Suzlon One Earth is the world headquarters of the Suzlon Group of Companies, Asia's largest wind energy provider. Suzlon One Earth is the largest building complex poised for a LEED Platinum rated green building status in the Indian Sub-continent. It is a living laboratory of sustainable technologies.
Design
Designed by architect Christopher Charles Benninger it recycles hundred percent of the water it uses, employs roof gardens and insulation for passive cooling and it generates 154 KW of energy on site through a combination of windmills (80%) and photovoltiac panels (20%). All water heating is accomplished through solar heating. Aluminum louvres shade the glass walled interiors from direct sun light while providing natural illumination within, saving on lighting energy. Low energy LED luminaires further reduce illumination energy consumption. Conceived as a spread out garden campus, Suzlon One Earth is a counterblast to the "glass box" corporate business park typology that is populating the urban landscape. It employs glass ventilating tubes, invented by Benninger, that heat up in the sun's light and as the air begins to rise, the tubes suck air out of the basement and the upper floors. Low-E Glass is employed to reflect heat when glass is rarely directly exposed to direct sunlight. Non-toxic recycled materials are employed within the interiors conceptualized by Tao Design, headed by Manish Banker, in Pune and implemented by Space Matrix of Singapore. Detailing of the Glass tubes was carried out by Axis Facades Hong Kong. The eco-landscape was designed and implemented by Varsh and Ravi Gavande of Pune and employ green insulation planting on roofs, terraces and the large podium. Landscaped 'sky courts' in the basements ventilate and cool the structures.
Basic principles
Benninger's early concept sketches foretell the basic principles, modules and elements that form the campus including the Deep Stumb, water bodies, water fall, the Central Courtyards, sunken dining area around a large reflecting pool and the diagonal water chute connecting the main cylinder with the central water body. These components were taken to a further detail by the landscape designers. The basement parking and terminals are connected by a system of electric powered vehicles and there parking areas host power plugs for electric cars to dock in. Car pooling is prioritised through enhanced parking rights over single passenger vehicles. The HVAC system employs low energy water cooled VRV's and "desert coolers" for the conditioning of the main public areas. Photovoltiac panels are cleverly used to shade the main courtyard in the Suzlon Excellence Academy.
Project coordination
The project was coordinated by Synefra Engineering, headed by Mr. J. R. Tanti. Working closely with the architects, landscape designers, interior designers, branding consultants, engineers, main contractor and numerous vendors, the end product was achieved. Vascon Construction Company executed the construction of the project, supported by Vastech Structural designers. Knight Frank coordinated the inputs of over one hundred and fifty vendors who supplied the project.
Achievement
Most important the campus achieves leadership in sustainability within a reasonable cost horizon and results in a masterpiece of campus planning and architecture. It is the essence of "holism" rather than a fundamentalist statement of a "green building" at the cost of poetry and beauty. In the architect's words, "My ambition was to create a great place to work for a great company with a great mission. We have to take sustainability in our stride, as we do sound structural engineering or competent plumbing. What is outstanding about this building is that it enhances the lives of the people who work here, and all of these factors count into the company's performance."