Regenerate spaces by widening use
In many office buildings, the ground floor is becoming a vital space for integration with local communities. Repositioned projects might add public amenities such as collaboration spaces, retail and restaurants, or turning unused spaces into green zones that benefit both building users and the wider public.
Reimagining how a space could be used can bring people and businesses into under-utilised buildings, creating new value for communities and contributing to regeneration.
Take the redevelopment of two vacant office buildings for example. Our team repositioned these assets from multi-tenant spaces into Heriot-Watt University’s new Dubai campus, a technology-rich learning hub with modern design and sustainable features.
Support environmental targets
With buildings accounting for more than 60% of carbon emissions in cities, metropolitan governments are increasing pressure on investors and landlords to improve real estate impact. Repositioning can help meet these environmental targets through tailored criteria for holistically improving an asset.
Several dimensions must be considered to minimize the carbon footprint of a redevelopment; choosing the right materials; recycling others and minimizing construction waste. Efficient building systems, renewable energy sources and use of biodiversity can all help reduce future carbon emissions, while resilience towards climate hazards is a key factor in delivering long lasting value.
Developers and operators in the Middle East are recognising the value of low-energy high-performance buildings and are increasingly seeking to achieve operational savings whilst increasing the value of their assets through a more sustainable approach.
Multiple-use space is the future
What people expect from buildings is changing. Flexible density of use is now a critical element in redevelopment and we’re seeing single-use spaces like office towers give way to mixed-use, multi-functional spaces, with services for building users and the public alike.
Real estate that is flexible, sustainable and beneficial to communities will increasingly draw demand – and landlords and investors who invest in repositioning their buildings stand to generate financial, environmental and social value.