PLAN

AIR COOLED
AIR COOLED
HOT AIR MOVES OUT

1. As the air gets heated it moves up and escapes through the clere storey windows
2. Fresh cooled air is circulated from the ducted air cooled system
3. Use of sheets with thermal insulation cuts the heat gain

PAVING BLOCKS

THE TRUSS NETWORK OF THE


ROOF

Equal visibility of stage from all parts


of the Auditoriums

PAVING BLOCKS
As acess to car parking slots and
intermediate road network to cut
heat island effect and minimise bitumen top
SOLAR LIGHTING
To minimise energy consumption
in the campus

PAVING BLOCKS

GREEN FEATURES AND MATERIAL


APPLICATION
PASSIVE STRATEGIES
Thermal mass; aerated blocks/ hollow blocks
Insulated roofing.
Sun shading.
Trees for shade.
Green parking-minimizing the hard surface.
Hollow glass blocks.
Minimizing heat gain & maximizing day light
in common public areas and backstage &
pre-functional areas.
ACTIVE STRATEGIES

GREEN PAVERS AT CAR PARKS

Recycling of water.
Storm water retained on site to recharge
groundwater.
Adherence to ECBC code.

SAILENT FEATURES

AERIAL VIEW OF AUDITORIUMS

SECTION XX

Use of renewable energy sources.


Conservation and protection of fertile top soil during construction and post construction.
Use of fly ash content in for concrete works, plastering etc.
Plantation of Evergreen trees and native trees for low maintenance.
Solid waste segregation for Bio-degradable and non-Bio degradable waste.

COMPLETION

A VIEW OF THE PRIMARY ENTRANCE

VIEW OF THE STAGE

The Kongu Convention Centre was initially built as an auditorium for


various institutional activities. The architects of the project suggested
that the large auditorium could be used for multiple purposes, which
would also make the use of the building more frequent without increasing the overall cost of the building. The client liked the idea and reciprocated positively. Multiple functionalities were then incorporated in
the building and at present the Kongu convention centre also functions as a hall for various sports activities. So the Kongu Convention
centre is a perfect example of not only achieving an architectural marvel in minimum cost but also shows how an interactive relationship
between the architect and the client can bring about better buildings
and justify the term Architecture to the fullest.

USE OF DAYLIGHT AT
THE ENTRANCE

VIEW OF THE
SALUTING BAY

A VIEW OF THE BUILDING FROM THE ATHLETICS TRACK

VIEW OF THE CONVENTION CENTRE FROM THE ATHLETICS ARENA

VIEW OF THE PRIMARY ENTRANCE

VIEW OF THE SECONDARY ENTRANCE

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