Riyadh, Saudi Arabia

Principal  while at Woods Bagot London

Completed 2017 (Competition 2009)

70,000 sqm (753,000sqft) GFA

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King Abdullah Petroleum Studies and Research Centre (KAPSARC) is an independent, non-profit institution established by a decision of the Saudi Council of Ministers and funded in perpetuity by an endowment provided by the Government of Saudi Arabia. The endowment enables researchers to conduct independent, objective research without the need to raise capital and without pressure from external funders or donors. The Center is supported by globally recognized energy thought leaders, forming the International Advisory Council, who advise the Center on its ongoing programs and research projects.

The project was won in conjunction with Zaha Hadid Architects and Arup and based on strong environmental credentials and a clever honeycomb crystalline structure based on the benzene molecule. The overall masterplan consists of five buildings all linked via a covered lattice structure; the Energy Knowledge Centre, the Energy Computer Centre, a Conference Centre with hall and 300 seat auditorium, a Research Library, and the Musalla for prayer.

From the initial competition submission I worked closely with Lars Teichman and Patrik Shumacher from ZHA to develop the internal configurations for each building typology to meet the challenging brief. While the modular design generates a consistent organizational, spatial and structural strategies each shape varies and contorts to fit the geometry of the masterplan while maintaining the overall GFA