Qatar National Convention Centre

The exhibition and meeting spaces include a 3,800-seat conference hall, a 2,300-seat multipurpose theatre, nine exhibition halls, and a series of 52 multifunction meetings rooms. Built to LEED-gold standards, the facility features energy-efficient LED lighting, and 37,000 square feet of solar panels, which provide 12.5 percent of the center’s energy needs. The striking exterior features a pair of sprawling steel columns that create the illusion of two sidra trees supporting the building’s roof. The trees are symbolically important in the Islamic world and represent beacons of learning and comfort in the desert.