New York, NY: Skidmore, Owings & Merrill LLP (SOM), the renowned architecture, engineering, interiors and planning firm, has designed a state-of-the-art commercial building that will be serve as an intelligent, intuitive and innovative work environment for India’s premier commercial precinct. The 19-story, multi-tenant office building, developed by Godrej Properties, the real estate arm of the Godrej Group will provide 111,000-square-meters of Class-A office space in Mumbai’s Bandra Kurla Complex (BKC) district and incorporate sophisticated sustainability strategies to minimize energy and water consumption.
“SOM and Godrej Properties are seeking to deliver an international-caliber Class A alternative to what the consumer has come to expect of the Mumbai commercial market over the last few decades,” states Kristopher Takacs, AIA, Associate Director at SOM. “With this premier building, along with the work SOM is doing at Chhatrapati Shivaji International Airport, our firm is helping the financial capital of India update its infrastructure and accommodate the diverse needs of a contemporary business center.”
The contemporary, timeless architectural design of Mumbai’s next landmark office property proudly bears the mark of integrity common to all products delivered by Godrej. “We have designed a façade that creates a distinct architectural identity for the project as a whole while also delivering on the client’s desire for environmental stewardship. Our design protects the building from solar heat gain, while also allowing ample natural light to enter the building,” says Peter Lefkovits, AIA, SOM’s Senior Design Architect for Godrej BKC. Jet Airways is also a partner in the deal.
SOM’s design for the building incorporates expansive floor plates, high ceilings, ample daylight and a high performance façade to create a comfortable and productive work environment and reduce dependence on artificial lighting. A series of landscaped open-air plazas, sheltered arcades and elevated terraces provide lush, private settings for relaxation and rejuvenation. The building will utilize a grey-water and storm-water retention system and native plant species to increase water efficiency. The project is targeting LEED® Gold certification from the Indian Green Building Council.
About Skidmore, Owings & Merrill LLP
Skidmore, Owings & Merrill LLP (SOM) is one of the leading architecture, interior design, engineering, and urban-planning firms in the world, with a 75-year reputation for design excellence and a portfolio that includes some of the most important architectural accomplishments of the 20th and 21st centuries. Since its inception, SOM has been a leader in the research and development of specialized technologies, new processes and innovative ideas, many of which have had a palpable and lasting impact on the design profession and the physical environment. The firm’s longstanding leadership in design and building technology has been honored with more than 1,600 awards for quality, innovation, and management. The American Institute of Architects has recognized SOM twice with its highest honor, the Architecture Firm Award—in 1962 and again in 1996. The firm maintains offices in New York, Chicago, San Francisco, Los Angeles, Washington, D.C., London, Hong Kong, Shanghai, Mumbai, and Abu Dhabi.