In 2013, the CIDB Headquarters with its end user, ABM and CIDB Sarawak initiated the design of a master plan for the CIDB Sarawak Complex, with the CIDB Convention Centre Sarawak (CCCS) as one of the main building components. The eventual brief was toned down to become a building that is subtle enough to blend with its landscape and yet serve all of its practical functions as a convention centre.

The CCCS has a main hall which caters for 900 people, with a stage, conference rooms, a business area with VIP holding room, a cafe and amenities such toilets, prayer rooms and kitchens.

The main design idea draws its inspirations from local buildings such as the Rumah Orang Ulu; in the exposed round piers of the building, the Baruk; in the circular roof and building form, the Malay House; in the open yet shaded verandahs that surround the building. All these features not only respond well to the environment but are conducive to user experience as well - evoking a sense of community in its generous and well ventilated spaces. Further enhancements include allowing the air cooled by pond to permeate the building through openings in the floor slab, and the external building ‘skin’ of louvres which allows natural cross ventilation and natural daylight into the building.

The building makes use of the IBS (Integrated Building System) when it was not a familiar construction method in Sarawak. Despite that, the project team was able to complete the implementation within budget with an IBS score of above 70%. This was achieved by constant coordination between the client, consultant and builder throughout the project such as the construction of the elliptical roof which required careful re-plotting on-site to achieve the desired form and roof gradients, and using the driven piles used as the piers for the building as an efficient engineering solution with cost benefits.

Another challenge faced during construction was piling and foundation works on the existing pond. Water had to be drained out and its resident crocodile relocated, before piling and foundation could be completed. The pond was eventually refilled; its discharge outlets grated to prevent future resident crocodiles from returning to roost.

The CCCS is one of the cost efficient convention centres in Malaysia, not only for its implementation cost but its operation cost as well. Due to its passive design features, there is an estimated saving of 30% in the usage of electrical and air conditioning as compared to a typical convention centre - the building’s ability to harness natural daylight and air ventilation no doubt contributes to this efficiency.

PROJECT GALLERY