ICC Durban Arena
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NAME: Durban International Convention Centre
LOCATION: Central Durban
STATUS: under expansion
FLOORS: N/A
HEIGHT: ???
USE: Public exhibition/meeting space

The expansion of the Durban International Convention Centre is about 30% complete. It is doubling the size of the convention centre, making it by far the largest in South Africa.

The ICC Arena will be able to host 10 000 people for indoor sports events, and 15 000 for concerts, in turn adding another revenue stream for the complex and providing durban with an indoor venue for large concerts- at last!

This new section of the ICC will serve the city well in its future endeavours in hosting major international events such as the Commonwealth Games.

http://www.icc.co.za/images/home/logo.gif

Article:
R395m expansion for ICC Durban

The mayor of the eThekwini (greater Durban) municipality, Obed Mlaba, has announced a R395-million expansion to Durban's world-renowned International Convention Centre.

The expansion will involve constructing a new 6 000-seat auditorium, the ICC Durban Arena, as well as extending the existing building in a southerly direction to accommodate a sports arena suitable for exhibition sports, national indoor sports competitions, exhibitions, entertainment events and conventions.

Other site developments will include the construction of a 200-room three-star hotel at an estimated cost of R115-million. The costs towards building the hotel will be sourced from the private sector.

ICC chief executive officer Alec Gilbert said the expansion would put the convention centre "in a league of its own, being the only venue in the country able to accommodate events for over 10 000 people.

"The worldwide trend is for bigger conferences", Gilbert said, "and this project will enable us to meet the requirements of the most valuable end of the international meetings industry."

Gilbert said the expanded conference centre would seat 13 000 people and cover a total of 30 000 square metres, with the option of increasing capacities even further by using the adjacent Durban Exhibition Centre.

"We will continue to set ICC Durban apart from other convention centres by marketing it as 'the most African experience'", Gilber said. "The expansion and the April 2004 opening of the uShaka Marine World will add major impetus to this campaign."

An independent economic impact assessment found that construction of the Arena would have a positive impact on the local economy, creating 23 000 sustainable jobs in its first 10 years of operation.

The development costs will be fully recovered through a positive contribution to the country's gross domestic product (GDP) well within the first year of its operation, the report stated.

http://www.durban.gov.za/eThekwini/Tourism_and_Leisure/news/expansion

ICC Expansion ahead of schedule

THE R430-million expansion of Durban's International Convention Centre (ICC) is running ahead of schedule and will be completed by April in time for the yearly Tourism Indaba - that's the upbeat prediction from Deputy Mayor Logie Naidoo.

"When the newly expanded ICC opens next year, Durban will once again be in the world conference big league, among the top five conference venues in the world," Naidoo said.

After almost a decade of dominating the South African conference market, Durban has in the past two years begun to experience increasing competition from new convention centres in Cape Town and Gauteng.

"With this truly exceptional project, we'll once again be in a class of our own. When it comes to the cream of the big international conventions, we won't be competing with Cape Town and Sandton, but with Melbourne and Cannes."

Spin-offs

The spin-offs for local business would be immense, said Naidoo, who chairs the municipality's economic development committee.

"Durban will be able to host much bigger conferences. When you consider that last week's successful World Congress of Surgery, with some 2 000 delegates, injected an estimated R10 million into the local economy, imagine the impact of a conference two or three times that size."

Naidoo said most people were not aware of the full trickle-down impact of large conferences. "There's the spending, on tours and hotel accommodation. But how many people know that the woven grass delegate bags at the surgery conference were made by women from an impoverished Zululand community? This is grassroots upliftment in more ways than one."

Ordinary Durban residents will also benefit from the expansion. Successful as the ICC has been over the years, it has been criticised for not being accessible to the public.
Ken Froise of the city's Architectural Department said, "The public have little or no access to this world-class conference facility. When we reviewed the design for the extension, the idea was to make it more accessible."

Out of this objective emerged the concept of 'Africa Square' a public space fronting Commercial Road and relating to the foyer of the extension with floor-to-roof glazing allowing total transparency. This together with big screens and PA systems would enable people to engage with activities inside the building.

Central to the extension is an arena able to seat up to 6 000 people for sports fixtures. With standing room for 10 000 spectators, the arena will also double as a long overdue indoor concert venue for Durban.

"Durban will once more be on the international concert map. We won't have to be at the mercy of the weather at outdoor venues such as Westridge Park," said Naidoo.
And the versatile arena will be ideal for exhibitions such as motor shows.

The project will also regenerate the precinct around the ICC, including Pine Street and Walnut Road, with a proposal from the Architectural department to permanently close the road to form an "ICC Campus", which will include the Durban Exhibition Centre, ICC, Hilton Hotel and a proposed second hotel. The idea is to create a safe and secure zone around the convention centre and to create a pavement café society feel in the area within walking distance of the hotels and ICC.

Last week's World Congress of Surgery at the ICC has injected some R10 million into Durban and KwaZulu-Natal, according to estimates from Tourism KwaZulu-Natal.
Provincial Minister of Tourism Narend Singh said business tourism was one of his department's focus areas. "The spinoffs are really fantastic," he said.

Dudley Randall, Managing Director of Turners Conferences, which organised the congress, tours and accommodation, said the surgeons had spent more than R2 million on tours alone. This did not include spending on crafts and shopping during their tours.
"This is one of the richest conferences in terms of delegate spending," said Randall.
There were 1 800 delegates, 341 accompanying partners and 450 exhibitors.

