The GR – Ljubljana Exhibition and Convention Centre was founded on March 20, 1954. It was created on the initiative of the Slovenian economy and the Chamber of Commerce as a professional establishment for organizing fairs and exhibitions.
365 days of happening
In 70 years, the GR has developed into a modern event centre in the heart of the capital. On a total of 21,162 square metres of exhibition space (12,318 m2 indoor and 8,844 m2 outdoor), in addition to the fair, the convention activities have increasingly been developed. The 23 multipurpose halls, which are adjustable, most of them on the ground floor and with daylight, can accommodate from a few dozen to 2,200 participants. Every year, 250 different events take place at GR, dedicated to different generations, attended by over half a million people. The company has been run by Mr. Iztok Bricl, M.Sc.econ. since November 2010.
The oldest post-war and the largest event centre in Slovenia
Already in June 1955, the International Exhibition of Wood Processing and Use was organized at the new venue next to the then Titova Street, today named Dunajska Street. In the same year, the 1st Yugoslav Wine Exhibition in Ljubljana was held, and it is considered to be the antecedent of the world's oldest wine evaluation contest, The Vino Ljubljana.
The milestone in conference activity is certainly The VII Congress of the Communist Party of Yugoslavia in April 1958. It was followed by international congresses and symposia in the fields of science, technology, medicine, electronics, culture and others. Until the construction of the Tivoli Hall (1963-65), many world sports championships took place here. In 1956, the National TV had its first studio at the GR, where also the famous Frane Milčinski Ježek performed. In 1959, the legendary jazz king Louis Armstrong held his concert here. In 1964, the Slovenska Popevka Contest was organized here, when Marjana Deržaj won the first audience award for the unforgettable Summer Night song (Poletna Noč). Here, there were popular New Year's Eve celebrations, wine fairs and the world's oldest wine evaluation, as well as numerous fairs from fashion, electronics, exhibitions of flowers, greenery and mushrooms, to The Slovenian Car Show and, of course, trade fairs recorded on the GR's calendar of events in recent years.
Modern functionalist architecture
The conception of the GR took into account modern architecture, that is characterized by the gradual construction of individual pavilions, each of which is supposed to be a technological and architectural achievement on its own. All the halls, except the Kocka Hall, bear the stamp of modern functionalist architecture and are also protected as the architectural heritage. The venue was designed by prominent names in the post-war urban image of Ljubljana: Ilija Arnautović, Branko Simčič, Marko Šlajmer and Milan Mihelič. The Urška and Povodni Mož fountain with the first rotating statue in Slovenia was placed on the outdoor platform of the GR in 1957 and is the work of the eminent sculptor Stojan Batič.
Sustainable steps
- Solar power plants are a milestone for the GR – Ljubljana Exhibition and Convention Centre and its sustainable transformation
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Sustainable transformation is key to driving the development of the meetings industry. Venues play a key role and are pioneers in the adoption of sustainable initiatives. Sustainable development and concern for the environment are important principles of the GR – Ljubljana Exhibition and Convention Centre.
The entire roof of the Kocka (Cube) Hall, the largest hall of the GR – Ljubljana Exhibition and Convention Centre, is covered with solar panels. An additional solar power plant with a capacity of 100 MWh of electricity will be connected to the grid in the coming days. Together, they will generate an average of 462 MWh of electricity per year.
With the new acquisitions, the GR – Ljubljana Exhibition and Convention Centre will reduce annual CO2 emissions by 460 tonnes, burn 38 tonnes less coal and help save 25,150 trees.
The installation of photovoltaic modules on the roof surfaces respected and preserved the basic architectural features and the appearance of the buildings themselves.
- In thoughts and actions with nature
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A number of other sustainability measures have also been implemented at the GR – Ljubljana Exhibition and Convention Centre to achieve the Sustainable Development Goals, including waste management (16 different types of waste are separated), energy saving measures and the elimination of plastics at almost all events. Visitors are also being directed towards a sustainable approach and, together with the Ljubljana Passenger Transport, encouraged to use public transport to attend events.
At the GR – Ljubljana Exhibition and Convention Centre, the extent of green spaces is maintained and new areas are planted. To celebrate its jubilee, the GR will be dressed in green to make it even more attractive to visitors and to the city it is home to. More than 70 seedlings will be planted. The entire GR team has been involved in the planting, with the help of Dobrovita - a company for training and employment of people with disabilities. With this effort, the GR wants to contribute to the greening of the whole of Ljubljana.