International Convention Center (Jerusalem)

The International Convention Centre ( _he. מרכז הקונגרסים הבינלאומי, "Merkaz HaKongresim HaBenleumi"), commonly known as Binyanei HaUma ( _he. בנייני האומה, lit. "Buildings of the nation"), in Giv'at Ram in Jerusalem, Israel, is the largest convention centre in the Middle East. [ [http://www.wcities.com/en/record/,259881/409/record.html International Convention Centre -- Binyanei Ha'Ooma] WCities Destination Guide]

It was planned by architect Ze'ev Richter after winning the design-competition in 1949, and the complex was under construction from 1950 to 1963, though it began operations in 1956 with a meeting of the World Zionist Organization. The period of economic difficulty and austerity in the first decade of Israeli independence meant frequent disruption in construction due to lack of funds, and the project was sometimes disparagingly known as "Khirbet Ha'Ooma", the National Ruin.

Richter's design is meant to express the founding of the Jewish state in the land of Israel after centuries of Jewish diaspora among the nations of the world. Thus he created a solid structure encased in Jerusalem stone which appears to be part of the mountain it rests on. The planning resembles London's Royal Festival Hall, constructed in 1951. In order to create a welcoming environment, Richter kept one side of the building free of stone and planned a monumental relief by artists Joseph Zaritsky and Yitzhak Danziger, though this never came to pass and in 1995 the space was covered in azure-coloured glass-panels.

Located opposite the Jerusalem Central Bus Station at the western entrance to town, the centre houses 27 halls capable of seating over 10,000 people, and is a member of the AIPC and ICCA and conforms to their international standards. Its largest hall, the Menahem Ussishkin auditorium, seats 3,104. In all, 12,000 square metres of exhibit space extend over two levels and ten display areas. [ [http://www.iccjer.co.il/en_index.asp ICC website] ]

The complex has in the past hosted notable events such as the Eurovision Song Contest 1979, Eurovision Song Contest 1999, and the trial of John Demjanjuk, as well as operas, symphonies, concerts and exhibitions like the International Book Fair, International Judaica Exhibition, and International Housing Fair. The ICC is also a local venue of the Israel Philharmonic Orchestra. [ [http://www.fodors.com/miniguides/mgresults.cfm?destination=jerusalem@80&cur_section=nig&property_id=436338 Jerusalem: Nightlife & the Arts] Fodor's]

The ICC is scheduled to be enlarged by 30,000 square meters, part of a 25-year planned makeover to be done by architect Arthur Spector. The changes will include the doubling of the parking space and three 33-story buildings housing office and commercial space and a hotel - the latter to be built by a private developer at a cost of $100 million. The buildings will also house theaters and cinemas as well as a subway station to be built beneath the center, to make it accessible to all forms of transportation. [cite web|url = http://www.jerusalemite.net/modules/blog/blog.php?blog=2891 |title = An International Convention Center deserving of the Name - Jerusalemite - Jerusalem Metro Blog |accessdate = 2008-08-20]

References

External links

* [http://www.iccjer.co.il/ Official website]

* Extreme Makeover: Binyanei HaUma Edition [cite web|url = http://www.jerusalemite.net/modules/blog/blog.php?blog=2891 |title = An International Convention Center deserving of the name - Jerusalemite |accessdate = 2008-08-20]