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Case Study

Dalian International Conference Center

Completed in 2012, the Dalian International Conference Center has become an instantly recognizable landmark of futuristic urban development.

Its striking avant-garde design is fused with traditional Asian architecture, reflecting the promising future of modern Dalian, while retaining a link to the city’s history as an important seaport and tourism center. To capture this urban design, Novelis J73A® coil-anodized aluminum was used for the exterior and interior decoration.

Completed in 2012, the Dalian International Conference Center has become an instantly recognizable landmark of futuristic urban development. It is the basis for an ultramodern, extraordinarily designed “little” city of some 100,000 m2.

The translucent shell shields an exhibition center with a capacity of 2,500 and an opera hall offering entertainment to approximately 1,800 people. Smaller conference spaces are located throughout the core. The basement houses all the services necessary for running such a world-class venue.

Download Data Sheet (EN)/(DE)

City: Dalian
Country: China
Products: J73A coil anodized
Application: Facade cladding
Color: Natural

Thickness: 3 mm
Quantity: 120,000 m2
Architect: COOP HIMMELB(L)AU
Installation: Meinhardt Facade Technology

Ground-Breaking Aluminum for Ground-Breaking Design

In the opinion of Vienna-based architects COOP HIMMELB(L)AU Wolf D. Prix & Partner ZT GmbH, single-function structures don’t fit with modern architecture and urban development. Future urban development should reflect the complexity of the mental and material life.

For the multipurpose Dalian International Conference Center, ground-breaking design is incorporated both in the facade and the interior. The geometry of the facade stands out as a distinct structure, while the brilliant interior paneling creates an impressive and special ambience.

For this exterior and interior decoration, almost 1,000 tons of Novelis 3 mm J73A coil anodized aluminum was used covering approximately 120,000 m2 – a 75,000 m2 with a 20-micron anodic layer for the largely perforated and stud welded aluminum facade panels and 44,000 m2 with a 10-micron layer for internal finishing.

For such a large project, the consistent color and gloss levels of J73A makes it ideal for facades requiring material from different production batches and casts.

The very narrow tolerances of the chemical alloy composition are a key property for the Novelis brand product.

Novelis J73A is perfectly suited for buildings located in marine environments, where industrial pollution and large temperature variations require high-quality materials offering long life.

Quality, cost-effectiveness, exceptional protection and strength are all key reasons for using aluminum. Easy to work with and featuring a brilliant metallic appearance, it’s ideal for realizing modern design possibilities. In addition, J73A offers a continuous anodizing process, so there are no contact points, meaning this material can be used without cutting the edge.

This anodic layer simplifies the choice for outdoor application. Novelis ensures that this layer has a minimum value over the entire length and width of the material’s top side, exceeding international standards. The anodic layer cannot peel off, and the sealing quality – tested to the mass of loss test to DIN ISO 3210 – ensures excellent corrosion resistance.

Contributing to Environmental Sustainability

For the Dalian project, international flair harmonizes with hybrid functionality of technology and sustainability. In addition to heat recovery systems, solar energy panels and the use of natural light, Novelis J73A is fully recyclable at the end of the life cycle of the building, offering environmental sustainability, which is so vital in today’s construction.

Award-Winning Design

In 2011, the Dalian International Conference Center won the Wallpaper* Design Award in the “Best Building Sites” category. In 2013, the design was the Architizer A+ Award Jury Winner in the Theatres & Performing Arts Centers category.