Picture this. A sprawling complex of halls and auditoriums. This is the Istanbul Lutfi Kirdar ICEC. We stand before a monument to both sport and international diplomacy.
The Istanbul Lutfi Kirdar International Convention and Exhibition Center or ICEC as it’s often called. It wasn’t always a hub for global meetings. This grand building began life in 1948. Its foundation laid after Turkey’s triumphant wrestlers excelled at the 1947 European Wrestling Championships. The city needed a suitable venue. The 1949 European Wrestling Championships were coming to Istanbul. The Istanbul Sports and Exhibition Hall was born. Its design a collaboration between Italian architect Paolo Vietti-Violi and Turkish architects Sinasi Sahingray and Fazil Aysu. These same architects had previously worked on the Dolmabahce Stadium.
Governor and mayor Lutfi Kirdar oversaw the groundbreaking ceremony on January 30 1948. Interestingly Kirdar refused the suggestion to name the hall after himself. He deemed it inappropriate. The hall opened on June 3 1949. It hosted the European Wrestling Championships. The Istanbul International Trade and Industry Fair followed on October 2 1949.
For years the ICEC was Turkey’s sole indoor sports and exhibition hall. It hosted diverse events. Basketball handball volleyball boxing weightlifting wrestling ice skating ice hockey and even circus shows filled its grand hall. This hall could seat 7000 people. It also hosted countless fairs concerts meetings and exhibitions using its various other halls.
Time marched on. In 1988 the hall received its current name. The 27th anniversary of Lutfi Kirdar’s death. By 1996 it was transformed into a convention center for Habitat II the Second United Nations Conference on Human Settlements.
To cope with growing demand a new building called the Rumeli Fair and Exhibition Center was added in 2000. Further expansion came in 2009. This was for the IMF and World Bank Group Annual Meeting. A massive nine-level underground structure of 120000 square meters was added.
Today the Istanbul Lutfi Kirdar ICEC stands proudly. It boasts impressive facilities. The main building houses the Anadolu Auditorium (2000 seats). Marmara Hall two Topkapi halls three Dolmabahce halls Galata Hall Halic Hall and numerous meeting rooms. The Rumeli Center provides another 7000 square meters of space. It includes a large ballroom a 3500 guest capacity activity area and more meeting rooms. A restaurant the Bosphorus Borsa Restaurant offers dining with stunning views. The ICEC is linked to the Istanbul Congress Center and the Harbiye Muhsin Ertugrul Stage via a pedestrian passage. There is a 1000-car parking garage as well.
The Istanbul Lutfi Kirdar ICEC is more than just a building. It’s a reflection of Istanbul’s vibrant history its growth its global connections. A remarkable venue. Truly a jewel of Istanbul.