"The idea is to create a safe and secure zone around the convention centre and to create a pavement café society feel in the area within walking distance of the hotels and ICC."

Sorry guys, a closed-off campus-type area isn't going to solve any problems... what a shame. On top of that comment, the Durban CBD is already safe enough, I am sure...

only 1 crane, Phhha we want more

"The idea is to create a safe and secure zone around the convention centre and to create a pavement café society feel in the area within walking distance of the hotels and ICC."

Sorry guys, a closed-off campus-type area isn't going to solve any problems... what a shame. On top of that comment, the Durban CBD is already safe enough, I am sure...

Mate u obviously took what the writer was saying in the wrong way. When they say "safe and secure" they dont mean up with the fences and walls. What they are doing is putting in a huge CCTV presence and increased street patrols to monitor the area. There will be total freedom of movement. anyone can access the restaurants straight from the street. no gates to pass thru or anything. All access will be gained via the large landscaped public square to be developed in front of the building. It will include grassed areas, benches, water features and some fully grown trees to provide shade.

What i think is confusing u is that when u hear safe and secure u think joburg style with the walls and limited access. Or you are confusing what they said about possibly closing off Walnut road permanently, so that during conferences they can use the street space for conference related activities.

Whatever they decide, there will be total freedom of movement...but it will be safe and secure under different means.

Hope that clears that up :)

any more news on the ICC hotel to flank this new extention?

Seems like it is going to be a Taj Mahal or Golden Tulip hotel

I know them both, unfortunatly they are not quite the brands one would have hoped for

oh well! :(

Smile about the Hyatt in Umhlanga, the Radisson at Zimbali and the possible Orion at the point :)

I am smilling , promise. Any more info on time lines for the taj or Tulip? Hyatt in Umhlunga sounds awesome, have you seen or heard anything else?

The ICC hotel will be complete by june 2007, that is the cut off time for completion. i presume that an announcement will come soon.

The 3rd ICC hotel will have to be complete by mid 2008, it is the one on the brewery site and it looks like it will be a Southern Sun Collection Hotel (same as Beverly Hills).

brewery site? you mean the smelly molasis site where they make cane opposite the front of the ICC?
if the 2nd hotel is a Taj or Tulip then What hotel is the 3rd One?
I assume the 1st is the Hilton

as i said above the second hotel will be a Southern Sun Collection Hotel. So same branding as Beverly Hills.

The Suncoast Hotel is to be Sun International Run so you guess what brand it will be! But wont be Holiday inn!!! So run like zimbali lodge and table bay hotels

Any idea of when (and where in Umhlanga) the Hyatt will happen? Haven't heard about the Radisson at Zimbali - great news, must be the first Radisson in SA (?).Read in the paper last week that Tata (who own the Taj groups of hotels) are keen to tap into the SA tourist market (i.e Durbs and CT) so a Taj next to the ICC shouldn't be too suprising.

Sean

The Hyatt in Umhlanga will be on Umhlanga Rocks drive with sweeping views of the city and coastline all the way to the Bluff. it will be on the Umhlanga Triangle land and will be next to the site that is ear marked for the 25+storey "landmark building".

There is a Radisson in Cape Town already, and the one at Zimbali is most likely, it will be on the Lakes of the new Zimbali lakes development. The massive beach 5 star at zimbali with over 300 rooms will be also run by an international operator, but it has not been named yet.

What u say about Taj is true, it will more than likely be the choice!

lets get digging then

according to Mike Sutcliffe, city manager, the new ICC hotel and 3 others will be unvailed next week!

WHOO HOO, LETS HEAR ABOUT THE ah shit caps,look foward to hearing names and floors and possibly renders

Talking of Hotels I see that Holiday Inn Garden Courts have had a revamp and are now being re-branded Southern Sun Garden Courts. When did this happen and what prompted the move? Sorry if its old news - I'm not that upto speed...

Sean

i dont know what has happened there. Is holiday inn leaving? or are they just cutting ties with the garden court brand in sa? it is interesting, someone must know whats up

Updates: Pics taken 18 October 2005

http://i26.photobucket.com/albums/c128/dysan1/04-11-2005025.jpg

http://i26.photobucket.com/albums/c128/dysan1/04-11-2005019.jpg

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Construction Update - 29 November 2005

The Dome Roof is strating to look massive, and the frontal work is coming on well...looking more impressive than before

http://i26.photobucket.com/albums/c128/dysan1/IMGP0754.jpg

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http://i26.photobucket.com/albums/c128/dysan1/IMGP0755.jpg

will it have a great looking glass front like the other side?

Yeah its to have a massive glass frontage as well.

finally!! an artists impression of the dev

http://www.icc.co.za/Uploads/11bbf3d5-324c-4ff3-9b7d-99f66b9b5c07Aerial.jpg

http://i26.photobucket.com/albums/c128/dysan1/iccexpansion.jpg

lets get the ICC hotels moving along now and move that terrble molasis plant

hey thryve if you want to change the name of the thread, i'll give the actual name for the expansion. It's called the ICC Durban Arena... :)

Sweet... thanks :) I haven't been very up with the times lately.

It's adding one exhibition space hence that being in the name where number of floors is usually placed.

