Dubai Electricity and Water Authority (DEWA) has started construction of a new headquarters – the new building, named Al-Sheraa (Arabic for sail), will be the tallest, largest, and smartest net Zero Energy Building (ZEB) in the world.
The Al-Sheraa building will have over a million square feet, over 200,000 square feet of land. It is being built in the heart of the Cultural Village in Al Jadaf. This latest achievement conforms Dubai’s global position as a role model for leading organisations in sustainability, innovation, and shaping the future.
The total built-up area of Al-Sheraa will be over 1.5 million square feet. The additional area comprises parking, engineering facilities, and green spaces. The building is designed to accommodate 5,000 employees, in addition to customers and visitors.
The building will have over 16,500 square metres of photovoltaic solar panels to produce over 3,500 kilowatt hours (kW/h). There will be about 10,000 square metres of Building Integrated Photovoltaic (BIPV), producing over 1,100 kWh. Total renewable energy generated by the building will be over 7,000 megawatt hours (MW/h) annually. The building will have an Energy Utilization Intensity (EUI) of 70 kW/m2 per year.
Design
Al-Sheraa’s design was inspired by the UAE’s traditional houses, where enclosed spaces overlook an open courtyard. The courtyard will be the focal point and most prominent feature of the building. To reduce heat in the open courtyard, a sail design is used to provide shaded areas. Natural light during the day will stream through specific openings in the sail, giving sufficient light without the associated heat. The courtyard features trees, planted areas, and birds within a sustainable environment. The courtyard will give occupants and visitors an outdoor feeling in an indoor setting.
The building will use the latest technologies including Internet of Things (IoT), Big Data and Open Data, and Artificial Intelligence (AI). Robots will be used for cleaning and to provide security services. A smart app will alert the employees about the time they should leave their homes based on the traffic.
The same app can be used to book parking spaces and meeting rooms. It can be also used by visitors to easily reach the building and meeting rooms. More info
By WAM www.khaleejtimes.com
