World's largest office building to open with 131 lifts and a giant spine

24 July 2023 , 17:22

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This building will become home to Surat Diamond Bourse's offices in November (Image: Edmund Sumner/SBD/SWNS)

India has unveiled the world’s largest office building - and it is full of diamonds.

Surat Diamond Bourse (SDB), a diamond trade centre located in Surat, in the west of the country, has surpassed The Pentagon as the world’s biggest office block.

SDB boasts 7.1million square feet of floor space compared to the United States Department of Defense headquarters’ 6.7million square feet.

The bourse comprises nine towers of 15 floors interconnected along a central spine and serviced by 131 lifts. It accommodates 4,500 diamond merchant offices, ranging from 300 to 75,000 square feet.

It also houses conference halls, restaurants, banks and retail shops. In addition, there is a dedicated custom house with a national diamond research institute, an international convention centre, international education facilities, and five-star hotels.

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After four years of construction work, partly hindered by Covid-related delays, SBD will officially open on November 21 in a ceremony with Prime Minister Narendra Modi.

The building was designed by Indian architecture company Morphogenesis following an international competition.

They explain: “The central spine is used for interconnection between towers on every level. The design enhances users’ spatial and transitional experience across the building without highlighting the expanse of the structure.

“The central axis connecting all the offices is designed as an interactive hub comprising of break-out spaces, green atriums and a host of visual experiences.

“These spaces have been designed to foster social cohesion and community engagement.”

Earlier this year, we reported how Saudi Arabia was set to build a 1,300-foot-high golden cube in its capital city which will be one of the largest built structures in the world.

The Mukaab landmark will form part of plans to develop the "world's largest modern downtown".

Part of the wider New Murabba development, the construction has been described as the "world's first immersive destination", offering an experience created by digital and virtual technology with the latest holographics.

There will be a tower atop a spiral base and it will house two million sqm of floor space that will become a premium hospitality destination with retail, cultural and tourist attractions, along with residential and hotel units, commercial spaces, and recreational facilities.

His Royal Highness Crown Prince Mohammad bin Salman bin Abdulaziz, Prime Minister and Chairman of the New Murabba Development Company (NMDC) announced the scheme for the city's future development in line with Saudi Vision 2030.

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