The new Elemental Business Centre buildings – the first in Latvia, which will be connected by a parametric facade

A glass facade of a pyramid-shaped 3D parametric system has been installed in the connecting part of the buildings of the Elemental Business Centre office rental complex being built in Skanste – currently the only one of its kind in Latvia. The facade, produced in Dubai, was created in cooperation with the company Schüco. The architects of the Elemental Business Centre buildings, Tarmo Miller and Indrek Allmann, from the architectural office “PLUSS Architects” say that the first demonstration of the Schüco Parametric System” took place at the “BAU 2017” exhibition in Munich and Elemental Business Centre are among the first buildings in the world to implement this parametric system.

Parametric facade is a design approach that uses parameters and algorithms to shape and adjust the facade of a building or structure, achieving desired design and functionality outcomes. This type of facade is created using computer programs that allow designers to control and adjust various parameters such as dimensions, shapes, patterns and other design elements to achieve the desired look and functionality.

The architects of the Elemental Business Centre buildings, Tarmo Miller and Indrek Allmann, emphasize that the glass facade of the pyramid-shaped 3D parametric system is one of the elements that determine the unique character of the visual appearance of the buildings of the office rental complex. They draw attention to the design of the facade panels and their volume, size and position, which evolved and changed during the design process. Each iteration required redefining the overall visual concept on a smaller scale, but the final solution focuses on the close-up visual synergy of the pyramid panel and the public area. “It should be emphasized that in the public outdoor space of the Elemental Business Centre, the facade panels also serve as an essential part of the visual play between the smooth and hard floor and the systematically rough white ceiling,” says Tarmo Miller.

The architect also points out that the facade panels are not only a visual element, but also perform a technical function. For example, the shape of the facade panel helps to reduce the amount of excess solar heat and light entering the building, balanced with the needs and requirements of the use of the space behind it. Elemental Business Centre sales manager Imants Krēsliņš says that the application of such technical solutions is in accordance with the premise of the office rental complex to use innovative solutions promoting energy efficiency and sustainability in building construction and design.

The parametric facade forms the connecting part of the two Elemental Business Centre buildings, through which it will be possible to go from one building to the other. In the connecting part, there will be a daytime restaurant Restart and a conference centre rooms, which can accommodate up to 60 people. It will be possible to get to the connecting part both from the outside, using the white stairs, and also separately from the second floor of each building.

The office rental complex Elemental Business Centre will be commissioned already this fall, and 70% or more than two-thirds of the total leasable area of the project has already been leased.

Among the already announced tenants of Elemental Business Centre are the group of information technology companies Dyninno Group, the hybrid coworking space brand Spaces of the international holding IWG, the international IT service company Arvato Systems, Swedish financial holding company Marginalen AB group companies GelvoraSergel and Aizdevums.lv, the global digital services company Emergn and others.

About Elemental Business Centre:
Elemental Business Centre is a new office rental project at Skanstes Street 25, Riga, with a leasable area of 21,000 m² across two ten-storey buildings. The project is currently under construction and the buildings will be commissioned this fall. The project is on track to receive the BREEAM Outstanding rating, ­thus becoming the first building in Latvia with the highest possible evaluation. Energy piles are used in the construction, which will provide up to 72% of the heating and cooling needs of the building, significantly reducing the costs of utilities for tenants.