Abu Dhabi Investment Council HQ

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Aedas was appointed to design the new Abu Dhabi Investment Council headquarters following an invited international competition. The 25-storey twin office towers in the United Arab Emirates will each accommodate between 1,000 and 1,100 employees. The design concept is both culturally and environmentally appropriate and complies with the aspirations of the recently published 2030 Abu Dhabi Development Plan.

A cocoon-like form has been generated through mathematically pre-rationalised parametric design to maximise the floor area/envelope surface area ratio and reduce thermal exchange. A solar responsive dynamic shading screen in the form of a ‘Mashrabiya’ further reduces solar gain. This acts as a secondary skin and controls solar glare whilst optimising the use of natural light internally. Project engineers, Arup, estimate that the ‘Mashrabiya’ has the potential to reduce the cooling load by over 20 percent, with commensurate savings on energy consumption and carbon emissions.

Passive Design Features
The aerodynamic shape of the building allows a more uniform air flow helps cooling off the envelope regardless of the orientation. In order to further reduce the solar heat gain and improve internal lighting, sky gardens were implemented on the southern part of the towers that act as cooling courtyards through the heat stack effect generated by the double skin and which also allow deeper natural light to reach the core and offices and thus reducing the use of artificial lighting.

01. Elevation drawing of the towers (morning)