Case Study Salesforce HQ
Salesforce HQ Dublin, Spencer Dock
Completed: 2019-2023
The Brief
Using biophilia at its heart, we were challenged with designing an office space for the new Salesforce flagship HQ that was under construction in Dublin, to help maintain their leading position in The Fortune 500 “100 Best Companies to Work For”.
Having supported Salesforce globally on their biophilic design using living walls and planters in several of their office refurbishments, including London, Amsterdam & Paris, our brief was to continue to enhance this trend by aligning the office space with nature and the environment to support improved employee wellbeing.
Our brief also extended to consultation on the external landscape design, with a view to improving the biodiversity value of the landscaping.
This included the development of a Biodiversity Plan alongside Trinity College Dublin, supported by Stok (US based sustainability consultants), CBRE and the Salesforce Design Team to identify local pollinators
The Challenge
The project posed a number of challenges including:
- A three-year design schedule with multiple stakeholders in different countries during covid.
- The design of sustainable living walls wrapped around 7m height structural columns.
- Adequate provision of natural and artificial light to ensure the health of plants and green walls throughout the office space.
- The design and build of an irrigation and drainage system to support the plants and green walls over 10 floors.
- The installation of the scheme in a multiphase contract working alongside office fit out trades.
The Approach (Design & logistics)
Regular remote workshops with multiple design objectives were held to ensure adequate provision of natural and artificial light, irrigation and drainage to support our planting and green wall schemes.
With biophilia at the heart of the design, we worked with local specialists and teams from the United States, on the fit-out design over a three-year period.
Living walls to be sustained using innovative technology (computer-controlled watering & artificial lighting)
On completion of the design aspect, our management team carefully planned the installation, utilising our in-house teams, with support from local contractors and UK, Irish & European suppliers.
The scheme was installed over 12 weeks and 10 floors and included:
- 180m2 of columnar living walls to make a feature of the structural columns.
- 70m2 of interior beds with integrated irrigation and drainage.
- 1237 pots including specimen pots and screening plants.
- Over 12,000 plants in total in the green walls and planters
- Bespoke Irrigation and drainage.
The Result/ Outcome
A state of the art, groundbreaking workplace and hospitality facility spread over 10 floors with sustainable planting at its core, befitting a leading brand.
The Legacy
A showcase for innovative biophilic design and living walls as we continue to connect nature and the workplace to increase health, wellbeing and productivity.