Its a muliti purpose arena that will host many sporting and cultural events, and only large conferences will utilise the main venue. It's design capacity is 15000 for music concerts and 10000 for conferences

finally!! an artists impression of the dev

http://www.icc.co.za/Uploads/11bbf3d5-324c-4ff3-9b7d-99f66b9b5c07Aerial.jpg

http://i26.photobucket.com/albums/c128/dysan1/iccexpansion.jpg

ill wait to see fresh renderings..this design doesnt say much...

Tenders for The ICC hotel sites that were discussed in depth on the durban discussion page close on 12 March. Lets hope that the developments get underway this year!!

The site directly next to the arena has a min of 10F, and design must compliment the ICC and Hilton hotels...so i am hoping for something with loads of glass usage!!! :)

god i lov durbs the hilton and the sanlam tower looook so kwel its a shame nothing much happening in the cbd

Sanlam tower? u mean that liberty life building? or wat its got on it now? FNB.
"88 on field" i think another underated building in durbs is the Embassy building. or was this the building u were talking about hsark?
http://img160.imageshack.us/img160/6263/2152860rc.jpg
it would have been nice if it were abit higher, alot of BIG companies are in there, I had a friend who worked for Toyota Japan in there.

yeh would have been good if it was taller....

ya thats the building i was talking about
very modern in deed:)

LOVE Embassy.....PoMo baby ;)..........need to break the 500ft mark in Downtown.....


Anyway, about the Arena.......I cant tell if I like it from the little rendering....but the idea is excellent regardless!

i have to admit the rendering is KAK! When u stand nearby or drive past, the place is massive and has 4F of glass across the new front, replicating the other side of the building. pity the render was kak...wil be finished in 6 months

this place is gonna be sooo coool. its huge perfect for concerts, I hope they can play other sports in there like hockey & soccer.

its designed to cater for indoor sporting codes, ice shows, concerts and other large events. one of the first events to take place in it will be the african table tennis championships

^^ Sounds good!! From the construction pics....looks like it will be cool!

now they have to upgrade the surrounding environs with the hotels as plqanned and get rid of the car slaes lots and smelly factories

as i said before, removing all of those things are part of the "Africa Square" development framework plan, whereby the beach and icc are connected by a prodominently pedestrian boulevard, flanked by hotels, offices and residential apartments. but thats a long term plan and will more than likely only really develop in the next 5-10years

as i said before, removing all of those things are part of the "Africa Square" development framework plan, whereby the beach and icc are connected by a prodominently pedestrian boulevard, flanked by hotels, offices and residential apartments. but thats a long term plan and will more than likely only really develop in the next 5-10years

but in the mean time it is a bit of an eyesore. however the main access routes have wonderful palms and landscaping and great sidewalks (thing all around ICC and Investec)

So are they removing the Yeast factory then?

So are they removing the Yeast factory then?
prostitutes ??

prostitutes?? nope, the yeast factory is to remain until their lease ends. not sure when that is. the city have been trying to move them, but it is proving difficult

prostitutes ??

LOL! No not *those* types of yeast factories, (blechhk), the other type (bread etc).

prostitutes ??
wat the F*ck were u thinking off?
ahh man yeast infections yuk:skull:

well u know maybe they had some durb fish specials like crabs or something lol ...

Hey on my way to work today I kinda drove near the place, I see that most of the sheeting is on the roof. So if any 1 from durbs is in the area feel free to take pics

Arena gives convention centre more space to play
Nicola Jenvey

DURBAN — The roof-wetting ceremony for the R460m International Convention Centre arena held last week was a milestone in the city’s bid to recapture market share for international concerts and sporting events.

The arena, built as an extension to the International Convention Centre (ICC), provides the city with increased conference and exhibition facilities, as well as a multipurpose indoor stadium.

About R255m has been spent on the project, with the construction of the roof and associated heavy works completed. Work has begun on the internal finishes, including suspended ceilings, and the external glazing.

The development has spent R27m on quality acoustic walls used to divide spaces in a variety of configurations to ensure maximum flexibility. The operable walls, located on tracks for easy manoeuvring, can be moved to reveal more than 1000m of uninterrupted floor space from the north to south end of the ICC.

The new arena adds another 12000m² of floor space, and can accommodate raked seating for 6000 people and space for 10000 spectators. Combined, the ICC and adjacent Durban Exhibition Centre afford the city 32000m² of covered exhibition space on a single level.

The roof-wetting event also marked the temporary handover of the arena to Tourism Indaba 2006. The annual tourism showcase will be held in the combined ICC and Durban Exhibition Centre from May 6-9. After that contractors will resume work on specialist lighting and internal finishes. The arena’s official opening is scheduled for next March, in line with the ICC’s 10th anniversary celebrations.

eThekwini deputy mayor Logie Naidoo said funding for the construction was testament to the value the municipality placed on the ICC as a catalyst for economic development.

lets see some pics of this world class project

will get...it is looking very good now

here's a picture of the half completed interior of the Arena at the roof wetting on 18 april

http://www.icc.co.za/ImageGallery/Expansion/AreaWebImage.jpg

looking gud, my cuz is going there for an excersion, she is doing event managment, so they going for a tour of the ICC & they gonna see the new arena, so I told her to take pics for me.

