Dubai: Building the happiest city on earth by 2021 isn’t just about being smart, it’s also about being ecologically aware of the need to preserve nature for future generations.
With that view in mind, Smart Dubai Office opened a highly advanced smart, green head office in September replete with the latest in all things futuristic,
The newly refitted office space now plays host to an array of hi-tech innovations ranging from a virtual receptionist and digital spaces to writable walls and a cafe with perpetual social media feeds for employees to remain connected via smartphones and devices.
The retrofit is inspired by nature to reflect a sustainable philosophy, said Dr Aisha Bint Butti Bin Bishr, director-general of the Smart Dubai Office.
“We employed a team of experts from Design Worldwide Partnership (DWP) and Summertown Interiors to ensure our office adheres to international environmental standards. The DWP and Summertown did an outstanding job and built a space that reflects our identity as a progressive smart organisation, as well as our mission to make Dubai the happiest city on the planet — starting with our own offices,” Bint Butti said in a statement.
“Our facilities overwhelmingly rely on organic material, including wood and rope. This reduces our carbon footprint and reflect our core principle of sustainable, environmentally friendly development.”
Marcos Bish, managing director, Summertown Interiors, said much thought went into the 1,850-square-metre project to ensure the newly revitalised office space met green building standards for the health of employees and to ensure its energy efficiency.
Bish told Gulf News that the “team was asked to manage the US Green Building Council (USGBC) LEED (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design) certification process for the project. Given the UAE government’s commitment to sustainable urbanisation, Smart Dubai Office’s goal is to reach LEED Gold certification, helping them minimise their environment impacts, and at the same time improve their operational efficiencies to create a workspace that their staff truly appreciate.”
