Issue link: https://maltatoday.uberflip.com/i/1502329
24 | Architecture & Design CREATING NEXT-GENERATION OFFICES Ray DeMicoli, Principal, DeMicoli & Associates The initial brief for this project was to conceive and develop a sustainable purpose-built mixed-use complex, and to create a work environment that is adaptable, interactive, and accessible to everybody, in a location earmarked to emerge as Malta's corporate services district. The design process kicked off by identifying key objectives while taking into consideration all those factors that need to be addressed at the initial stages of any development. From green initiatives such as rainwater harvesting and collection, recycling of grey water in-house and good air circulation systems, to critical factors like the wind loads the development would face, which required several simulations to study the effects of funnelling created by multiple towers, the design team methodically and systematically drew up strategies for each of these and more at design stage. Milan based structural and geotechnical engineers CEAS, were engaged to support the project, making vital contributions in offering elegant solutions to the issues that would most certainly arise. Initial concepts focussed on three towers, then a fourth was added to reduce the height of each building. The decision to have four separate towers at varying heights – 13, 15, 16 and 19 storeys respectively, will Setting high StandardS for tomorrow'S workforce T h e Q u a d i s s e t t o o f f e r a n e x c i t i n g m i x o f G r a d e A p r o f e s s i o n a l , r e t a i l a n d c o m m e r c i a l o f f i c e s p a c e i n t h e h e a r t o f M a l t a ' s c o m m e r c i a l h u b , M r i e h e l . T h e d e v e l o p m e n t w i l l b e s u p p o r t e d b y a d i v e r s i f i e d r a n g e o f r e t a i l a n d a m e n i t y o u t l e t s , i n c l u d i n g p o p u l a r b r a n d s s u c h a s S t a r b u c k s a n d D r . J u i c e , a n d a m p l e p a r k i n g f a c i l i t i e s , i n t e g r a t e d w i t h s p a c i o u s l a n d s c a p e d o u t d o o r a r e a s a n d a l a r g e o p e n p i a z z a . A r c h i t e c t u r e & D e s i g n s p e a k s t o s o m e o f t h e e x p e r t s b e h i n d t h i s g r o u n d - b r e a k i n g p r o j e c t