Some air shots of the icc with expansion

http://i26.photobucket.com/albums/c128/dysan1/IMGP1434.jpg

http://i26.photobucket.com/albums/c128/dysan1/IMGP1435.jpg

i hope its gonna be pretty.

awesome stuff dysan, heard the indaba is exellent

Nice. Thanks for posting the pics.

omg http://i26.photobucket.com/albums/c128/dysan1/IMGP1434.jpg this is so going to be my backround just imagine a couple more high-rise yahoo! *off topic*but will the point skyscrapers feature in this pic once there completed coz i can see the harbour/bluff at the back end

ya the point will be here
http://img529.imageshack.us/img529/6121/iccpnt4vd.jpg

yeh where durbsboi showed...and a bit to the right as well.

the vic embankment tower will fill the gap to the right of john ross house (the brown 2nd tallest building in the pic)...and the new ICC hotel will also be in this shot in the future

^^ Yeah, even though I don't care tooooo much about skylines, I have to say, those will both be nice spaces to see filled in the skyline... Durbs is coming along nicely.

I had something else to say and I completely forget it now...

-thryve

wish we knew more about the vic embankment tower- Mike do you know who the architects are going to be?

I thought the new R250 million ICC hotel will built on the site of the exhibition centre (to the right of this picture, out of sight), in which case it won't be in this pic from this angle.

wish we knew more about the vic embankment tower- Mike do you know who the architects are going to be?

I wish i knew more too...spoke to one of the investors 3 weeks ago. They have appointed Bental International to do the designs.

I thought the new R250 million ICC hotel will built on the site of the exhibition centre (to the right of this picture, out of sight), in which case it won't be in this pic from this angle.

Yes you are correct, but you are also wrong.

2 Hotels will be built. One on the exhibition site, the site is still in this pic... and the other abutting walnut road, and joined to the ICC Arena. Both should start work this year

Well the Indaba is over, & work can commence again on the arena, there were still working in the arena while the Indaba was on, but to a smaller scale.

Bental International ?? i can ask my oldman if he can get some info

Yes you are correct, but you are also wrong.

2 Hotels will be built. One on the exhibition site, the site is still in this pic... and the other abutting walnut road, and joined to the ICC Arena. Both should start work this year

Aaahh!! Thanks for the clarification! When is scheduled completion dates? I ask for a really good reason (more when I see you next time, Mike).

Bental International ?? i can ask my oldman if he can get some info

Great stuff! Yeh thats who the guy mentioned

Aaahh!! Thanks for the clarification! When is scheduled completion dates? I ask for a really good reason (more when I see you next time, Mike).

Both are scheduled for completion end of 2007...is this related to part of our last chat??hmmm....

Yes!! I just hosted them today and they seemed very impressed with Durban!!! When I dropped them off at the hotel they were on their way to the ICC for a tour!!!

Pity the weather isnt warm and beachy! Good news...will be a HUGE coup for durban for it comes through! Well Done boy!!

Well work looks nearly finished...probably just interior touches to do, cos from the outside it is looking close to being ready

Well work looks nearly finished...probably just interior touches to do, cos from the outside it is looking close to being ready
when will the first event take place? any news of sporting events to take place in this new arena?

Dysan, did u see how the glass is in the front? it looks like its not installed properly, nice effect...........or it could be that its just not installed properly

^^ lol i did see...i think that they havent finished it...but wld be cool if that is how they mean it to look..

Regards events...i have no clue

New floor plan with the arena
http://img226.imageshack.us/img226/3873/iccfloorplanxw3.jpg

whats the new part -halls 5 and 6?

Ya, i think so

Wasn't there going to be a piazza type thing with outdoor cafes or am I mistaken? There's so much going on at the moment it's difficult to remember what goes where.

lol...there is a cafe component near the memorial wall...and the whole front is a square

so everything include the total space in sqm is?

I read the total space will be 32,000m2. There will be over 1 km of uninterruped floor space!

And some info on the Africa Square thing:

"The external venue 'Africa Square' will be developed beyond the south wall of the ICC Arena. Africa Square is Africa's 'Time Square and Trafalgar Square'. It will be a new meeting place and the place that captures the new confidence and the energy of Africa. It will have the capacity to entertain visitors who can enjoy concerts and events taking place within the venue at lower cost or without having to even purchase tickets.
The ICC Arena will integrate with the CBD and surrounding areas...but will not compromise the Centre's unique ability to be transformed into an island site for high security events"
-The Mercury

Here's a pic from today's Mercury:

http://img225.imageshack.us/img225/1275/iccexpanstn0.jpg (http://imageshack.us)

Here's a pic from today's Mercury:

http://img225.imageshack.us/img225/1275/iccexpanstn0.jpg (http://imageshack.us)
mmm...i wonder how many commonwealth games indoor sports could take place at this one venue, 32,000sqm...one event per 6,000 sqm..so..mmm...four sports and another two in the new arena...six sports ..not bad!

looking good

http://img141.imageshack.us/img141/8954/iccextensionxe7.jpg (http://imageshack.us)

http://img175.imageshack.us/img175/6774/iccexpansion2ir2.jpg (http://imageshack.us)

Pics from SA Conference, Exhibition & Events Guide

wow great turnout for basketball...looks packed..usually theres just 10 people watching a match.

Thanks for posting, Greg. Now imagine (hopefully) a few glass and steel towers in the immediate vacinity to complement the ICC in the first pic...

wow great turnout for basketball...looks packed..usually theres just 10 people watching a match.

