Shaw Conference Centre

The Shaw Conference Centre, colloquially called "The SHAW", is a convention centre located in Edmonton, Alberta, Canada. Its namesake is the Shaw Communications company.

Location

The SHAW is a minor counterpart of Edmonton's skyline. The centre's glass atrium that serves as the entrance to the conference level, as well as the long outer walls in the conference and salon levels offer a panoramic view of the North Saskatchewan River valley that looks all the way over the valley to the southern campus of the University of Alberta.

Located along Jasper Avenue and 97th street, the SHAW is also linked up via pedway with Edmonton's Canada Place, the federal government centre within Edmonton, which in turn links to the smaller atrium of the Citadel Theatre within Edmonton.

Functions

Besides trade shows, the Shaw is also one of Edmonton's largest music venues. It has hosted a wide variety of bands including the final show of Big Sugar.

The Building

The Entrance/Atrium

One of the SHAW's most distinctive features, the Atrium reflects the hill of the river valley that the centre is built into. Upon entering the Atrium (either through the Canada Place pedway or outdoor Jasper Avenue entrance), escalators, carpeted stairways, and a unique tram-like glass elevator (reserved for strollers and the disabled) allow people to access the main Conference Level below. Also included in the Atrium are four man-made waterfalls, capped with luscious tropical scenery. The waterfalls are placed strategically between the stairs/escalators and the elevator, creating a unique architectural blend of abstraction and nature.

The Conference Level

At the bottom of the stairs and elevators in the Atrium, patrons arrive at the Conference Level, the main area of the SHAW. Built into the valley, the Conference Level is home to the public concourse and the four convention halls (namely A, B, C, and the newly added D). Halls A, B, and C, the original halls, are all built in a row on the left side of the concourse. The dividing walls that separate the three halls can be folded away to create one large hall, providing additional conference space.

The Salon Level

Below the Conference Level exists the Salon Level, which is accessed by an additional set of escalators at the entrance to the Conference Level. This level, the lowest of the centre, includes around 13 little salons, or rooms. These salons are mostly used as venues for workshops or small seminars during conferences, and practicing and storage areas for concerts. Some salons feature sliding walls that can be removed to increase space, much like the conference halls on the upper level.

External links

* [http://www.shawconferencecentre.com/ Official site]