BEIJING, July 24 /EMWNews/ -- The Beijing Olympic Green Convention

Centre (BOGCC), located on the Olympic Boulevard and designed by

international award winning architects, RMJM, enters a new phase tomorrow

as the media facility goes live 24/7 in the run up to the Beijing Olympic

Games.



    The largest media centre in Olympic history is part of the BOGCC

complex that accommodates both the Main Press Centre (MPC) and

International Broadcasting Centre (IBC). Occupying more than 150,000 square

metres, the MPC and IBC will be home to more than 20,000 accredited

journalists, photographers and broadcasters.



    The BOGCC complex will also host the Olympic and Paralympics fencing

and pentathlon pistol shooting events and comprises of two sports halls.

The adjacent hotels in the multi-purpose complex will be used during the

Olympic to accommodate some of the visiting media contingent.



    "We are delighted to be in Beijing as BOCOG's media centre begins 24

hour operations tomorrow and marks the final phase to the opening of the

summer Olympic Games," said Peter Morrison, Group Chief Executive Officer

of RMJM Group Ltd.



    "We are very honoured that RMJM, through our client Beijing North Star

Corporation, is a part of the Beijing Olympic legacy and will leave a

lasting footprint on the city. We worked closely with Beijing North Star to

create a multi use complex that will offer long-term financial

sustainability and play a pivotal role in the city's infrastructure post

Games," he added.



    In line with BOCOG's "Green Olympics" message, RMJM's design includes

systems that make use of natural elements together with a high degree of

insulation throughout the building. Green features include the rain water

collection on the roof for flushing systems and the irrigation of the

surrounding landscape, an ice storage cooling system and a "free air

cooling" ventilation system in the public foyers of the convention centre.



    Additionally, the BOGCC has been designed to ensure maximum return on

investment and the highest rate of commercial viability post Games. The

220,000 square metre main structure is scheduled to reopen as the National

Convention Centre of China in 2009.



    "Part of the challenge of this assignment was to ensure that the

facility had a distinct and viable 'second life' shortly after the close of

the Olympic and Paralympic Games. With this in mind, the design ensured

that the facility could be retrofitted within a relatively short period of

time without huge added expense. Post Games, the complex will accommodate

the Plenary Hall, the Convention & Exhibition Centre along with offices,

retail, service apartments, a 5-Star hotel and a business hotel," said

RMJM's Scott Findley, design director, Asia, RMJM.



    "As one of the four principal venues on the Beijing Olympic Green

Boulevard, the structure is understated and timeless, its roof recalling

and celebrating the traditions of its Chinese pagoda. Effortless exuding

power and presence, the centre will welcome the people of Beijing and their

guests at 8.08pm on 08/08/2008, the date of the opening ceremony of the

Olympic Games," Findley said.



    Unlike many convention centres, the National Convention Centre's space

has been designed to be highly utilised and a destination in its own right,

with its office space, retail and hotels providing year-round interest in

the area. The design reflects the Beijing government's plans for the

ongoing regeneration of the north eastern part of the city of Beijing.



    The BOGCC is RMJM's largest public sector design project in China to

date and demonstrates the firm's ongoing commitment to the country.



    Note to editors:



    RMJM is a UK-based, international firm of architects, employing 1200

people across its network of 15 offices in the UK, Europe, the Middle East,

Asia and the United States. RMJM's expertise and design-led approach is

successfully demonstrated in on-going projects in more than 15 countries

spanning a wide range of key sectors, from corporate headquarters and

waterfront residential developments to major public buildings, university

campuses and large-scale regeneration programmes. The company currently has

US$20 billion (Rmb136 billion) worth of construction projects on its

drawing boards, including some of the world's most high profile and

ambitious projects. RMJM Hillier is the North American division of RMJM

Group. The firm provides services in architecture, interior design, master

planning, urban design, historic preservation, arts consultancy, land

planning, landscape design, environmental graphics and computer

visualization. http://www.rmjmhillier.com



    For further information:



    Neill Coleman or Mindy Sherwood, RMJM Hillier T: +212.629.4100 or

email: [email protected] or [email protected]



    Check out http://www.rmjmpress.com for the latest news and images from RMJM