In the fall of 2015, the Sokol multifunctional complex will open in the capital of Belarus, which will include the five-star Marriott Minsk Hotel. During the construction of a building unique for the country, combining European architecture and an oriental scale, GRADAS facade panels were used.
MFC "Sokol" with a total area of 65,000 square meters is located on Pobediteley Avenue and is being implemented with funds from the investment fund of the Qatar Armed Forces, the total cost of construction exceeded $ 160 million. The project was developed by an architectural company
Vorobiev & Partners under the leadership of Arseny Vorobyov.
The concept consists in combining four independent objects - a five-star hotel, a sports center with an arena for 2,800 seats (the core of the entire composition), a tennis club and a four-level parking lot for 307 spaces - under one roof, made in the shape of a flying falcon. All objects are connected by pedestrian crossings and are located under one roof (except for the hotel). Part of the sports center will turn into an inner boulevard starting at the entrance to the complex. And the hotel lobby in the form of an atrium in the entire height of the building should become the hallmark of the complex, from here there is direct access to the embankment and a terrace with tables.
The Falcon has already spread its wings in the north-west of the capital, on the bank of the Svisloch River (as conceived by the authors, the shape of the building repeats the bend of the river in this place), next to other sports and entertainment facilities in Minsk: a football arena, a rowing house and a moon park. The project meets the requirements of the LEED green building standard.
During the construction of the nine-storey building of the Marriott Hotel, which dominates the entire composition, GRADAS facade panels were used, which allowed the contractor to put into practice the idea of high-quality and recognizable architecture for Minsk. The facade of the hotel is faced with perforated aluminum panels with color anodizing, the parking facade - with perforated aluminum panels in three colors.
On the other hand, the decoration of the rooms and public areas of the hotel is focused on wooden elements and light colors, which create an atmosphere of home comfort for guests. There are 220 rooms in the hotel, including 20 suites and two-level presidential apartments, as well as bars, restaurants, a banquet hall, a nightclub, business areas (conference rooms, press centers), shops, a beauty salon, etc.
Due to its special state importance (and Qatar promises to continue investing in Belarus), the construction of the Sokol is under the patronage of the President of Belarus. A symbolic opening of the complex took place recently: on the Independence Day of the country, July 3, 2015, representatives of the leadership of Belarus and Qatar were shown the design of the sports arena and the interiors of the Marriott rooms.
At present, finishing work is underway in Sokol, and the IFC will receive its first guests at the end of October 2015.
