Summertown Interiors’ Dubai HQ in JAFZA has been awarded the WELL Health-Safety Rating
Summertown Interiors has earned the WELL Health-Safety Rating for its Dubai head office in JAFZA through the International WELL Building Institute (IWBI). The WELL Health-Safety Rating is an evidence-based, third-party verified rating for all new and existing building and space types focusing on operational policies, maintenance protocols, stakeholder engagement, and emergency plans to address a post-COVID-19 environment now and into the future.
Designed to empower owners and operators across large and small businesses alike to take the necessary steps to prioritise the health and safety of their staff, visitors, and stakeholders, the WELL Health-Safety Rating can help guide users in preparing their spaces for re-entry in the wake of the pandemic, instilling confidence in those who come through the building as well as the broader community.
Marcos Bish, managing director, Summertown Interiors, commented: “We are delighted to achieve the WELL Health-Safety Rating for our own Dubai head office, demonstrating our commitment to providing the highest standards of health and wellbeing for our people and clients and suppliers.”Summertown joins ICD Brookfield Place in attaining WELL Health & Safety Rating, which is the largest office building in the MENA region to receive this certification.
To achieve this, Summertown developed new office policies to improve its existing cleaning and sanitisation procedures and updated its emergency preparedness programme, including a comprehensive Business Continuity Plan and IT disaster recovery plan. Additionally, the team revised its employee health and wellbeing policies to include more flexible working opportunities, promotion of flu and COVID-19 vaccines, sick leave, and discouraging smoking.
Summertown Interiors was awarded the WELL Health-Safety Rating following the successful completion of a third-party documentation review by GBCI to confirm it has met the feature specific intents and requirements.
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Summertown Interiors completes Picnic Square, Times Square Center’s food court refurbishment project
Summertown Interiors completes Picnic Square, Times Square Center’s food court refurbishment project
Summertown Interiors has completed and handed over ‘Picnic Square’, Times Square Center’s 2,330sqm food court refurbishment project located in Al Quoz, Sheikh Zayed Road.
Summertown collaborated closely with Times Square Center management team to deliver the sustainable design and build project, handing over the vibrant family-friendly dining space in the first week of November 2021. The unique food and beverage options selected by Times Square Center for Picnic Square will now start to be integrated into the food and beverage outlet spaces. Picnic Square will be officially opened in February 2022.
Picnic Square has an artisanal feel and will offer deli-style dining, setting a new design standard for shopping mall open plan dining areas. The newly refurbished dining space features natural materials, the integration of biophilia and plants, and a variety of welcoming seating options. There are family-friendly seating zones including stylish ‘private pods’ for mothers to feed their babies in privacy in the functional open plan design.
In line with Times Square Center’s sustainability focus, Summertown delivered the fit-out according to LEED (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design) requirements (pending certification), a global green building standard which encourages the design, construction, operations, and maintenance of resource-efficient, high-performing, healthy buildings.
A key challenge during the refurbishment was that it was a live project in an open shopping mall, so much of the work was completed in the evenings to avoid too much noise and disruption to tenants and customers. The new open ceiling design also required specific focus to ensure the mechanical, electricals, and plumbing (MEP) where coordinated seamlessly to create the desired white finish.
Nicola Trivett, Summertown’s Projects Director on the design and build project said: “The successful delivery of this project is the result of high-level communication between our project team and the mall’s management, ensuring the timely completion of the project. We are delighted to handover this high-end sustainable family-friendly dining area that fulfil our client’s goals.”
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Summertown Interiors completes the fit-out for Government of Dubai Media Office
Summertown Interiors recently completed the fit-out of the new Headquarters for the Government of Dubai Media Office (GDMO). Located at Dubai World Trade Centre’s prestigious One Central Tower, the GDMO is responsible for implementing strategic communication plans for the Government of Dubai, as well as disseminating government-related news in cooperation with local government agencies.
Working in partnership with Bluehaus Group’s design team and project managers from 3Sixty Consult, the high-spec fit-out of the 4,200sqm project was delivered within 11 months. Inspired by the design concept ‘Castle in the Sand’, the office reflects GDMO’s vision to create a space that ‘feels like home’, combining a blend of nostalgia and modernity.
The new open-plan workspace features free-flowing desk areas to encourage team collaboration and transparency, sound-proof state-of-the-art meeting rooms, as well as a welcoming Majlis that is a modern expression of the traditional Arabic hospitality concept. Designed to facilitate productivity and provide access to the latest media equipment and technology the office incorporates a Master Control Room (MCR), Central Apparatus Room (CAR), and several recording, editing and voiceover booths with acoustic treatments for sound proofing and absorption.
