Façade Consultant: Buro Happold
Client: Bee'Ah
Architect: Zaha Hadid Architects
Façade Contractor: Arabian Profile
The BEEAH Headquarters project has an expansive scope with a focus on sustainability and digitization as key design drivers. With a focus on net-zero emissions and minimal energy consumption, the headquarters exemplifies environmentally conscious practices. The building has successfully attained BREEAM Outstanding and LEED Platinum certifications, emphasizing its sustainable design and operation.
The Headquarters is situated in the Sharjah province of the United Arab Emirates, where the temperatures can soar as high as 42 degrees Celsius and the average annual rainfall is only 100mm. Consequently, they experience a consistently hot climate with intense UV exposure and a high risk of sandstorms. Considering this challenging environment, we carefully considered the selection of building materials, as only certain options with superior durability can withstand such conditions.
All images copyright of Hufton+Crow
The solid part, which covers approximately 75% of the building’s envelope, aims to reduce cooling demands by implementing a ‘cool roof’ approach. Cool roofs require high Solar Reflectivity Index (SRI) which is a measure of the constructed surface's ability to reflect solar radiation and emit thermal radiation. In places like Sharjah’s desert where sandstorms occur, materials like white coated aluminium which usually provides high SRIs are not robust enough for the lifespan of the building, so the team had to look at alternatives. GRC is robust, scratch resistant, and offers the possibility to engineer its constituent materials to meet project specific requirements. The mix was specially designed to increase the material’s SRI and has been tested against the high UV sunlight showing no signs of degradation. The team was also at an advantage as our local manufacturers were experienced and the deployment GRC technology has proven very successful in the region.
The weatherproofing substrate was specified to be a durable, low-maintenance standing seam with a minimum lifespan of 60 years, as opposed to conventional membrane roofs with a 15-year lifespan. A buffer zone exists between the standing seam and GRC, contributing to the cool roof strategy by facilitating extra ventilation and dehumidification, averting interstitial condensation.
All images copyright of Hufton+Crow
The primary triangular glazing, oriented towards the South, features a freeform facade derived from a faceted triangular arrangement of a freeform surface. This design offers a seamless, curved glass appearance achieved through the use of flat glass panels. Extensive overhangs are embedded within the geometry and help reduce solar heat gain and are integral to the building’s design. High-performance tinted and insulated glass is used alongside solar coatings to achieve a g-value of 0.20, crucial for further regulating the building’s climate.
The project involved complex geometries, which were rationalized parametrically through a collaborative effort between the façade consultant and the architect. This approach facilitated efficient design processes, ensuring that the geometric complexities were translated into feasible and constructible solutions.
Almost all materials for the BEEAH Headquarters construction are locally sourced, the panels were locally fabricated and local expertise was employed as much as possible. This was always our intention as we wanted to implement the ideas of not only environmental but also social sustainability by creating jobs locally.
The envelope’s design features high thermal efficiency with a U-value of 0.20 W/m2K for the solid part and 1.50 W/m2K for the glazing, alongside an excellent air tightness at 2.9m³/hr/m² at 50Pa ensuring minimal air leakage.
Buro Happold served as the façade consultant throughout the entire project, from the initial competition to the final stages of completion. Their scope encompassed developing the façade system design, selection of materials and systems, and overview of the façade’s construction up to the point of practical completion.
All images copyright of Hufton+Crow