LCE / Blonski Architects won an international competition to design the new Convention and Exhibition Centre in Arusha, Tanzania. International Conference Centres are more than merely functional buildings, as a symbol of international cooperation they represent an inter-dependency of nations and communities.They also embody the aspirations and status of the host and the unique culture of its location. The Kilimanjaro Convention Centre has the additional quality of being located in one of the most beautiful regions in the world and will offer a unique facility in east Africa. The design reflects these important symbolic characteristics. The project is to be located on a vacant 10 hectare site in a beautiful setting with views to Mount Meru and the distant Kilimanjaro. The form of the design takes its inspiration from the “Tree of Life”, which by its form and the shade it creates acts as a local scale meeting place. The project is to provide a main convention auditorium accommodating 2500 delegates in total. The Hall is required to be flexible, with tiered seating, and be capable of being subdivided into three separate halls providing a range of tiered and flat floor seating arrangements. The Hall is also to be used for promotional events and large-scale performance. Supporting front of house facilities, bars restaurants, retail, meeting and break out rooms will connect with a multi-purpose exhibition hall providing flexible and divisible spaces for exhibition, large scale pop concerts and banquets. Additional retail, a 5 star hotel complex and carpark, complete the proposed accommodation, the total area of which is in the order of 30,000 square metres. Forming part of the master plan is a new railway station on an existing line linking the new Convention Centre to Kilimanjaro Airport, Moshi and Dar es Salaam.