The Centre

Learn about the Exhibition Centre of Santander

The Santander Exhibition and Conference Palace, inaugurated on July 27, 2002, is an avant-garde and emblematic venue designed by architect Gabriel Gallegos Borges with the support of Juan Carlos Sanz Blanco.

Its architecture embodies a "metaphor of the orography and climatology of Cantabria", conceiving the building as a stepped mountain that channels rainwater toward the pond in the access square. This innovative design received the VII Architecture Award.

Facilities and Versatility

With nearly 10,000 m² of space, the Palace offers a complete, versatile and functional range of areas, ideal for hosting a wide variety of events, from trade fairs, congresses and conventions to business meetings, exhibitions and conferences.

The venue is a member of the Spanish Trade Fair Association (AFE) and the Association of Conference Venues of Spain, and holds the Q for Quality awarded by the Spanish Institute for Tourism Quality, highlighting the quality of its support services and technological resources. In addition, it is an accessible space with facilities adapted for people with disabilities.

Building Description

Exterior: The building features face brick cladding and copper sheeting over phenolic panels, with a reinforced concrete retaining wall. For visitors' convenience, it includes a large car park with reserved spaces for people with reduced mobility.

Interior: The interiors feature oak wood parquet flooring and are connected by four access ramps to the main halls, ensuring smooth circulation.

Main Areas:

• Entrance Hall: Includes an information area and a Cafeteria with adapted facilities.

• Auditorium: Equipped with 257 seats and 12 chairs in the box. It features full technical equipment: a 6 m wide x 4.50 m high projection screen, motorized lectern, PA system, PTZ camera, hearing loop system, press sockets, 8,500-lumen projector, players, and support from a specialized technician.

• El Sardinero Hall (Upper Level): With 2,660 m² of usable space, it stands out for its spaciousness thanks to the special structure of its roof. Its layout allows the creation of different environments, with the option of aesthetic separation using curtains. Natural lighting is overhead, filtered through skylights in the stepped façade.

• Bahía Hall (Lower Level): With 2,450 m² of usable space, this hall is subdividable using acoustic mobile partitions, allowing up to 10 individual halls of 100 m² each. It receives natural light through a landscaped courtyard.

Both exhibition halls are equipped with general PA system and voice and data network.

Other Areas and Services

• Catering Kitchen: Fully equipped with ovens, hot cupboards, cold-plate carts, walk-in refrigerator and dishwashing line.

• Press Room: Capacity for 28 people.

• Meeting Room: Capacity for 10 people.

• Storage Areas and Administration Area.

• Terraces: Equipped with furniture.

The entire building is monitored by a CCTV video surveillance system and features furniture that integrates with its modern design.