Office of the Future | DUBAI, UAE
THE CLIENT The‘Office of the future’is a strategic project of the Dubai Government under the patronage of His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, the Prime Minister and Vice President of the United Arab Emirates and the Ruler of Dubai. It is the world’s first fully functional 3D-printed building and serves as the main office of The Dubai Future Foundation. The office is located within the Dubai International Financial District.
INDUSTRY
VALUE
PROGRAMME
SERVICES RENDERED
Workplace
Confidential
2015-2016
Project Management, Design Management
THE PROJECT The Office of the Future is a 185 sqm office space that has been printed using a 20-foot-tall 3D printer. Every structural component was built using 3D printing technology combining a mixture of Special Reinforced Concrete (SRC), Glass Fibre Reinforced Gypsum (GFRG) and Fibre Reinforced Plastic (FRP). It is made of 17 modules and took 17 days to print. The office is equipped with meeting rooms, café, lounge and innovative working spaces. The building itself is energy-efficient and sustainable. The office space accommodates natural lighting while minimising cooling needs during the summer. OUR APPOINTMENT We were brought on board to deliver project and construction management services. The construction site itself was prepared in a traditional manner and then the 3D printed elements were delivered to site, assembled and tensioned in-situ. The location at Emirates Towers presented not only a construction challenge, but a hugely complicated logistics challenge in getting all elements delivered to site in a timely manner. This first-of-its-kind building included elements that have never been used in an office facility construction, meaning that the team had to constantly adapt and change its methodology to develop best working practices for this unique delivery.
THE BENEFIT The ‘Office of the Future’ is the world’s first 3D printed office building. Whilst the finished product provides a best-in-class office facility for the Dubai Government, the real benefit is in proving that the technology works. Without testing and pushing the boundaries of conventional construction techniques, future advancements in the construction sector would be impossible. Only by working together with the wider team and the supply chain were we able to achieve the common goal of a successful completion of the project for all its stakeholders. The Office of the Future proved that 3D printed technology really is a viable construction method for future sustainability.
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