LOS ANGELES, CA -- (Marketwire) -- Jul 10, 2012 -- Gehry Technologies (GT), a global leader in applying technology to building industry challenges, today announces the completion of the Abu Dhabi Investment Council Headquarters (ICHQ). The 25-story twin office towers in the United Arab Emirates each feature a computer-monitored and sensor-controlled screen, which responds dynamically to the sun, folding like origami to shade or expose the building according to light and heat levels. This façade -- created with GT's building information modeling (BIM) software -- reduces the energy load on the building by 20 percent.
"More and more, building owners and designers are aiming for major increases in sustainability, efficiency and economy in new projects, and they are turning to technology to achieve those goals," said Andrew Witt, Director of Research at GT. "BIM really has become a game-changer in our industry. The ability to use it to achieve complex buildings like ICHQ will increasingly be a ticket to play for forward-looking owners, designers and builders."
Designed by Aedas -- the world's fifth largest architecture firm -- the 25-story twin office towers in the United Arab Emirates will each accommodate approximately 1,000 employees. The cocoon-like buildings are based on a pre-rationalized geometric form, fine-tuned via parametric design tools to achieve optimal wall to floor area ratio. A solar-responsive dynamic shading screen further decreases solar gain. This 'Mashrabiya' acts as a secondary skin that mediates daylight and reduces glare. The system is driven by renewable energy derived from the photovoltaic panels. The south facing roofs of each tower incorporate photovoltaic cells, generating approximately five percent of the total required energy from renewable energy sources.
To achieve the sustainability of ICHQ, the team used an integrated BIM that could simulate the movement, response and constructability of the facade. GT not only provided the technology, but also helped the team reach their potential through strategy, consulting and collaboration.
"ICHQ is a one of a kind project and Gehry Technologies was indispensible to the project team," said Abdulmajid Karanouh, Associate, Aedas London Ltd. "From schematic design through construction, their unparalleled team of digital specialists helped the team make better decisions, faster. Their advice helped save time and money, and the landmark result speaks for itself."
Earlier this month, The Council on Tall Buildings and Urban Habitat (CTBUH) named ICHQ one of the "Best Tall Buildings for 2012." Selected for their design and technical innovations, sustainable attributes and the enhancement of both cities and the lives of their inhabitants, the ICHQ won the CTBUH's first Innovation Award for the project's computer-controlled sun-screen.
For more information on GT, visit www.gehrytech.com.
About Gehry Technologies
Gehry Technologies (GT) provides design and project management technology and consulting services, including BIM implementation, to leading owners, developers, architects, engineers, general contractors, fabricators, and other building industry professionals worldwide. GT solutions increase creativity and control; reduce project risks, costs, and completion times; and improve processes and decisions through collaboration, project visibility, and information access. Gehry Technologies is privately held, with offices in Los Angeles, New York, Paris, Abu Dhabi, Hong Kong, Shanghai, Guangzhou, Beijing, Seoul, and Sydney. For more information about Gehry Technologies, visit www.gehrytech.com.