Look closer Mo...actual attendance was 0, it's an artist's impression of a basketball game. :)

Look closer Mo...actual attendance was 0, it's an artist's impression of a basketball game. :)

hahaha of course i know that ...it says so on the image...i was just kidding...must be the weather, lack of humour amongst the durbanites

Thanx GREG!

Drove past the other day....looking good! Yeh jerome, will be fantastic with DB's dev and the 2 new ICC hotels.

With DB's Hotel, the 2 ICC ones and the existing Hilton there will be 4 right at the centre. Total room capacity will be:

Hilton - 327
DEC - 200
ICC 1 - 220
DB's one - 250

Basically 1000 rooms...not bad...

and 6 high rise towers... Will be looking good in 4 years. Hope the skybridges are glass and striking.

^^Yeh I think there are glass. We busy trying to rush the architects to finish of the designs so we can start planning, so it can be ready before 2010.

so will you guys launch next year? cos if you want to be ready before 2010 you cant start work later than end of 2007.

Yes thats why we pushing the developer & clients, because they seem to be dragging their feet

http://www.wbho.co.za/assets/content_images/Image/portfolio/buildings/ICC_DBN_AERIAL_1.jpg

ZAI Consultants were the architects

seating plans? available?

sorry i have no clue

that picture makes the ICC look like it mutated to double its size!

^^ well it basically has! and addedd a higher ceiling (or Top Hat) lol

Do any of u guys know when the arena will open? and events for it?

According to their website opening is 20 March. Haven't heard of any events but hopefully there'll be something impressive for the opening. I guess Indaba will be one of the first exhibitions to use it.

one of the Daily news last week had a pic of Obed & Mike sutt in the arena, surprised that none yf you guys spotted it , they were in the area, with some show dancers, apprently they will be the opening act in the arena's first show.

The place looked good, with steel & glass balastrates, looked really fancy, not your run of the mill stadium stuff.

well they kept saying that they have something very big planned with international artists...

oh and i do know that "holiday on ice" will be using the venue sometime this year

Oh god, not holiday on Ice again! My folks should drag me to watch that crap when I was small

has not been in SA since we were small...

http://i85.photobucket.com/albums/k59/DURBAN2010/ICCAerial.jpg

looks fantastic, now all we need are all those hotels to start so that the areas transformation keeps momentum

from what I remember from the old plans, the area will look something like this, but the main building will change.

http://i3.tinypic.com/4cjmqmg.jpg

WTF-Is the tall blue building the new hotel?

Whatever it is, it will be a nice complementary building to the Hilton, if it ever materialises.

Bloody nice looker DB...i have visions of glass encased skybridges crossing that road....ooooh shiver...

WTF-Is the tall blue building the new hotel?

Yep

Whatever it is, it will be a nice complementary building to the Hilton, if it ever materialises.

It is happening, but god knows when

Bloody nice looker DB...i have visions of glass encased skybridges crossing that road....ooooh shiver...

Yeh the sky bridges are cool, the hotel is the blue, the white square is the office park with garden in the center then the other sky bridge from that to the left is to the new multistorey car park, & behind the arena, the thos small buildings will be part of phase 3 of this project, not sure whats going to happen there.

Which side of arena are small buildings u talk about? its very interesting!!! and a good project

IF you looking at the picture, its the ICC then the Arena, then the road, across the road those small buildings there will be part of this project, maybe more offices, not sure

Yep



It is happening, but god knows when



Yeh the sky bridges are cool, the hotel is the blue, the white square is the office park with garden in the center then the other sky bridge from that to the left is to the new multistorey car park, & behind the arena, the thos small buildings will be part of phase 3 of this project, not sure whats going to happen there.

Any idea on architects for the hotel tower?

^^ sure he said Stauch Vorster awhile ago...

IF you looking at the picture, its the ICC then the Arena, then the road, across the road those small buildings there will be part of this project, maybe more offices, not sure

Ok so next to the Liberty Towers? (old BP towers).

They surely cant be linked to ur project with bridges or anything tho...just same developer?

It seems to be a VERY big and intense project that aims to transform that entire area! very very promising

only problem is it might be too big. imagine trying to buy all the seperate sites for thsi development

All the sites are already owned by one individual...

clever boy he is

^^ sure he said Stauch Vorster awhile ago...

yep they the boys doing the drawings

Ok so next to the Liberty Towers? (old BP towers).

They surely cant be linked to ur project with bridges or anything tho...just same developer?

It seems to be a VERY big and intense project that aims to transform that entire area! very very promising

yep towards that end, but its not going right till BP, its just the few small ones at the intersection, yes they wont be any bridges linking them, they like sister office blocks & parkades

All the sites are already owned by one individual...

Yep they all bought by the guy, or company. Cant disclose the name tho

MMMMMMMMM

^^ dont worry i know them thru my dad :)

^^ dont worry i know them thru my dad :)

inside info through parents..:)

haha...dealings in the property world all know a bit of each others going ons...

haha...dealings in the property world all know a bit of each others going ons...

uh huh.still mad though that my dad knew about the greenpoint stadium before me and only told me a few months later..hate being in the dark.

^^ dont worry i know them thru my dad :)

You do! Try & find out whats the story, we all getting impatiant here! I phoned the QS, scoob scoombie, they never hear anything as yet.

