The International Congress Center lies in Berlin's Charlottenburg district between the Messedamm, a wide urban expressway, and the S-Bahn. It can be reached direct by way of the Avus motorway, and there is parking under cover for 650 cars. A three-level bridge over the Messedamm links the Congress Center with the Exhibition and Trade Fair Center at the foot of the Radio Tower.
The Congress Center, constructed between 1970-79, is Berlin's largest post-war project. It is 320 m/1,050ft long, 80 m/260ft across and 40 m/130ft high. It has a cubic content of 800,000 cu.m/1,000,000 cu.yd, and the total weight of steel in the roof is 8,500 tons. A "house-in-house" construction, developed specially for this center, permits several functions to be held simultaneously under the one roof. Layers of neoprene - a kind of architectural shock- absorber - exclude outside noise and absorb vibrations from the road.
ICC Berlin has over 80 halls and conference rooms, with seating capacities ranging from 20 to 5,000, with a sophisticated information and direction system. The largest hall (Hall 1) can seat up to 5,000 and has the second-largest stage in Europe with the most modern technical refinements. In the entrance foyer there is an information desk, a post office, a bank, a souvenir shop, a cafe and the Nipkow self-service restaurant, as well as a first-aid post and police station.
Berliners have now accepted this technical "monster." During its first eleven years, over 4,500 conferences have been held here, attracting some two million delegates and visitors.
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