MICE: Strasbourg gets a green makeover

It's more than just a beautiful design. The new Strasbourg Exhibition Centre, inaugurated at the beginning of September, underpins the ambition of Strasbourg. A leading European crossroads, The Eurometropolis between France and Germany now wants to become a model for sustainable urban development.

" The new Exhibition Centre is a concrete expression of the ambitions of a city that is asserting itself as one of the world's leading trade fair destinations. business tourism. Not only because of the presence ofEurope's institutions, but also several centres of economic excellence. We're talking about medicine, research with over 60 laboratories, and the technologies of the future. All of this is supported by the presence of 60,000 students in its universities. And then, of course, there's Strasbourg's role as a gateway to Germany." says Mireille Dartus, director of the Strasbourg Convention Bureau.

You will now need to add the title of "ecometropolisThis is particularly evident in the new exhibition centre adjacent to the congress centre. Built in record time, between the beginning of 2020 and 2022, the new structure is the work of one of the world's greatest contemporary architects, the Japanese Kengo Kuma.

Exceptional architecture for the Exhibition Centre

The result is striking, with the architect emphasising light, transparency and symbiosis with the surrounding nature. Particularly through the use of light-coloured wood, with its luminous accents. The purity of the lines inside the building, particularly its impressive nave, is certainly reminiscent of Japanese architecture. But above all it is reminiscent of Scandinavian design. The slats on the walls and the undulating roof, all in wood, lend a rare elegance to a structure dedicated to fairs and exhibitions.

" We actually used more than 2,400 m² of wood for the development of the Park. In addition to its aesthetic value, wood also helps to improve the environmental performance of the structure. "This is the story of Christophe Caillaud-Joos, Director of Strasbourg Events, a semi-public company owned by the City of Strasbourg, the Eurometropole de Strasbourg and the GL Events group, which is responsible for organising MICE events.

The environmental approach at the heart of our concerns

According to Christophe Caillaud-Joos, wood provides natural ventilation and insulation. But that's not the only measure being taken to make the new Exhibition Centre more attractive. a model eco-structure.

In total, the Exhibition Centre, with the adjacent Palais des Congrès et de la Musique, offers almost 75,000 m² of exhibition and conference space. Whose 23,000 m² of new halls in Kengo Kuma's structure. " We have one of the finest structures in France and the Rhine basinenthuses Christophe Caillaud-Joos. With the added advantage of being right in the heart of the city, just 15 minutes from the historic centre or the station. Being a metropolis on a human scale, easily accessible on foot or by public transport, is a plus for the environmental cause today! " 

These are advantages that give Strasbourg many advantages. The proof is in the Strasbourg Convention Bureau's reliance on 30% of additional events by 2025, while Strasbourg Events is forecasting sales of €25 million for the same period.