All i know is that they want an additional tower building and seem to be facing problems from the land owner of the NCP yeast site for he also wants to go high rise there and there second tower would possibly affect his

Yay Yeast tower, now that would be cool

Nothings better than a big stinky tower

The ICC and ARENA with the CBD behind.

When work starts in the Centrum site and the buildings and towers surrounding the ICC it will be even more impressive


http://www.icc.co.za/ImageGallery/ICC%20img%204.jpg

ya been hearing about the centrum site for 20 years now, same like the pavilion site.

The City have now formally invited tenders (http://www.durban.gov.za/eThekwini/Municipality/rfps_tenders/news/hotel_development/view)to build a hotel west of the ICC on Walnut Rd. The invitation's figures are based on a 3- to 4-star hotel, connected directly to the ICC, about 15 000m² in size.

Development of a hotel on the International Convention Centre (ICC) site
09 February, 2007
The eThekwini Municipality hereby invites public tenders for the lease of the land situated adjacent to the International Convention Centre on Walnut Road, described as Proposed Lease over Erf 12380 Durban, Registration Division FU, Province of KwaZulu-Natal, in extent approximately 3050m², as depicted on Plan SJ 4508/8 for the development of a 220 room (minimum), 3 – 4 star tourist/deluxe hotel with a direct link to the International Convention Centre.
The lease offered is for a period of thirty (30) years at a rental, for the duration of the lease, of a one-off payment. The one-off upset rental is R5 000 000.00 based on a Development Bulk of 15 000 m²
The land to be leased currently forms part of the ICC site and will be excised from the ICC site to facilitate the lease to the successful tenderer.
Tenders will be adjudicated in terms of the Municipality’s Targeted Procurement Policy which awards points to the empowerment status of the tenderer as well as the financial offer tendered.
Tender documentation may be obtained between the hours of 08h00 and 16h30, Monday to Friday at the Office of the Head: Real Estate, Leasehold Department, 17th Floor, 75 Winder Street Durban (Ref.334/5), or downloaded from the website.
Tenders in sealed envelopes, clearly marked “TENDER CV275L” and addressed to the City Manager, eThekwini Municipality, must be deposited in the Tender Box located in the foyer on the Ground Floor, Rennies House, 42 Victoria Embankment, Durban (and not any other Municipal Department) by no later than 11h00 on Friday, 13 April 2007 when they will be publicly opened.

Yeah this is the DEC one. at 15000m2 on on 3050m2 land how tall roughly u think it will be?

ICC DURBAN ARENA'S FACILITIES

The R460 million ICC Durban Arena will be multi-purpose, with world-class facilities designed for maximum flexibility.

Audiences will be able to enjoy a range of indoor events in comfortable, air-conditioned surroundings, ranging from concerts, dance & theatrical productions to a variety of indoor sports events, including boxing, wrestling, tennis, hockey, netball and gymnastics to ice shows, motocross and equestrian events.

The Arena is uniquely functional, with the Arena floor, loading bays and entrances all on one level, allowing for simple, cost-effective set-up and logistics.

The space can accommodate heights of up to twelve metres and through a system of operable (or moveable) walls, can also be divided into four smaller halls, or a full oval Arena.

Facilities include:

• Capacity for 10 000 spectators

• Fixed seating for up to 3 000 including the retractable bleachers

• Flat floor seating for up to 6 000.

• Arena floor space of 3 896sq metres, excluding raked seating area.

• Entire ICC, including Arena, but excluding the four side meeting rooms and the main foyers, covers a floor area of 10 450sq metres.

• Total of 32 000 square metres of covered space on one level at The ICC, The Arena and The Durban Exhibition Centre, combined.

• Dedicated Operations Centre.

• State-of-the-art sound & lighting systems can be adapted to accommodate any event requirements.

• Entire ICC is WiFi enabled.

• 60-seater Media Centre with full connectivity.

• Change room facilities for home & away teams.

• Multitude of options for ticket sales, conference registration, merchandising or bar services.

• International standard facilities for the physically challenged.

• Fully integrated safety system.

• Power sources located every six metres along the Arena floor, providing 400 Amps and all using CAT 5 writing enabling the use of almost any conceivable electronic equipment.

• Back-up power sources to ensure uninterrupted power supply.

The ICC Durban Arena, positioned on the south side of the existing ICC which integrates the adjacent Durban Exhibition Centre and Hilton Hotel, has not compromised the Centre's unique ability to turn the entire area into a completely secure 'island site,' which is vital for United Nations events.''

ICC DURBAN ARENA'S FACILITIES

The R460 million ICC Durban Arena will be multi-purpose, with world-class facilities designed for maximum flexibility.

Audiences will be able to enjoy a range of indoor events in comfortable, air-conditioned surroundings, ranging from concerts, dance & theatrical productions to a variety of indoor sports events, including boxing, wrestling, tennis, hockey, netball and gymnastics to ice shows, motocross and equestrian events.

The Arena is uniquely functional, with the Arena floor, loading bays and entrances all on one level, allowing for simple, cost-effective set-up and logistics.

The space can accommodate heights of up to twelve metres and through a system of operable (or moveable) walls, can also be divided into four smaller halls, or a full oval Arena.

Facilities include:

• Capacity for 10 000 spectators

• Fixed seating for up to 3 000 including the retractable bleachers

• Flat floor seating for up to 6 000.

• Arena floor space of 3 896sq metres, excluding raked seating area.

• Entire ICC, including Arena, but excluding the four side meeting rooms and the main foyers, covers a floor area of 10 450sq metres.

