What we delivered

  • The first building in the Southern Hemisphere to achieve a BREEAM good rating. 

  • A design that minimises energy consumption by combining building orientation, shading, renewable energy and the reuse of rainwater through collection and store systems.

Services used
Building envelope and facade engineering / Civil engineering / Structural engineering

Get in touch with our team

Located outside Port Louis, Mauritius Commercial Bank (MCB) aimed to create a visually striking building with sustainability at its core. Characterised by its golden oval design and large windows across the entire façade, the 10-storey 10,000m² building houses open-plan offices and additional spaces such as an auditoria, a canteen and ancillary spaces. The health and comfort of its occupants also played a key role in its design, which prioritises the wellbeing of its occupants without compromising on aesthetics

Arup provided multidisciplinary engineering and project management services to help MCB turn its distinctive building into reality. 

Supplying clean energy to the building, we installed a total of 980m² of solar panels and combined them with free cooling and floor displacement ventilation systems to minimise energy consumption. The first reduces the need for energy intensive air conditioning by using external ambient temperature to cool water and the second enables the flow of fresh air in the areas where people are likely to be. 

We carefully chose the orientation of the building to prevent heat gains, reducing reliance on air conditioning and energy consumption. In addition, the façade features coverings over its elements such as windows and doors, providing shade and protecting the building against weather events such as wind or rain. 

To efficiently manage the use of water, the design includes below-ground tanks to collect and store rainwater, which could be reused for multiple purposes like toilet flushing or running the building facilities.

As one of the city’s most recognisable buildings, MCB demonstrates that it is possible to create attractive structures with a focus on efficiency, sustainability, and wellbeing. Incorporating renewable energy sources, circular water management systems and energy-efficient cooling technologies, the building minimises environmental impact while caring for its occupants’ comfort through elements such as passive cooling systems. As a result, MBC has since become the first building in the Southern Hemisphere to achieve a good BREEAM rating.

Mauritius Commercial Bank St Jean
The 10-storey 10,000m² building comprises open plan offices, auditoria, a canteen and ancillary spaces.
Mauritius Commercial Bank St Jean
The principles of BREEAM have been applied for the first time on a building in Mauritius.
Mauritius Commercial Bank St Jean
Arup’s extensive range of services on this project include internal space planning. This visualisation shows the 4th floor office space layout.
Partners & collaborators

General Construction Company Ltd, Geustyn and Horak Aluminium