"Technologies of the future": a model of the new National Centre RUSSIA building showcased in Harbin
At the 10th Russian-Chinese EXPO in Harbin, the National Centre RUSSIA presented a model of its new building, which is scheduled to open in November 2029. Construction of the high-tech venue on Krasnopresnenskaya Embankment in Moscow was launched on 26 March 2026 by President of the Russian Federation Vladimir Putin.
"At international expositions, we present what the new building of the National Centre RUSSIA will look like. Today, it is one of the most technically challenging construction projects. Advanced technologies are being used in its development, and every detail has been designed with visitors' comfort in mind. Imagine arriving at the venue, where the system is already understanding your interests and suggesting the best route to expositions, events or cosy relaxation areas. Our new home will open in November 2029 and will become a symbol of modern Russia," said Natalia Virtuozova.
The construction project is being implemented together with the Moscow Urban Planning Complex. The National Centre RUSSIA will cover more than 200,000 square metres. The total area of the complex will exceed 14 hectares and will be able to accommodate around 20,000 visitors at the same time. State-of-the-art digital systems will be introduced throughout the venue to help coordinate operations and manage internal processes.
One of the key solutions will be a digital twin of the building. Using heat maps, it will help regulate queues, distribute visitor flows and monitor engineering infrastructure. A number of services are also expected to be automated, including robot-assisted delivery of goods and digital solutions for retail and catering.
The Department Store will feature a scanner for quickly selecting products with subsequent warehouse delivery, while the gastronomic zone will become a journey through the regions of Russia via cuisine, local products and immersive multimedia formats. Work is also underway on an integrated roof lighting system capable of creating a variety of visual effects.
The project is being carried out in complex engineering and geological conditions: the depth of the excavation pit in the lower section will reach 15 metres, with pressurised groundwater and six active tunnels from three metro lines located beneath the site.
The design process uses information modelling technologies. In effect, the building is being constructed not only on the physical site, but also in a digital environment, ensuring high precision in design solutions, shorter implementation times and quality control at every stage.
One of the central spaces in the new National Centre RUSSIA will be a congress and concert hall with seating for 3,500 people, which can be transformed within 15 minutes. Portable partition walls will allow the hall to be divided into several separate venues.
At the Russian-Chinese EXPO in Harbin, the National Centre also presented its flagship Department Store RUSSIA project. It features the best products and traditional crafts from across the regions of the country, including lacework, porcelain tableware, crystal and amber items, accessories, shawls, bags, delicacies and much more. Specially for the exposition in China, the National Centre RUSSIA, together with the Kotovskiye Nevalyashki factory from the Tambov Region, created a unique collection of roly-poly toys. It includes models in traditional Chinese red-and-gold colours, a girl in a panda costume, a panda figure itself, as well as the classic red-coloured roly-poly toy.
The National Centre RUSSIA stand is designed in the style of a "merchant's house" and complemented by samples of tiles, mosaics, lace and woodwork. These are the materials that will be used in the future interiors of the new Moscow venue.
A working meeting was held between the Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of Russia to the People's Republic of China, Igor Morgulov, and Director General of the National Centre RUSSIA, Natalia Virtuozova.
The guest travelled to Harbin from Beijing and admitted that the National Centre RUSSIA stand became a real discovery for him.
The educational video project "8 Steps Across the Map of Russia" has taken its second step: a new episode titled "The Exploration of Siberia" has been posted on the website of the National Centre RUSSIA.
