Suzlon One Earth, Pune

The Suzlon One Earth campus is a unique corporate headquarter spread over 10 acres of land in Hadapsar, Pune, India. The place was conceived with a business and functional need to bring all business verticals and corporate services under one roof, which although linked to each other would be independent enough to be able to perform as per their respective needs and requirements.

At a Glance
Project	: Suzlon One Earth Global Corporate Headquarters
Location	: Pune, Maharashtra, India
Site area	: 4,53,930 square feet (10.4 acre)
Achitect	: Prof. Christopher Benninger

Suzlon Energy Limited, a world-leading wind energy company based in Pune India, together with the architect, pledged to create the greenest office in India. Living the motto of the company, 'powering a greener tomorrow', the architect relied exclusively on non-toxic and recycled materials. A million S.F. of ground plus two levels in a 10.4 acre urban setting achieved a LEED Platinum and TERI GRIHA 5 Star certification with 8 percent of its annual energy generated on-site through photovoltaic panels and windmills with a total incremental cost of about 11%. There are no other LEED certified buildings with this level of certification and on-site renewable energy that have achieved this kind of cost efficiency. 154 KW of electricity is produced on site (80% wind and 20% photovoltaic). All other energy (4MW) is produced in the client's wind mill farms. With 92% (4 MW) being consumed by the project is 'sustainable energy' making this a Zero Energy Project!

Architecture has played a major role in the iconization of the world's leading companies. I. M. Pei's Bank of China in Hong Kong, Norman Foster's design for the insurance giant Swiss Re in London, have overnight elevated these companies through spectacular architecture. It has become the need of the hour for global corporations to have sensitively designed buildings which reflect their values, concerns for environment and the image of the new age. Indian corporations are imitating the west in the design of their buildings, which are essentially designed with glass and steel structures for the long cold winters. It calls for designing buildings in India with sensitivity towards climate that is both energy efficient and draws vernacular solutions. While building a Green Building complex, was a matter of civic responsibility, the objective of the design was to make a Great Place to Work. This took the shape of a Land Scraper, opposing the idea of a Skyscraper! It is a counter blast to "the glass box."

Suzlon One Earth derives its inspiration from large Indian historical campuses like Fatehpur Sikri and the Meenakshi Temple complex in Madurai. It is the need of the hour that architecture should borrow elements of critical rationalism, with over hangs, louvers, pergolas, courtyards, water and natural light permeation.

Drawing clues from vernacular architecture, while respecting nature and culture, this sustainable and efficient design provides 75% of the work stations with daylight and external views, allowing inhabitants to enjoy seasons, weather conditions and to connect with the time of the day.

The needs of the client were growing and changing almost from week to week during the design process. There was a need to create a transformational system that by its very nature was less specific and more general! So it led to the creation of a simple arrangement of Server Spaces and Served Spaces. The Served Spaces cover the lion's share of the campus where people work. These are in fact flexible and adaptive cold shells that can accommodate modular walls and furniture systems. These are served by more rigid cores that house wet areas, utility shafts, ducts, fire stairs, elevators, entry and reception areas that will not change over time. "Modules" like the silo fire stairs; the benchmark glass cylinders and the 8.4 by 8.4 meter modules that can be used like a Lego Set and moved about in one's mind to create internal and external spaces.

The design process started with a premise of creating a central gathering space, or Brahmasthan, with the sky as its ceiling! It was conceived as a "secret internal garden" that gifts an exclusive and unique feel to the campus. There is visual access to the large central gardens from everywhere. There is a sense of connection between the various kinds of spaces right from the underground entries vide the sunlight that descends there from the Sky Courts and the Glass Cylinders and the vegetation that flows from these elements, up through the cylinders into the main circulation nodes of the building. They act as visual connectors between all floors and allow aeration of the basement parking area.

The Deepa Stambh is set in the centre of the Suzlon reflecting pool. The pool rests at the basement level, wherein all of the cafeteria and the dining room open onto the water. In the background, these see a cascade of water falls, flying down three levels of tiers, with traditional step-like objects giving rhythm to the backdrop. A long water basin feeds the water falls through a pumping system. The lineal basin links the Brahmasthal to a fountain toward the east. These auspicious components protect the campus from unwanted influences and create a central focus and landmark. They bring very Indian features within a very global, high-tech ambiance. Large water body in the central court helps in improving the air quality and for evaporative cooling. All the external landscape areas are brought into the indoors along the perimeter of the building bringing fresh air, nature and natural light into the work areas so as to improve productivity of occupants. This central garden plaza encourages communication, interaction and innovation among the 2300 colleagues and provides a stunning aesthetic presentation for visitors.

In the Wind Lounge, there is a very traditional Indian Chowk here, with kund-like steps leading into a water pool shaded by photovoltaic panels allowing filtered light in, as if through an ancient jaali.

Aluminum louvers act as a protective skin allowing daylight and cross ventilation. All areas have operable fenestration allowing natural air and ventilation when possible. These strategies resulted in lower, thinner and longer building shapes that increase the ratio of fenestration to volume, enhancing natural light and ventilation in a hot and dry climatic conditions.


The building employs a complex building management systems. Lighting of individual offices is controlled by combined daylight and occupancy sensors. Sixty five percent of energy is saved by use of LED outdoor light systems in comparison to conventional scheme. Thirty to 40% reduction in operating cost, due to energy savings and water savings at 30%.