Bee’ah unveils headquarters design

Bee’ah, a United Arab Emirates (UAE) integrated environmental and waste management company, has commissioned Zaha Hadid Architects of London to build its new headquarters building in the emirate of Sharjah. The selection resulted from an international competition that began in 2013.

Bee’ah says its new headquarters building is part of its ongoing investment to transform attitudes and behaviors in individuals, communities, businesses and cities by providing the infrastructure, tools and support to achieve their environmental goals, including working toward zero waste targets.

According to a Zaha Hadid Architects news release, “The Bee’ah Headquarters building embodies these principles by providing the company with an administrative center of sustainable construction of LEED (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design) Platinum certification, with ultra-low carbon and minimal water consumption in operation and minimized material consumption in construction. The new building and site will also be used as a learning resource to demonstrate practical environmental awareness to the wider community.”

The company says the style of the building, inspired by its desert context, is designed "as a series of dunes orientated to optimize the prevailing Shamal winds and give its interiors high quality daylight and views whilst limiting the quantity of glazing exposed to the harsh sun.”

The two central dunes of the headquarters building intersect and connect via a courtyard, referred to as an oasis inside the building enhancing natural ventilation and maximizing indirect sunlight to the spaces within, adds the firm.

The building systems of the new headquarters have been developed to minimize both the energy required for cooling and the need for potable water consumption, while its structure reduces material consumption through recycled material recovery and architectural and structural integration.