Biophilic design elements and plants feature throughout the space including an indoor ‘Contemplation Garden’ and outdoor terrace garden. Several sustainable systems were implemented by Summertown including a light control system with occupancy sensors that saves unnecessary electricity consumption. LED light fittings were installed which are 80% more efficient than traditional lighting such as fluorescent and incandescent light – and CO2 sensors interfaced with BMS systems.
Marcos Bish, managing director of Summertown Interiors, commented: “It was a pleasure to work on such a prestigious unique government project. At Summertown, we pride ourselves on our commitment to deliver high-end projects, working with designers and project managers to fulfil our clients’ requirements. The GMDO office is a prime example of Summertown’s passion for delivering workspaces in which employees love to work and, as much as possible, with minimal environmental impact.”
Summertown Interiors delivers Takeda’s new HQ, designed by Roar
Summertown Interiors delivered the new Middle East headquarters for Japanese pharmaceutical company, Takeda. Located in the prestigious One Central Development in the Central Business District of Dubai World Trade Centre Authority (DWTCA), Takeda’s stunning new 2,075 sqm office was designed by interior design firm Roar, project management by CBRE, and has been awarded LEED silver certification from the USGBC.
The result of the ‘design and build’ project is a stunning contemporary office with a blend of traditional Japanese design philosophy with modern mathematical efficiency that is anchored in local culture.
One of the main challenges during the construction was to keep the project on track amidst the outbreak of the coronavirus and new government regulations. Nicola Trivett, project director, Summertown Interiors explained: “Construction was one of the few industries that was able to keep running during the Dubai government’s strict sterilisation program that required everyone to stay home. We were half-way through the Takeda office fit-out when the pandemic broke out – we had to act swiftly to make the necessary changes to our health and safety procedures on site to keep the project progressing in the safest way possible. Despite this challenge we managed to successfully deliver this project together with the support of the Roar design team’.
Biophilia and natural materials including wood and raw exposed concrete are key to the workspace design alongside the subtle inclusion of the corporate philosophy it calls “Takeda-ism” based on four values: integrity, fairness, honesty and perseverance. Highlights of the workspace include the boardroom inspired by a Japanese tea house, and reception modelled on the ‘genkan’ entrance hallway concept of a traditional Japanese home.
Pallavi Dean, founder and creative director of Roar, commented: “We designed a space around three themes: Japanese values, Emirati culture and data-driven design. At one end of the spectrum it is very artistic and intuitive, drawing on concepts and materials such as pared back minimalism with wood, raw concrete and paper – coupled with Emirati craftsmanship such as khous handweaving. At the other extreme, the space planning used sophisticated mathematical models to find the right mix of private, shared and public spaces.”
Summertown Interiors: Rethink the workspace as employees return to work
The impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on the workplace environment is unprecedented, and businesses will need to re-shape their physical environment and develop new policies to enable employees to return work safely.
Summertown encourages businesses to see this as an opportunity to not only make their workplaces compliant and safe, but also healthier, and more sustainable for the future. In light of the UAE Government easing COVID-19 restrictions, companies can now operate at a maximum capacity of 50% staff, with 100% likely to return to work in mid-June 2020 as per recent government communications for the public sector. Summertown says there are some important physical changes all businesses will need to implement to make their workplaces healthier and more sustainable for the safety and well-being of employees.
The post-coronavirus office will be different from what was ‘normal’ just a few months ago, and for many businesses it may mean they no longer need as much floorspace as some employees continue to work from home.
Here are its top considerations:
Floor plan reconfiguration
Social distancing is the reality of our new workplaces. Where employees sit and work, and meet will need to be carefully planned to ensure social distancing. This can include re-configuring entire floor plans, moving workstations/desks and furniture to ensure social distancing, and adding desk partitions/screens.
Installing hygiene and well-being equipment
Installation of hygiene stations equipped with thermometers, protective items such as sanitizer and facemasks and hygiene reminder signs is the first essential step. Business should also consider installing anti-microbial materials/surfaces, and touch-less sensor technology (motion sensor bathroom taps, lights, sanitizer dispensers, and voice activated elevators and office machines) to reduce the number of surfaces touched by employees.
Improvement of air quality
Global health authorities such as the Centres for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) recommend increased air circulation and flow, and to improve air filtration, and ventilation.
For projects over 2,000sqm, Summertown offer clients LEED (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design) certified level certification free of cost, with the option of silver, gold, or platinum level certification at a surcharge. The team can also assist clients seeking interior certification under the WELL Building Standard.
Marcos Bish, Summertown Interior’s Managing Director commented: ‘Our workplaces have been fundamentally effected by the COVID-19 pandemic, and ‘rethinking’ the use of space has become a top priority for companies as they plan for their employees to return to work. At Summertown the health, safety and wellbeing of our employees has always been of utmost importance to us. Our employees are central to how we create value and we believe that in the current challenging climate, it is our duty to support businesses in the UAE by helping them get back on their feet with working conditions that are fit for purpose, healthier and more sustainable.”
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