Austria Center Vienna Renovates Top Floor

Networking opportunities are playing an increasingly important role at congresses and other large-scale events. In response, the Austria Center Vienna is refurbishing the third floor of the main building, making it one of the first congress centres in Europe to create an exclusive networking area for face-to-face meetings away from the hustle and bustle of the main event. The project is scheduled for completion in February 2018.

Competition on the constantly growing market for international congresses is particularly fierce in Europe. With this in mind, it is all the more gratifying that Vienna secured an impressive second place in the global ICCA rankings. In 2016 alone, the Austria Center Vienna hosted more than 90,000 international visitors. To build on this positive performance, the nation's largest conference centre is investing in the refurbishment of its top floor with a view to addressing the growing demand for custom event formats. "In addition to knowledge acquisition for participants, suitable spaces for face-to-face networking are playing an ever more important role. From spring 2018, we will offer event organisers a completely new and exclusive area," explained Susanne Baumann-Sollner, Managing Director of the Austria Center Vienna

Exclusive level – versatile spaces

As well as offering two new conference rooms for 170 and 140 people, and 35 modern offices, the refurbishment work will focus on Level 3's new centrepiece: it consists of around 600m² of light-filled and individually usable outdoor spaces with views of the neighbouring Donaupark and United Nations headquarters. This project makes the Austria Center Vienna one of the first congress centres in Europe to create a separate networking level that ensures absolute exclusivity for customers. The space can be used as an office level for scientific committees, leading professors and keynote speakers, as well as by sponsors for their presentations, and as a location for stand-alone events. The adjoining terrace is ideal for outdoor meetings and al fresco networking lunches. From an architectural perspective, it will continue the new line established in the congress centre and its multifunctional spaces and connected lounge areas. Both of the new conference rooms support flexible seating layouts, feature mobile partition walls and are equipped with high-spec projection, sound and lighting systems. The renovation project will cost 2.2m. euros, and the plans were created by Vienna architecture studio ABdomen.

"From our perspective, a congress is only a success if it captures people's imagination, helps them take away a lot of newly-acquired insights and provides plenty of networking opportunities," noted Managing Director Susanne Baumann-Sollner. The new spaces will be unveiled in March 2018