SITE REPORT

TELENOR HEADQUARTERS

Haya Junaid | Iqra Khalid | Kiran Ahmed | Sarah Khan | Shahzeb Khan

Project Overview
Project : Telenor Headquarters
Location : Gulberg, Islamabad.
Type: Office Building
Start of Construction : 2014
Expected Completion : October
2016
Type of Construction : RCC
Frame.
Architecture Firm : Arcop
Cost : Rs. 13000 per sq.ft*
Suppliers : Al-fatah glass
Employee concentration: 900

*Normal construction cost in

Pakistan is Rs. 1500 per sq. ft

Planning

The project was a closed design

competition. 5,6 firms were
selected.

The building has been placed in

center in a 62500 sq. meters
plot oriented north to south.

It has been divided into blocks

for the ease of construction
workers, engineers and
architects alike. Currently the
building blocks A,B,C,D,E and F
exist, F being an independent
block.

Block F consists of a gym, day

care & nursery and a prayer
area. The day care becomes
the reason for this block being
independent.

With a two floor basement

parking it accommodates a
space for 800 cars.

Project Focus

Lower Carbon Footprint:Use of rammed earth for facades to

lower energy consumption, improve indoor climate and reduce
CO2 footprint.

Earthquake Resistance:Earthquake resistance raised to

international recommendations by designing for seismic zone 3 (
raised from normal 2B).

Low Energy Consumption:Design and construction in

accordance with International standard for high performance
green buildings, focus on energy efficient cooling systems.

Open Work Zones:Workplace model with clean desk principle

and flexible seating for all personnel in open work zones.

Focus on Renewable Energy:Solar panels to cover minimum

of 10% of the energy consumption.

Water Management:Water saving equipment, rainwater

harvesting, with treated water used for irrigation.

Lower Carbon Footprint

Rammed Earth Construction

Rammed earth is being used in this project for the

first time in Pakistan. The addition of admixtures
prevents any water seepage into the rammed
earth wall. It appears completely dry even on
incidence of rain.

Solid rammed earth wall is utilized where the

whole wall is concrete filled however rammed
earth cladding is also used. In this case the
thickness is 5 inches.

Reinforcement of the cladded rammed earth is

done using hooks and bars, which holds together
the concrete poured onto the expanded metal
mesh, providing a very stable surface cladding.

Rammed earth reinforcement

Advantages
Insulated facade.
Lesser heat gain.
Improved energy
performance.
Very less maintenance cost.
Low carbon footprint.
Prevents moisture
penetration.

Rammed Earth construction Joint

Concrete Construction

Two main materials concrete and rammed earth, concrete being

fair faced( without a finish).

Eastern and western Walls are made out of rammed earth concrete.

The east and west walls have minimum openings and have
Balconies.

Orientation of the building is north-south. This allows max amount

of natural light coming in.

There is a use of repeated modules.

Column, slabs all fair faced concrete

On site the fair faced concrete is currently of poor quality and

continuous patchwork is being done

Concrete batching plant is in site.

Concrete faade prevents from unfortunate events, considering the

contexts political scenario.

Earthquake Resistance

The considering Islamabad to fall under 2B seismic zone

Earthquake prevention measures are crucial for any type of
construction.

The whole building is divided into 6 blocks each an independent

self supportive structure.

The building has within it, expansion joints allowing them to

become independent masses.

On the occurrence of an earthquake the masses move

independently of each other causing less damage and lessening
the probability of cracks.

Another reason for expansion grooves is because the building is

massive sized in terms of the use of massive amount of
concrete.

This expansion joint( a cavity) increases in size as we go

vertically upwards.

Expansion grooves in basement columns

Concrete block construction to

resist earthquake

Energy Efficiency
i.

Faade treatment

ii.

Water Harvesting

ii.

Baoli/Central Water body

iii.

Solar panels

iv.

Insulation

v.

Natural Lighting

Low Energy Consumption

Facade

The outer walls consist of rammed earth concrete, fare

face concrete and curtain walls.

With a high performance low-E, insulated glass, south

facing curtain walls ensure minimum heat gain and
maximum light.

Faade has an outer screen which decreases radiation

intensity penetrating through glazed faade.

Control room is not only secure, it is meant for display

to visitors. Therefore you have glass to show off the
large wall filled with screens. This room also has a view
towards the water body.

Large overhanging roofs and operable windows also

prevent HVAC load

Water Harvesting

The building has a central water body the function of which

is to act as the major water reservoir.

The Rain water from roof and hardscapes is collected

through a channel and into a 20 feet deep underground
water reservoir and from here it is filtered and pumped to
the central water body (baoli).

Parapets are 12 meters high, above them will be openings.

Water from the roof will drain down from these channels.

All water from site is being harvested. It is being collected

and re-used in the building.

Grooves inside the parking ramps is to allow water to divert

into a channel and drain away.

The central water body cools down the internal temperature

as well as it cools down the air.

Rain Water Harvesting:

Rain water from all the surfaces is collected in the

water tank and is circulated in the building

Surface Water.

Land Water.

Surface Water Harvesting:

Surface water is comparatively cleaner.

After collection, it is taken to the primary tank

where it gets filtered once.

