The Aldar Headquarters building is a 121m tall, 23-storey commercial building located on the Al Raha Beach development in Abu Dhabi. As lead consultant, we worked closely with Aldar Properties and construction company, Laing O'Rourke, to design the building’s ambitious circular shape – as well as its circular economy features.

Its innovative diagrid design removes the need for internal columns, preserving the appeal of both the exterior and interior views. The steel diagrid used in the design is the first of its kind in the UAE. To help meet the deadline, pre-made columns, stairs, and toilet modules were built off site to accelerate the building’s construction process. Our team also managed to decrease the number of differently sized glass panels by a factor of 1000.  This allowed floor edges to be set out using a simple circular shape, making construction faster, while providing a more flexible space for tenants.

Additionally, we introduced an underground waste collection system, which is the first of its kind in Abu Dhabi. Our design enables waste to be directly transferred to a local waste station for recycling and compacting. 

We were able to achieve the building’s striking circular design within the project’s challenging timescales. Beyond aesthetics, the building prioritises functionality, offering a comfortable for workspace for its users – owing to its energy efficient cooling systems and low-energy lighting controls. With its diagrid structural design, Aldar Headquarters has since become a treasured part of Abu Dhabi's skyline. 

 

The building is recognised with silver rating by the US Green Building Council’s LEED rating system.
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MZ Associates