WME was appointed as structural engineers for the new Meydan headquarters.
This new state of the art retail & office headquarters is surrounded on all sides by residential blocks, between road and park. The intention was to create a pure elegant ‘pavilion in the park’ that is both autonomous and contextual. Strong visual and physical connections to the park are established at ground level with an internal ‘street’ linking the supermarket, shops and restaurant to the park. Daylight from large central skylights and extensive gardens creates a bright, natural internal environment that has a close relationship to the exterior.
The architecture and materiality is a direct response to context and local environment, with the solid base of textured precast concrete, with deep vertical glass fiber reinforced concrete fins to screen and protect the glazed facades from direct sunlight, reducing heat build up but allowing uninterrupted views. Vertical insulated panels act as additional shading for the offices and allow access to the interior courtyards. The facades provides a dual visual aspect, and natural light to filter through the high quality office spaces. The MEP is carefully concealed in its own space at upper level, screened from view, with the entire roof surface covered by photovoltaic panels to generate electricity and offset the running costs of the building.
Imagery: ArchDaily
