Rosanne Buchanan LIFESTYLE
Convention centres are usually horrible, sprawling spaces with vast, dark meeting rooms and tasteless dining halls. But the newly opened R400-million Sandton Convention Centre (SCC) is modern, airy and impressive looking. The 10-storey SCC already has a line-up of important events until the end of the year, including the National Conference on Racism, which will be opened by President Thabo Mbeki, a Nedlac summit, the Global Summit of Women, National Antiques Fair, Food & Hotel Africa exhibition and SA Fashion Week. The property is owned by Liberty Life, but the convention business belongs to Tsogo Sun – a partnership between Tsogo Investments and Southern Sun Hotel Interests. The centre is part of the successful Tsogo Sun casino bid for Montecasino in Fourways. Architect Louis Karol and interior designer Trevor Julius have conspired to elaborate on an African theme. What alerts you to the fact that you’re actually in Africa (in spite of being in the capital of Kugeldom!) is the very authentic African art. It is heartening to know that R2-million was invested in local artworks. A purveyor of local arts and crafts spent a year sourcing and commissioning artists. Arguably, the most impressive work is the centerpiece at the entrance to the ballroom. The Flood, a woodcarving by Vendan sculptor Noria Mabaso, is an evocative carving of animals and people being swept away by floodwaters. The tree trunk in question is 2,5m in circumference and was a casualty of recent floods in the area.
Seeing as we’ve lucked out on tourism lately, the conventions market is the next big business oppor- tunity for South Africa. According to tourism analysts at Grant Thornton Kessel Feinstein, the Meetings, Incentives, Conventions and Exhibitions market contributes R20-billion to the South African gross domestic product annually and a high percentage of delegates tend to stay on in the country or come back for a holiday.
The SCC will boost business at the 43 hotels and the shopping centres in the vicinity. The centre also promises to do much for African theatre groups, if they’re willing to strut their stuff for international and local delegates. Homegrown groups such as Umoja have been commissioned to perform during the opening months of the centre. It is true enough that the SCC has a covert African theme so it’s not Afro-bongo or “in your face.” And not particularly flashy. It is meant to be Gauteng-inspired rather than ethnic.
The African inspiration is subtly conveyed. There are no mock-Ndebele wall paintings but the colours and textures have been selected to reflect the look and feel of the Gauteng habitat, says Julius. The use of wire-mesh cladding is effective in reinforcing the design theme and also highly functional for sound absorbency. Glass facades make the centre a very public building at any time of day and it has been referred to as an “extrovert” design. What makes it neat and contained is its four- tiered structure – each floor the size of a soccer field. The entire space can accommodate a maximum of 10 000 people. The largest area is the ballroom, seating 2 000 people. The Pavilion, which takes up the top floor and can accommodate 4 000 people, will be a show and indoor sporting venue. You may wonder what the centre will do to the traffic in Sandton. Executive director of the SCC, Deon Viljoen, says all traffic will flow anti-clockwise from the venue to avoid adding strain during peak times. There are 10 600 parking bays in the vicinity of the centre and a parking guidance system is in place. A computer- driven system will alert parking attendants as to whether all the bays are full so that cars can be diverted to either Sandton City or Sandton Square. Viljoen says most exhibitions and shows run from 10am to about 6pm so the real traffic challenge will be local conferences.