THE KONGU CONVENTION CENTRE

ERODE , TAMIL NADU

Client : Kongu Engineering College REQUIREMENTS
Project Cost : INR 52 Crores
Area : 2,00,000 sq ft 1. The client’s need was to have a large scale auditorium with stage and seating capacity to accomodate 4500 persons.
Commencement date : October 2007 2. The auditorium will also have multi-purpose usage for indoor sports activity like badminton , table-tennis & basketball.
Completion date : July 2010 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
Client : Kongu Engineering College 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 1. Proposed Auditorium
in India with a seating capacity of 4500 persons. Alternatively it has one indoor 2. Proposed Athletics ground
basket ball court and four indoor badminton courts which are used as sports 3. Polytechnic Building
hall. The building follows a massive geometric form culminating base and foot- 4. Hostel Blocks
ball stadium. It has the facilities for Conference halls , Seminar halls , Training 5. Future Expansion
centre , Guest rooms and VIP rooms , offices , HighTech audio Visual facilities
for Global conferencing , Cafeteria , Offices etc.

N
5
LOCATION
Recreation zone

1
3

2
ERODE

Sun Path

TAMIL NADU
4
4
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 Cau-
very and Bhavani, between 11° 19.5” and 11° 81.05” North latitude and 77° 42.5”
and 77° 44.5” East longitude.

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 con-
sistently rendering knowledge oriented service in the realms of Science, Engi-
neering 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 cam-
pus 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 be-
ing 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 Secondary entry

Perforations on the Perforations on the 1 2

angled span angled span

Right wing
Left wing Left wing

Central wing
Services Services

Central wing

Primary entry Primary entry

Right wing

Athletics arena

3 Entry 4
FUNCTIONAL FLUIDITY

3
When the building is not in use as an auditorium it functions as an in-
door sports complex for variuus sports activities throughout the year

2
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

1 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
Secondary Entry

N
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

SITE AREA : 8 Acres

BUILT UP AREA : 2,00,000 sq.ft.

FOOTBALL GROUND/
X
X’ATHLETICS ARENA

Y’

PARKING
 PLANS
2 AS AUDITORIUM
FLUIDITY IN USAGE
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

1 AS SPORTS
COMPLEX

AUDITORIUM GROUND FLOOR PLAN

SPORTS AREA PLAN N

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 NORTH WING SOUTH WING A VIEW OF THE SITTING AREA

SECTION YY’
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 Cen-
tral 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 PAVING BLOCKS

THE TRUSS NETWORK OF THE

ROOF PAVING BLOCKS
Equal visibility of stage from all parts GREEN FEATURES AND MATERIAL
of the Auditoriums As acess to car parking slots and
APPLICATION
intermediate road network to cut
heat island effect and minimise bi- PASSIVE STRATEGIES
tumen top
• Thermal mass; aerated blocks/ hollow blocks
SOLAR LIGHTING • Insulated roofing.
To minimise energy consumption • Sun shading.
in the campus • 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

• Recycling of water.
• Storm water retained on site to recharge
groundwater.
• Adherence to ECBC code.
GREEN PAVERS AT CAR PARKS

SAILENT FEATURES

• 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.
AERIAL VIEW OF AUDITORIUMS • Solid waste segregation for Bio-degradable and non-Bio degradable waste.

SECTION XX’
COMPLETION

VIEW OF THE STAGE A VIEW OF THE PRIMARY ENTRANCE

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 increas-
ing the overall cost of the building. The client liked the idea and recip-
rocated positively. Multiple functionalities were then incorporated in
the building and at present the Kongu convention centre also func-
tions as a hall for various sports activities. So the Kongu Convention
centre is a perfect example of not only achieving an architectural mar-
vel 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 VIEW OF THE

THE ENTRANCE SALUTING BAY

A VIEW OF THE BUILDING FROM THE ATHLETICS TRACK VIEW OF THE PRIMARY ENTRANCE VIEW OF THE SECONDARY ENTRANCE

VIEW OF THE CONVENTION CENTRE FROM THE ATHLETICS ARENA