Next, in the secondary tank the water is filtered

again.

Finally, at the tap there is another filter which

purifies the water even further.

Land Water:

Land water cannot be used for this purpose

because the pesticides and fertilizers present in
the soil become a part of it.

This water is therefore used as grey water.

Storm water treatment

The two storey basement parking

accommodates storm water.

In case of Heavy rain the water

collects under the surface resulting in
minimal damage to building and its
function.

Baoli

A nala running in the vicinity of site formed a lake on the site. This
location currently features the main water body of the building.

The water body is based on the idea of a boali or stepped well.

The water body is not only a design feature; it also works as a water
reservoir. In case of water shortage this water is taken up to the water
tanks and then circulated throughout the building.

Baoli

All meeting rooms face the water body to provide view.

Island in the center of the water body.

The water body is accessible and allows one to walk

into the water through a series of steps.

Multiple filtration and vacuum points are used to keep

the water clean.

Water also goes through the process of chlorination.

No railings around the central water body.

Heath and safety, basic concern of the client.

2 deep platforms made in the baoli where steps are

missing.

Central water
body/Baoli
used as a
water reservoir

Insulation

A tri-layer insulation
technique is used in
walls.
On top rammed earth
cladding which is
followed by inter
concrete insulation of a
Jumbo Lon board layer,
water repellent wall
treatment ad plaster.
Insulation material being
used in walls.

Insulation material stacked in basement

Natural Ventilation

Voids in the parking create a venture affect for

removal of carbon filled air.

There are two fire exits in the basement with

staircases and lifts.

All exhaust goes in two directions and on either

ends the air gets sucked out, eliminating all CO2
from the exhaust of cars. Ducts also help in this
mechanical ventilation.

Parking basements old exposed services and

emergency response management systems.

Natural light filtering in through atrium in multilevel

Mechanical ventilation through exhaust fans in basement (parking)

Ventilation ducts in basement

APPROACH/ACCESS

The concept included the basement and parking

being as far away from the building as possible,
due to security reasons.

VIP gate is made just for the prime minister of

Pakistan.

Technologies used

Centralized Air Conditioning System

HVAC

Chilled beams

Speed gates

Centralized Vacuum System

Centralized Air Conditioning System

The building has a centralized air conditioning

system.

Cooling towers are on the lower levels whereas

the air handling unit is on the roof top.

Chilled beams:

Used in Pakistan for the first time.

For chilled beams to works, the interior must be air tight with
no air coming from the outside.

For this, revolving doors are used at the entrances.

Chilled beams:

Cold water runs through the beams to provide cooling.

This technique is not sufficient on its own but helps in

decreasing the load on the air conditioning.

Chilled beams are used because it is much easier to

cool down water than to cool down air.

Used in all the work zones.

Not present in the public areas.

It is important for the structure to be air tight

otherwise the air entering in from the outsides causes
condensation in the beams. This may cause dripping.

Pans underneath that collect rain water not used due

to time constraint.

Chilled beams (Air tight

Faade)

Once the building is complete, massive fan will be

placed on all doors to blow air into the interior.

From the outside thermal reading will be taken to

detect the air leakage.

Speed Gates:

Speed gates used in the design.

Employees swipe their identity cards and enter

into the building.

If you are not an employee you go through the

reception to your required destination.

CONNECTING BRIDGE:

The connecting bridge is the main feature of

design of the building.

Hanging bridge with no supports.

Cable structure on top.

THE BRIDGE-CONNECTION

CONNECTING BRIDGE
(Forced Employee
Interaction)
Telenor wanted to encourage employee

interaction, the bridge is used to accomplish that.

The bridge is the only connection between two

separate parts of the building.

Glass elevators for vertical circulation also follow

the same concept.

WORK ZONES:

A single design module for a work zone is

repeated through out the building.

The basic concept is to depict negate hierarchy in

the design.

All employees work together in the same open

plan space.

At the end of the day, the employees clean up

there desks and can sit anywhere the next day.

The idea is to not force anything on the users, the

client wanted the same atmosphere in the office.

WORK ZONES:

The single work zone has multiple work stations.

4 small rooms with glass walls, can be used as

common rooms or meeting rooms.

The ceiling height is 2800 mm i.e. 9 feet.

Floor boxes are used, that are covered with carpet

with flaps as openings for maintenance.

2 work zones share a single public zone including

a kitchenette and small sitting spaces.

Centralized Vacuum System.

WORK ZONES:

On the outer walls, a reinforced steel frame is

installed.

The frame is blast proof.

If the steel isnt reinforced, the structure will fall in

and collapse.

WORK ZONES:

Shatter proof film runs through all glass used in

the structure.

The glass is both tempered and shatter proof.

In case of a blast, the glass may break but it wont

fall apart.

WORK ZONES:

The design provides equal opportunities for the

handicapped employees.

They have separate doors adjacent to the main

revolving doors for ease of use.

The have separate washrooms.

WORK ZONES:

The work zone provides views of the water body

and the lawn on the north and south sides.

The facades are completely glazed.

Glazed glass is used that helps in bringing

daylight into the interior.

Glass and wood are primarily used in the interior.