The Surat Diamond Bourse building, with a cost of $388 million, boasts a floor area of 660,000 square meters, surpassing the Pentagon in the United States to become the largest office building in the world.
Located in Surat, Gujarat, about 240 km north of Mumbai, India, the city processes 90% of the world’s diamonds. The newly opened Surat Diamond Bourse is the largest office building globally, catering to the needs of over 65,000 diamond professionals, including cutters, polishers, and traders. The complex, which consists of nine rectangular structures connected by a central “spine”, spans over 14 hectares and features 15 floors, as reported by CNN on July 18.
The Surat Diamond Bourse will be inaugurated at the end of this year. (Photo: Wikipedia)
Architects of the commercial center stated that the building spans over 660,000 square meters, significantly exceeding the Pentagon in the U.S. The project is set to welcome its first residents in November after four years of construction, with the official inauguration planned for the end of this year.
Surat Diamond Bourse features marble flooring and a light-filled atrium connecting over 4,700 offices, which can function as small workshops for cutting and polishing diamonds. The $388 million project is also equipped with 131 elevators, dining areas, retail shops, a gym, and conference rooms for employees. According to Mahesh Gadhavi, the project’s CEO, the Surat Diamond Bourse will save thousands of people travel time to Mumbai by train for business.
The new building is designed by the Indian architectural firm Morphogenesis following an international competition. The scale of the building was determined based on demand. Gadhavi revealed that diamond companies purchased all offices before construction began. Morphogenesis stated that their layout creates a “level playing field” for both large and small businesses. With offices connected by long corridors at the center, reminiscent of an airport terminal, users can easily access all facilities and amenities, according to Morphogenesis founder Sonali Rastogi. No office is more than a 7-minute walk from any entrance of the building. Morphogenesis also studied how diamond trading occurs in India to design the building. A total of nine small courtyards, each 0.6 hectares in size, with seating and fountains, can serve as meeting points for traders.
Gadhavi expressed hope that this sustainable design could shape the future development of a city where summer temperatures can exceed 43.3 degrees Celsius. The building design consumes 50% less energy than permitted levels. The flared shape of the central spine helps channel wind through the structure, while the cooling system circulates cool water beneath the floors, contributing to lower indoor temperatures. Although each office still uses conventional air conditioning, Rastogi estimates that about half of the building is cooled by natural ventilation, while common areas utilize solar energy.
