Conference centre closed
published:
Wednesday | April 9, 2008
Jamaica Conference Centre
- Norman Grindley/Deputy Chief Photographer
The Jamaica Conference Centre (JCC) will be closed to the public until Monday, December 1, 2008, to facilitate the refurbishing of Kingston's major meeting complex in time for the 14th session of the International Seabed Authority (ISA).
The closure took effect on Thursday, April 3.
The renovation, to be implemented by the Urban Development Corporation (UDC), will be carried out in two components.
The first will be to ensure the facility's readiness as required by United Nation's standards, to accommodate the hosting of the 14th session of the ISA scheduled for May 12 to June 6.
The second component will be to complete the works started in the first component, thus enhancing the long-term functionality of the facility.
The JCC was built by the UDC, on behalf of the Government of Jamaica, during 1982 and was officially opened on February 15, 1983. Since then, the centre has been catering to conferences for local, regional and international bodies. Chief among these are the annual month-long meetings of the Preparatory Commission of the ISA.
The conference complex is managed by the UDC on behalf of the Ministry of Finance and the Public Service. The complex comprises the conference centre building, the secretariat building and a multi-storey parking garage.
Conference centre facts
Original architectural design was done by Patrick Stanigar.
Cost estimated between $25 million to $30 million and was reported to have been completed in one year.
Declared open by head of state - Queen Elizabeth.
The five-floor building is located at the intersection of Church and Port Royal streets in downtown Kingston.
The original purpose of building stated by then Prime Minister Edward Seaga "is to house the interim headquarters of the Seabed Authority and will manage the resources of the sea for the benefit of mankind".
Its large expanse of some 215,000 square feet facilitates four conference rooms that can simultaneously host two conferences. The location is also equipped with elaborate interpreter booths.
Gleaner archives of Monday September 26, 1983, record then Deputy Prime Minister Hugh Shearer as saying, "This conference centre has been built to full international standards with a wide range of facilities including a multilingual interpretation system which can provide simultaneous interpretation of up to six languages."
By August 1993, some 10 years later, The Gleaner of August 8, 1993 published the caption, 'Conference centre in bad state'. A perceived lack of maintenance had resulted in a badly leaking roof that urgently required attention.
Renovation roster
Electrical and mechanical works;
Waterproofing of the roof;
Repairing of furniture, fixtures and fittings;
Upgrading of the communication, fire-protection, air-conditioning and surveillance systems;
