Akorda in the Kazakh language means ‘white horde’. It was erected by the best craftsmen of the Republic, neighboring countries and beyond. Official ceremony was held in December 24, 2004. ‘Akorda’ is a building with total area of 36,720 square meters (approx. 9 acres); it was built with the use of Kazakh white marble and granite and the front-edge construction techniques. The height of the Palace along with spire that is crowned with hovering golden eagle is 84 meters (275 ft). Façade facing is made of 20 - 40 centimeter (8 – 15 inches) thick calacata. The building consists of five elevated and two basement floors; the ground floor is 10 meters (approx. 35 ft) high, while the rest floors are 5 meters high (approx. 16 ft). The basement floors accommodate maintenance services, kitchen, dining room, garage. The first floor contains central ceremonial hall with total area of 1,800 square meters (approx. 0.5 acres) with granite flooring. All halls of the Palace - ‘Marble’, ‘Gold’, ‘Oval’, ‘Oriental’ and others – have exquisite finishing, chandeliers, and furniture. The floors are covered with different kinds of marble, granite, decorative parquet. In the Palace the President of the State hosts honored foreign guests, ambassadors, representatives of the mass-media, hands over national awards, develops strategy and tactics of domestic and foreign policy of the state.
