Pending Perak

Pending Perak The Inspiration of Putrajaya Convention Centre.

The shape of the site has been observed to take the shape of the "wau bulan" (moon kite) and the "pending perak" (silver royal belt buckle) which is a rounded diamond shape. The architecture is inspired from this "pending perak". The Convention Centre takes its shape from the eye of the "pending perak" with the main halls set in the "eye" of the "pending perak". The shape of the Convention Centre is round.

To alleviate the plain roundness of the structure, the structure roof is designed like a folded origami. From the front, its eaves or wings are lifted at the sides creating broad overhangs over the raking wall. Since the walls are made of glass, generous natural daylights will illuminate the building through the raked and shaded windows. The form has been described as distinctive and contemporary.

Research has shown that convention centres are important in attracting visitors to a country and in boosting tourism revenue. In the past five years, convention centres and their supporting trades have shown acute growth especially in the major Asian capitals. Malaysia has two existing facilities-the Putra World Trade Centre and the Malaysia International Exhibition & Convention Centre (MIECC) in Seri Kembangan, Selangor. In 2000, MIECC hosted 500 international delegates for the Islamic Foreign Ministers' Conference while Putra World Trade Centre was the venue host for the 13th Non-Alligned Movement (NAM) Summit recently.

If Malaysia is to host prominent international events such as the congresses under United Nations, she must be able to accommodate delegates from 185 countries who are members of the United Nations. In the recent G77 Congress in Havana, at least 2,400 delegates from 120 countries participated. The Putrajaya Convention Centre was mooted, planned and developed to meet this requirement.

Location Map Of Putrajaya Convention Centre

Putrajaya Convention Centre, covering an area of 51 acres at 60 meters above sea level, is situated on top of a commanding hill in Precinct 5, the Sports and Recreational Precinct of Putrajaya that would be home for residential neighbourhoods and waterfront developments.

Precinct 5 is located at the south of the core island. It is the culmination of the main axis that runs from Perdana Putra building which houses the Prime Minister's Office, to Dataran Putra, along the main boulevard and major public squares and across the bridge over the lake. This commanding hill terminates the axis and it provides an impressive setting for the Putrajaya Convention Centre.

Putrajaya Convention Centre

The Building

The gross floor area (GFA) of Putrajaya Convention Centre is approximately 135,000 square meters over nine levels. Within this area, there are:
. 1 Head of States Hall
. 1 Plenary Hall
. 1 Banquet Hall
. 2 multipurpose halls
. 10 conference rooms
. 7 VVIP/ bilateral rooms
. 1 VVIP lounge
. 33 meeting rooms
. 2 public galleries
. 1 restaurant
. 3 prayer rooms
. 2 levels of basement carparks

The largest meeting hall is the Plenary Hall which is 4,302 square meters and can seat 3,000 people. The Banquet Hall is 4,347 square meters and can seat a maximum of 4,500 cocktail style and 2,000 banquet style. The Head of States Hall is 518 square meters and can seat 184 theatre style. In terms of carparks, there are about 1,200 bays provided.

The layout also takes its inspiration from the "pending perak". On the "pending perak", the patterns are engraved in a series of radiating circles. The layout where the various areas/rooms are set in a series of radiating circular uses with the Plenary Hall, Head of States Hall and the Banquet Hall set at the centre or eye of this circle. A ring of VIP suites surrounds the conference halls at two levels. Beyond, there is another ring of public galleries that surround the building.

There are seven levels including a mezzanine floor. In addition, there are two basement levels for carparks. The top floor is the fourth floor and houses all mechanical and electrical rooms. The third floor is a ring of public galleries, pre-function spaces, service areas and a VVIP lounge that overlooks the plenary hall below on the first floor. The second floor has pre-function areas, meeting rooms, a delegates' lounge, a gallery and a viewing deck.

The Plenary Hall is on the first floor and surrounded by a ring of galleries, both VVIP and VIP lounges, a viewing deck and a conference hall. In true circular fashion, the Head of States Hall on the ground floor is surrounded by VVIP meeting rooms and lounges. The lower ground mezzanine floor has meeting rooms, a reception area, staff canteen, and administration and maintenance offices. On the lower ground floor there are more meeting rooms, a restaurant, a cybercafe, the Banquet Hall, a kitchen, other ,halls, services rooms, a business centre and a loading bay.

Putrajaya Convention Centre was officially handed-over by Datuk Hashim Hassan, Chairman of Putrajaya Holdings Sdn Bhd, to Tan Sri Samsudin Osman, Chief Secretary of Malaysian Goverment, witnessed by Prime Minister, Dato Seri Mahathir Mohamad

9th June 2003- The Handing-Over Ceremony of Putrajaya Convention Centre by Putrajaya Holdings Sdn Bhd to The Government of Malaysia