SOM’s design for the Zhongshan International Exhibition Center responds to local needs, as well as to international exhibition hall requirements. Designers initially conceived the Center as a living room for the burgeoning industrial city of 1.3 million. In its role as an international exhibition center, the complex requires advanced and generous amenities enabling it to compete with other major trade facilities nearby.

Project Facts

Completion Year: 2008
Site Area: 262,974 m²
Project Area: 122,941 m²
Building Height: 28.60 m
Number of Stories: 3

Located in sub-tropical China, Zhongshan International Exhibition Center and Trade Mart provides a new town center that is well-suited for public assembly and community space.

SOM’s initial design incorporated a wind trellis to provide shade for the plazas and pavilions below and generate energy to power a significant portion of the lighting demand for the complex. The trellis, constructed with efficient cable systems, was intended to house a series of wind turbines which generate the power supply, potentially reducing energy demand by
25-50%. Due to environmental and budgetary limitations, a different scheme was selected.

In the final design, the entire complex is sheltered by an enormous undulating roof structure, inspired by the forms of ancient Chinese armor and the rolling hills surrounding the site. The trellised structure extends beyond the building to provide shade for the plazas and pavilions. The “breathable” roof system has openings designed for ventilation and radiant sky cooling. The roof is constructed of highly efficient and lightweight trusses that support the metal roofing systems of the individual pavilions and operable louvers that shade selected areas of the plazas. In addition, the skylights in the trade mart and exhibit halls are made of a unique material which minimizes unwanted solar radiation while allowing natural daylight to flow into the building.

Considerations were also given to the following: natural ventilation in tall spaces utilizing the stack effect; a natural smoke exhaust design; variable primary pumping; a high efficiency lighting system; heat wheel heat recovery; a carbon monoxide/indoor air quality based ventilation system; and variable speed chiller and ground source cooling options.

The “breathable” roof system has openings designed for ventilation and radiant sky cooling.