Congress Hall (Paramaribo)

The Congress Hall (Dutch: Congreshal) is a convention and exhibition centre in Paramaribo, Suriname. It is located on Onafhankelijkheidsplein, and was completed in 1999.[1]

Congress Hall
Congress Hall (Paramaribo) is located in Paramaribo
Congress Hall (Paramaribo)
Location within Paramaribo
General information
Town or cityParamaribo
CountrySuriname Suriname
Coordinates5.82577°N 55.15222°W / 5.82577; -55.15222
Completed1999[1]
Costƒ 2 million.[2]
Design and construction
Architect(s)Arie Verkuijl[3]

Overview

In 1998, the Wijdenbosch government decided to build a convention centre for the 1999 CARICOM meeting.[1] The Congress Hall was to be built on the location of the Palace Hotel.[4] Arie Verkuijl was chosen to design the building.[3] Verkuijl wanted a completely transparent building. Aluminium was not an option,[5] therefore, the building was constructed using steel and acrylite, commonly known as plexiglass.[6] The Congresshall was built in six months, but initially suffered from a leakage problem which required the replacement of the stage and flooring.[1]

The former Palace Hotel

The Congress Hall is considered a controversial building. There are people who consider the building out of place among the historic wooden buildings in Paramaribo,[1][3][6] and a poor replacement of the Palace Hotel,[4] while others praise the vision of the architect.[5] The statues of Jagernath Lachmon and Jopie Pengel are located on the square across the building.[7]

References
  1. "Splinternieuwe congreshal al in verval". Cobouw (in Dutch). Retrieved 28 March 2021.
  2. "Hoopvol naar een nieuw begin". Reformatorisch Dagblad via Digibron (in Dutch). 3 June 2000. Retrieved 26 March 2021.
  3. "Altijd langs andere wegen". Werkgroep Caraibische Letteren (in Dutch). Retrieved 28 March 2021.
  4. "Palace Hotel [X], Onafhankelijkheidsplein 6". City of Paramaribo (in Dutch). Retrieved 28 March 2021.
  5. "Shiny dingen vind je niet bij Verkuijl". Surgoed (in Dutch). Retrieved 28 March 2021.
  6. "Architectuur in Suriname" (PDF). Sabaku (in Dutch). 2011. p. 14. Retrieved 28 March 2021.
  7. "Vuurdans, hoogtepunt van 'Earth Hour'". Star Nieuws (in Dutch). Retrieved 28 March 2021.
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