Istanbul Congress Center

Istanbul Congress Center (ICC) stands in Harbiye, in the Şişli district, a short walk from Taksim Square and the hotel belt that surrounds it, on the European side of Istanbul. It opened on 17 October 2009, is owned by the Istanbul Metropolitan Municipality and has been managed by Rixos since 2010, and it is the city's purpose-built congress venue rather than a converted fairground, which is its significance: it was designed for plenary sessions, simultaneous breakout programmes and associated exhibitions under one roof, and its operator describes it as the only congress centre in Turkey able to run different events on every floor at the same time. The building holds a seven-floor stack of space within 119,500 sq m. The Harbiye Auditorium is the centrepiece, with 3,028 sq m of floor area, seating from 2,192 to 3,555 people, a 620 sq m stage adjustable between 0 and 106 cm, 24 simultaneous interpretation booths and 12 entrances across two levels. B1 and B2 carry multi-purpose halls that divide behind soundproof acoustic separators, B3 holds workshop rooms of 17 to 168 sq m, and the exhibition floors B4 and B5 provide 4,288 sq m and 10,288 sq m respectively for fairs, launches and dinners. A 9,609 sq m terrace overlooks the Bosphorus, and 850 parking spaces sit on B6 and B7. Architecturally the complex is a modern glass-and-stone civic block wedged into the dense Harbiye slope, with a 1,098 sq m entrance foyer at street level. Transport is excellent: Taksim metro station and the F1 funicular are within walking distance, the harbour ferries at Kabataş are a short ride away, and the airport is reached via the coastal road.