SOM Unveils Circular Dubai Holding Headquarters in Dubai

Summary

SOM has been appointed as the lead architect for Dubai Holding's new circular headquarters near the Jumeirah Emirates Towers. The project stands out for its central open-air atrium, climate-responsive facade, and integrated landscape design that prioritizes collaboration and employee well-being.

Why it matters

The project signals a shift in the Gulf region from monolithic glass towers to circular, courtyard-based typologies that prioritize internal connectivity and climate adaptation. It also highlights SOM's end-to-end delivery model—integrating architecture, structure, and interiors under one roof—as a competitive advantage in a market where fragmented design teams are common.

Highlights

• A circular plan featuring a central landscaped atrium and radial workspaces, replacing the traditional rectangular tower
• A facade designed in collaboration with James Carpenter to balance shading, daylight, and views for the Dubai climate
• SOM's execution of architecture, structural engineering, and interior design as a single interdisciplinary team

Critical take

The text reads like a polished press release. It boasts of an 'extraordinary ambitious structural idea' but never specifies what that is. There are no quantitative sustainability targets, such as energy, water, or carbon figures. It relies heavily on vague corporate adjectives like 'highly connected' and 'future-oriented.' Until construction drawings or performance data are released, the circular form and garden terraces remain an aspirational vision rather than a proven innovation.