One Airport Square

The approach to the project starts with the idea that the building is an opportunity to create public space, an area that is a meeting place for people. This public square opens to the north-eastern part of the site and is protected by the commercial floor, where stores, restaurants, and self-service canteens are arranged in a circular layout. The large square is perfect for events and trade fairs. It can also serve as an exhibition space for permanent art installations. Together with the commercial activities, these events will liven up the area, day and night.

One Airport Square covers a total of 17,000 m2 and consists of a 9-storey office block and a ground floor designed for commercial activities. The building’s aesthetic elements and architectural design – inspired by traditional local art and palm tree bark – are closely linked to specific environmental strategies to provide a viable solution to climate problems. The shape and layout of the office block are the results of a continuous design process, which takes the client’s functional requirements and the formal, structural, and energy requirements expressed by a multidisciplinary design team all into account.

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The paved surfaces adapt to the orographic features of the site – connect the road with the upper level of the square, where the main entrance to the offices and the commercial area are. A pair of escalators lead to the two floors of the underground parking lot. The underground floors have been designed considering the site’s topographic characteristics and integrating antiseismic measures.

The envelope is the perfect expression of the combination of form, structure, and environmental strategies. The building has a compact shape, concealing a large atrium that provides natural light and ventilation. The varying depth of the wings results in three office configurations: maxi, medium, and mini. Another distinctive feature of the building is the movement created by the overhang of the terraces, whose sizes decrease the higher you go. These cross-section variations allow for a more flexible layout to meet the various needs of future tenants.[...]
Another defining element is the reinforced concrete structure, whose tilted piers provide greater rigidity to the building and overhangs while becoming the decorative motif of the façade.

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The paved surfaces adapt to the orographic features of the site – connect the road with the upper level of the square, where the main entrance to the offices and the commercial area are. A pair of escalators lead to the two floors of the underground parking lot. The underground floors have been designed considering the site’s topographic characteristics and integrating antiseismic measures.

The envelope is the perfect expression of the combination of form, structure, and environmental strategies. The building has a compact shape, concealing a large atrium that provides natural light and ventilation. The varying depth of the wings results in three office configurations: maxi, medium, and mini. Another distinctive feature of the building is the movement created by the overhang of the terraces, whose sizes decrease the higher you go. These cross-section variations allow for a more flexible layout to meet the various needs of future tenants.[...]
Another defining element is the reinforced concrete structure, whose tilted piers provide greater rigidity to the building and overhangs while becoming the decorative motif of the façade.

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One Airport Square is Ghana’s first building to receive 4 Stars (Design Stage) from the Green Building Council of South Africa (GBCSA). This project results from an in-depth analysis of the site with an optimal topographic configuration and orientation. It is set to become a benchmark for the next generation of office buildings in West Africa. In this part of the world, buildings’ eastern and western sides are particularly exposed to sunlight. A fact that, combined with the medium to high temperatures throughout the year, has required adopting specific strategies to reduce air-conditioning needs.

The climate control system distributes cool air through the floating floors, expanding evenly throughout the floor. Low-flow systems and technologies that reduce the duration of water delivery reduce drinking water consumption. To flush toilets, greywater and rainwater will be used.
All these elements result from an integrated design process that balances architectural and engineering aspects to reduce energy consumption and optimize the use of natural light. Cutting-edge technologies blend with local tradition, leveraging design’s efficiency. All this is leading to a new idea of environmentally friendly beauty.

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