Kigali Convention Center, the heartland of Africa

The security systems are combined under one single umbrella by means of Bosch BIS and building management software. The management of closed circuit television system equipped with IP cameras by Bosch, and of card pass system runs on Duetron software developed by Ateksis.

Kigali Convention Center was built in an effort to host high-level international events in the capital town of Kigali, Rwanda. It was constructed by Summa, one the leading Turkish construction companies with a background of many and major international projects. EMP works of the project are assumed by D&T that boasts an extensive portfolio of many international projects.

The facility comprises three promises: hotel, convention center and an outbuilding. The 5-star hotel with 292 rooms and the convention center are run by the group Radission Blu. The meeting halls, ball rooms, divisible exhibition halls and 2600-seated arena are designed in a fashion to host international events, concerts, festivals, exhibitions and a variety of occasions as a part of the convention center.

The fire detection system boasts Bosch FPA-5000 detection panel that stands out in safety, convenience and flexibility, and other compatible detection elements on site. FAP series detectors deployed across the facility and FNM series siren-equipped floor plugs in hotel rooms provide guests with safety for their life and timely communication of alerts. The ceiling of the lobby and the dome of the arena are equipped with beam-type smoke detectors of Fireray 50 RV series. 3 FPA-5000 panels and a total of 50 loops and nearly 5000 close detection spots are run by Bosch BIS building management software across the entire facility. The systems status and alert details are displayed in real time on a computer interface through layouts. Any management system procedure is monitored by a graphic interface, offering a capability to run affiliated systems and issue reports. 3 panels are operated in tandem with a back-up network via CANBUS. A fire scenario acknowledged by Carlson Rezidor Hotel Group on a global scale offers safety for any case of fire. To this end, the status of any current switch, butterfly valves, and failures, alerts and gas flow of gaseous extinguishing systems, positions of dampers and fire pumps, and status of MCC panels are communicated to a graphic interface by means of fire detection system's monitoring units. The activation of audio and luminous warning systems, emergency announcement system, elevators, card-pass gates, fire and smoke dampers, stairs pressurization fans, car park JetFans, and other MCC mechanical air conditioning devices is controlled on a regional and general basis.

The emergency announcement system is of Praesideo, the flagship of Bosch speaker systems. Designed in line with fire detection, the system comprises 3 sub-centers. It also features speakers that fit for the architectural style and meet international standards with nearly 30 multi-channel amplifiers and 60 audio spots. 3 sub-centers are linked to the building control center that hosts call stations to be activated in case of emergency. The system is safeguarded by active back-up amplifiers and 48V battery feeders activated in case of any failure and power cut.

The project features 430 IP cameras running on HD technology. The recording medium is equipped with ISCSI storage units with a capacity of 16 hard disks powered by Raid 5 technology with a capacity of 480 TB. Duetron video management and video wall management software by Ateksis are run for management and monitoring purposes. The outdoor parking lots boast NUC series panoramic cameras, with VG5-7220 series motion cameras in high spots of the premises, and NTI-50022 series cameras in technical spaces and outbuildings, NIN-51022 series cameras in indoor spaces, and VOT-320 series thermal cameras on fences and walls of the premises. IVA smart video analysis technology optimizes the security for monitoring purposes.

Equipped with 2600 seats, the arena features DICENTIS, a new product by Bosch that has caused a stir in the market as it has been leading the conference industry for 65 years now. Built on OMNEO network, the system offers audio and video transmission, file sharing and presentation capabilities via a standard IP platform.

Any delegate is able to view any document (word/excel/powerpoint/pdf files, images, audio, video) shared by an operator through 7" touch screens of Android-based multimedia units, and surf the net on a browser, monitor any live presentation made by means of a computer in the same network or run any Android-based application uploaded beforehand.

Such new qualities enable the DICENTIS system to respond to all requirements of an international convention via one single device, and pave the way for the removal of e-conferencing tablet PCs, voting instruments and delegate computers from convention tables. 

Fed by their own dedicated system cable through DICENTIS central units by Bosch, delegate units are connected by a standard network cable by the addition of a PoE switch to the system, offering a smooth expansion for the system. As the system software is based on a license per delegate, new delegates and features can be easily added to the system.

The simultaneous interpretation system is equipped with DCN system that is compatible with ISO 2603 and considered an industrial standard among interpreters for years now. 2-person interpretation booths feature two DCN-IDESK digital interpretation units and one BON HD-SDI monitor. This communicates any image of the automatic camera system activated along with conference units in meetings held at the arena to interpreters. DICENTIS and DCN were integrated by  PRS-4OMI4 OMNEO Interface. The infrared language distribution is run by Bosch INTEGRUS system out of the same product line.

Nine convention halls, a ball room with capability to be divided into three sections, a multi-purpose exhibition hall with capability to be divided into four sections, and 2600-seated arena are now equipped with speakers and amplifiers by BOSE. The backbone of the system relies on DANTE protocol based on a standard IP network. The whole mixing, signal processing and routing are run by Radius, a 64x64 channel Dante digital audio processor by Symetrix. Some custom-made scenarios and interfaces were drawn up to respond to customer needs in cooperation with Radisson's AV team throughout the whole project.

4 Led walls were built for the 2600-seated circular arena. 3mm pixel-pitch and front service-equipped screens are now capable of communicating images independently of each other by means of Extron Video Matrix. The ball room separable into three parts and exhibition halls separable into four parts are equipped with PHWU series projectors by Barco, an industrial powerhouse, and curtains with proper sizes by US-based Draper. Audio and video transmission between locations are offered by the applicable network by means of H.264 encoders and decoders.

Covered by 6 Conference Dome cameras by Bosch situated at every 60 degrees, the circular arena features DICENTIS camera control module that automatically communicates the image of any delegate onto conference unit screens and Led walls.

Designed in consideration of multi-purpose hall dynamics, junction boxes offer audio and video transmission or network connection by means of analog audio inputs, custom-made DICENTIS plugs and CAT6 cables.

AV and lighting control is programmed by means of Extron's automation system in line with customer needs as a result of exchange of views with the company. Users are now classified by multi-stage password protection and authorizations are granted for a great deal of procedures ranging from simple scenario shortcut keys to replacement of thorough system parameters.

The facility, a landmark for the country and one of the top convention centers in Africa, is built on a land of 80.000 m² in an authentic architectural style. The center hosted its very first major event on the occasion of the 27th African Union Summit organized on July 10 to 18, 2016.