Sustainability Report

Several strategies reduce material consumption and construction-related impacts:

Exposed cast-in-place concrete

Approximately 3,367 m² of concrete wall surfaces were intentionally left exposed as the finished architectural surface. This eliminated the need for conventional plastering and painting over those areas. According to the project information, this avoided approximately:

• 3,367 m² of plastering
• 3,367 m² of painting

This reduces the quantity of additional finishing materials as well as associated construction processes and labour. The strategy is particularly relevant because the concrete is not treated merely as a structural substrate requiring additional layers; the structural material itself becomes the finished surface.

Reusable steel formwork

The project replaced conventional plywood formwork with a reusable steel formwork system. The system consisted of:

• 8 sets of steel formwork
• Each approximately 5.40 × 2.70 m
• Panels were repeatedly repositioned and reused throughout construction.
• The larger steel panels could be lifted and repositioned using a crane.

The project information compares this with an estimated requirement of approximately 600 plywood sheets measuring 1.20 × 2.40 m, with each plywood sheet usable for approximately two casting cycles by reversing its face. This strategy reduces the need for repeated procurement and disposal of plywood formwork and therefore addresses construction-stage material consumption.

Solar-control window film

Solar-control film was applied to the glazing to reduce solar heat gain and improve the thermal performance of the building envelope. This has an operational-energy benefit and can also reduce the need for more intensive mechanical cooling.

The project uses several passive and low-energy design measures:

Curved roof and climate response

The curved roof responds directly to Bangkok's tropical climate. Its changing height accommodates different spatial requirements while its profile directs rainwater toward a central collection line. This means rainwater management is incorporated into the architectural form rather than treated as a separate technical system.

Central open courtyard

The office is organized around this open courtyard, allowing departments to maintain visual connections with the landscape. Published project information specifically identifies the courtyard as part of the project's response to climate and workplace organization.  The circular courtyard introduces:

• natural daylight
• natural ventilation
• rainfall
• outdoor air
• vegetation
• changing seasonal/weather conditions into the workplace.

West-facing concrete fins

Exposed concrete fins shade the western façade, reducing direct solar exposure and therefore helping to limit solar heat gain.

Solar-control window film

The specified solar-control film further reduces heat entering through glazed areas. This complements the external shading rather than relying on glazing alone.

Reflecting pond

A reflecting pond is positioned at the entrance. It contributes to localized evaporative cooling, although the available information describes this effect as modest, so it should not be presented as a major cooling system.

Thermal mass

The extensive fair-faced reinforced-concrete structure provides thermal mass. In combination with shading, glazing control, ventilation and the courtyard, this contributes to the building's passive environmental strategy.

Several design choices can reasonably be identified as supporting durability and reducing the need for additional finishing materials. Fair-faced reinforced concrete is used as the finished architectural surface rather than being covered with plaster and paint. This removes recurring or replacement requirements associated with those additional finish layers. The project also emphasizes material reduction and durability. The concrete provides structural durability and thermal mass, while the restrained material palette reduces the number of separate finish systems used throughout the building. The architectural description identifies fair-faced concrete as providing structural clarity, thermal mass, and durability