Last week I had the opportunity of joining the team from my workplace to the brand new congress hall - Ice Krakow, located on Marii Konopnickiej 17 - for the Career Expo of the Spring of 2015. It was my first time visiting this place and I was pleasantly impressed by the modern and simple, yet effective, way that the architects designed this place. The Ice Krakow was opened with great publicity last October 2014, with the inaugural event/concert Here and Now. The main message of the work - the concert Here and Now - created by Zbigniew Preisner, one of Poland’s most outstanding composers, especially for the occasion, is the place of human beings in history, modern civilisation and existential transience. Both the music, and the libretto written by Ewa Lipska, refer to Krakow’s past social and cultural atmosphere.
The Mayor of the City of Krakow Mr. Jacek Majchrowski opened the new conference center in Krakow. The name of this new modern and impressive facility is ICE (International Conferences & Entertainment) Mr. Majchrowski said, that with the grand opening of ICE Krakow the city has reached other European cities. It is true that Krakow waited a long time for a Congress Centre. First plans of building this type of facility already appeared over 40 years ago. Designing took almost seven years.
This impressive establishment is located near the Vistula River. ICE Krakow has three main halls which are able to accommodate up to 2100, 600, and 300 participants. Furthermore special attention requires the second largest Hall (Theatre Hall) with movable elements allows to increase the floor area even more in case of using it for banquets or exhibitions.
The Conference Centre which can accommodate 3200 participants, also has conference rooms with adjustable sliding walls, 3-level foyer with spectacular view on the Wawel Castle, a multi-purpose exhibition hall and technical area.
Over 36.000 m² of conference space, an Auditorium ready to host 2000 people, a spacious and multifunctional foyer adapted for activities such as hosting of exhibitions and sponsor and exhibition stands; additionally, the building’s excellent location in the centre of Krakow – these are only some of the assets of the multifunctional ICE Congress Centre Krakow, an investment made by Krakow’s municipal government.
The centre is a modern world class building, meeting the requirements of international congress organisations, as well as the highest acoustic and stage mechanics standards. The building has been designed in such a way as to host various types of congresses, conferences, concerts, theatrical shows, exhibitions and other prestigious cultural and social events. The high standard of the building will place it among the most desired and exclusive congress centres in Europe.
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| Views from the first floor, next to the cafeteria |
ICE has 3 main halls: an Auditorium, a Theatre Hall and Chamber Hall, accommodating a maximum of 2100, 600 and 300 users respectively. Aside from the unique Auditorium Hall, the second biggest Theatre Hall is especially deserving of note: its folding seats will allow the floor area to be increased when being used for banquets or exhibitions. The centre, able to accommodate 200 participants, also offer a complex of conference halls with regulated moveable walls, a glazed three-floor foyer with a view of Wawel, a multifunctional exhibition hall and support areas.
Communication around the ICE has been specially integrated and includes parking space, bus terminal, place for transmission cars and two-level underground parking for 360 cars. Getting from the airport takes about 20 minutes, and the main railway station and bus station can be reached in just 15 minutes. (Copyright on the above text goes to Mice Agency)
The Career Expo was held in the foyer (I just love this word!) and exhibition space. The foyer is situated on the eastern side of the building (with a view of the Old City and Kazimierz) on three fl oors: F0 – 1800 m² (including the Theatre Hall), F1 – 1000 m² and F2 – 650 m². It can play the function of both an elegant public space for a viewing area and an exhibition space with the possibility of arranging sponsor and exhibition stands during congresses. This entire space is covered by an extensive grid of media access points (electrical connections, the Internet). For trade fairs, banquets, galas, balls and exhibitions this place is brilliant!
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The walls are all glass so you have natural light for most of the day - there were no lights on until 4 PM and that was because the day was dark and sky was cloudy (with the ocasional Spring rain...). The bathroom facilities are numerous and can be easly found - even though some doors just look like they are part of the wall! There are additional small tables in the bathroom for the mothers in need and I really loved the light way they decorated the place. The visit left me yearning for more, so very soon I shall be buying some tickets to the opera or some concert, so I may visit the inside arena as well :) I would recommend this place at any time, no matter the weather. At least for the awesome views!
Yours truly,
The Twisted Red LadyBug That Loves Fairs/Exhibitions/Concerts & Architecture
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