• Total of 32 000 square metres of covered space on one level at The ICC, The Arena and The Durban Exhibition Centre, combined.

• Dedicated Operations Centre.

• State-of-the-art sound & lighting systems can be adapted to accommodate any event requirements.

• Entire ICC is WiFi enabled.

• 60-seater Media Centre with full connectivity.

• Change room facilities for home & away teams.

• Multitude of options for ticket sales, conference registration, merchandising or bar services.

• International standard facilities for the physically challenged.

• Fully integrated safety system.

• Power sources located every six metres along the Arena floor, providing 400 Amps and all using CAT 5 writing enabling the use of almost any conceivable electronic equipment.

• Back-up power sources to ensure uninterrupted power supply.

The ICC Durban Arena, positioned on the south side of the existing ICC which integrates the adjacent Durban Exhibition Centre and Hilton Hotel, has not compromised the Centre's unique ability to turn the entire area into a completely secure 'island site,' which is vital for United Nations events.''

I'm still impressed with this venue and especially the cost at which it was built. I hope the Grand West Superbowl in Cape Town ends up looking good.

Yesterdays Sunday Tribune had this MASSIVE write up on this place, I emailed them asking them for some pic's........ hopefully they will send it to me..... hopefully

^^ yeah i saw it too! sadly the pics were in black and white. they using an ozzie style seating system as the chairs are either covered in red, orange, purple or beige colours. The pics in the paper were mighty impressive

I'm still impressed with this venue and especially the cost at which it was built. I hope the Grand West Superbowl in Cape Town ends up looking good.

The R460m is not a true reflection of the cost, as the basement levels had been completed prior to construction as it was to be the site of Sun Internationals temporary casino in durban. this cost was therefore covered by them and not the city.

So if they had to do that work too i'm sure the cost would have been more like R550m or so

Yeah this is the DEC one. at 15000m2 on on 3050m2 land how tall roughly u think it will be?

floor palte around 1100m2 so around 12 f with the rest in the Podium and Basement for BOH areas.

Development conditions are not great with only a 30year lease consession, typically you are looking for a 59year consession to develop on the land (as you dont own it , its leasehold) so you at least have an exit timeframe ie develop and hit stabalised ocupancy is around 6-7 years, 6 year payback , so exit at year 12-14 gives you a longer leasehold period ie property is worth more
Any News on the 2 hotels?

So its opening today! or is it tomorrow :?

^^ today is the gala opening show. being filmed for sabc, top billing and mtv base.

Parents have a double ticket and i tried to get my dad to take me instead but you know how excited a woman gets when she can put on a overpriced dress and walk on a red carpet...so my mom was not having any of it from me!

OMG... drove past last nite and BOY does it look spectacular. pity i didnt have my camera!!

One problem they will have is parking!!

Events on tonight:

ICC Arena - George Benson/Al Jeurau - 10 000 people
ICC - Decorex (Interior design expo)
DEC - Durban Motor Show

Parking will be a premium. Guess you will have to use the ICC, Centrum, Workshop, Liberty Towers and the streets.

DB your development and parkade needs to come asap

I drove past it on Wed night and it looked AMAZING!!!! Definitely the best address in the city at present. Wish I had my camera!!!

:( Damn, I knew I should have taken a drive, was too blody lazy so I watched the cricket!

inside view of the seating - this is in 7000 capacity configuration. It can hold up to 10 000 for concerts, with the whole flooring being standing

http://i26.photobucket.com/albums/c128/dysan1/iccarenainside.jpg

inside view of the seating - this is in 7000 capacity configuration. It can hold up to 10 000 for concerts, with the whole flooring being standing

http://i26.photobucket.com/albums/c128/dysan1/iccarenainside.jpg

great image. doubt our grand arena will have a fancy glass facade like this arena. i really hope they make it look amazing inside for the prelim draw. i know the final/main draw is the big one but lets make a great first impression.

Nice arena! Hopefully the Grand Arena will live up to its name! They're being mighty secret about everything.

Enrique next weekend! Anybody going?

Its so wierd, It Mary J Blige on 19th, Enrique on 20th and some gospel singer on the 22nd. I'm impressed they can turn the venue around in such a short space of time

Other artists/events this year include:

Michael Buble
Holiday on Ice
Watershed/3 other bands for an SA mucic event

Josh groban - greyville racecourse
Celine dion and elton john at Kings Park

Good to see alot more artists coming to SA

great image. doubt our grand arena will have a fancy glass facade like this arena. i really hope they make it look amazing inside for the prelim draw. i know the final/main draw is the big one but lets make a great first impression.

I know they are going all out. Spending millions on landscaping all over the city for the event (but will leave a permanent mark on the city). Hosting 2 big beach parties, the chief/pirates, bafana/canada, amazulu/arrows and thanda/ajax games that weekend too. Plus countless other events around the city. its gonna be huge

Its so wierd, It Mary J Blige on 19th, Enrique on 20th and some gospel singer on the 22nd. I'm impressed they can turn the venue around in such a short space of time

Other artists/events this year include:

Michael Buble
Holiday on Ice
Watershed/3 other bands for an SA mucic event

Josh groban - greyville racecourse
Celine dion and elton john at Kings Park

Good to see alot more artists coming to SA

cape town has a second concert for enrique at the grand arena, buble is at kirstenbosch which is perfect, celine is at some farm and elton at newlands cricket stadium..but jeez..for south africa this line up is insane..

