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 client’s 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.
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1. Proposed Auditorium 2. Proposed Athletics ground 3. Polytechnic Building 4. Hostel Blocks 5. Future Expansion
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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 eagle’s beak and with a crown on his head. This ancient deity was said to be massive, large enough to block out the sun. The auditorium form evolves from the shape of the Garuda as the building’s 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
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Perforations on the angled span
Perforations on the angled span
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Left wing
Left wing
Right wing Services
Secondary entry
Central wing Services
Central wing Primary entry
Primary entry Right wing
Athletics arena
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Entry
FUNCTIONAL FLUIDITY
3 When the building is not in use as an auditorium it functions as an indoor sports complex for variuus sports activities throughout the year
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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
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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
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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.
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FOOTBALL GROUND/ X’ATHLETICS ARENA
X
Y’ PARKING
PLANS
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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
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AS SPORTS COMPLEX
N AUDITORIUM GROUND FLOOR PLAN
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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
