The Breakwater Conference Centre in the V&A Waterfront is the newest multi-purpose function and event venue for the MICE industry in the Western Cape.

The recently opened centre is the result of a partnership between the University of Cape Town’s Graduate School of Business and Protea Hotels by Marriott.

The conference centre is built on the site of what was formerly Breakwater Prison, which was built to house British convicts working on the breakwater and became the first prison in South Africa to segregate black and white convicts.

The four-level building offers flexible spaces and facilities for between 750 and 900 people, including a 250-seat auditorium. The auditorium has acoustic walls and ceiling, as well as back-of-house and kitchen facilities. Ground and first-floor conference venues can each accommodate 150 delegates or can be converted into smaller venues.

The Breakwater Conference Centre received a Green Star four-star rating by the Green Building Council of South Africa.  Sustainability features include LED lighting, metered taps, grey-water treatment, motion-sensor activated lighting and the supply of quality external air.

Director, Sales and Marketing of Protea Hotels, Danny Bryer, said: “This renewed space offers not only a glimpse into Cape Town’s past, but also a view of the future that can be created through thought leadership and innovation.”