Image:http://www.durban.gov.za/durban/services/departments/architecture/sections/strategic-architectural-projects/resolveUid/b4ab9dfddd8a9b92c34e3498476b7bb5
WATCH THIS!
Construction video: http://www.durban.gov.za/durban/services/departments/architecture/sections/strategic-architectural-projects/resolveUid/41795f55f105d9b76fed1354f9097272

Presentation: http://www.durban.gov.za/durban/services/departments/architecture/presentations/01_ICCDA_Board_21Sep05.pdf

Cool! Thanks, Mo.

I haven't seen renders like this showing the massive awning at the Arena end (which hasn't been done yet). I wonder if this is still going to be done or if it's been dropped since. Looks very nice. It was also nice to see some renders of the proposed Africa square. Like the fountain feature. If they act on the ICC campus concept it will be unique for an ICC in SA and fantastic.

Cool! Thanks, Mo.

I haven't seen renders like this showing the massive awning at the Arena end (which hasn't been done yet). I wonder if this is still going to be done or if it's been dropped since. Looks very nice. It was also nice to see some renders of the proposed Africa square. Like the fountain feature. If they act on the ICC campus concept it will be unique for an ICC in SA and fantastic.

I think thats the second phase.. Just make sure u watch the video.

Interesting! Thanks Mo.
I couldn't get that video link to work but this one does http://www.durban.gov.za/durban/services/departments/architecture/sections/strategic-architectural-projects/Icc%20Durban1.mpg/view

Thanx Greg, my link was also not working, but that video is awesome!

Here's an article describing how awesome the ICC is looking for the draw. Unfortunately, no pics have been taken. However, for our viewing pleasure, below the article, some recent pics of the ICC Arena taken during the recent Freshly Ground concert. If the Arena looked this amazing then, I can only just imagine how stunning it must be looking now, along with the rest of the ICC.

Having been to the ICCs in Sandtown and CT, in my opinion, the Durban is still the most attractive ICC in the country. Will look even better when the courtyard and Africa Square is complete.

-------------

Media centre for 2010 draw unveiled
Barbara Cole
November 21 2007 at 02:52PM

The world class standards - and expectations - of the Fifa Soccer World Cup machinery were unveiled for the first time in Durban on Wednesday morning when journalists flocked into the media centre.

And local reporters experienced at covering major international conferences at the Inkosi Albert Luthuli International Centre and thought they had seen it all, were suitably bowled over, just as insiders had predicted.

If they did not know it before, they would have realised that everything about the Fifa event is big - and, of course, world-class.

What they found when they filed into the centre was what the international media who cover such global sporting events have come to expect.

And the big boys heading this way include the likes of Sky TV, The Times of London, the Daily Telegraph and Daily Mail of London.

SABC/SATV will field a massive team of 120.

The media centre - it was out of bounds on Tuesday and could not be photographed - boasts hundreds of tables and chairs; another 150 chairs in a separate press conference area and facilities for 80 photographers. There are four giant screens, and six plasma screens, as well as 64 audio inputs for feeds.

Meanwhile, accreditation for the big event continued on Tuesday and some 3 000 people, such as support and ICC staff, had already been processed by early on Tuesday when the next batch of people arrived for their all-important passes allowing access to restricted zones.

Accreditation was brisk and a breeze compared to the lengthy performance at some high-powered conferences.

Over at Durban International Airport, delegates (media and representatives of global football federations) who were welcomed aboard their SAA flights, were also warmly welcomed to Durban as they entered the arrivals hall.

Two shifts of eight "welcome and information volunteers" are on duty until 10pm to help the visitors feel at home and assist them with their luggage. A separate VIP hospitality suite has been set up for the international dignitaries.


This article was originally published on page 2 of Daily News on November 21, 2007

http://www.iol.co.za/index.php?set_id=1&click_id=124&art_id=vn20071121143645668C496319

--------------------

Now for the interior of the ICC Arena (where the main draw will be held).

For those of you who have not seen it, it's stunning and sure to blow away foreigners who are probably expecting a drab and/or clinical, conventional (no pun intended! )convention centre...


http://i216.photobucket.com/albums/cc160/ja65sin/Diwal126.jpg


http://i216.photobucket.com/albums/cc160/ja65sin/Diwal125.jpg


http://i216.photobucket.com/albums/cc160/ja65sin/Diwal134.jpg


http://i216.photobucket.com/albums/cc160/ja65sin/Diwal128.jpg


http://i216.photobucket.com/albums/cc160/ja65sin/Diwal131.jpg


http://i216.photobucket.com/albums/cc160/ja65sin/Diwal136.jpg


Outside, at the historic preserved walls of the old prison (the site of which the ICC now occupies)

http://i216.photobucket.com/albums/cc160/ja65sin/Diwal137.jpg


http://i216.photobucket.com/albums/cc160/ja65sin/Diwal135.jpg

Inside the Arena itself (showing less than half its size in use during a concert; behind the stage is the other half)

http://i216.photobucket.com/albums/cc160/ja65sin/Diwal136a.jpg

This is nice, has it always been like this?

http://i216.photobucket.com/albums/cc160/ja65sin/Diwal135.jpg

^^Yep, its been painted like that for a while now,
those tiles look amazing, with the glossy glaze.

Great