Emerging from the desert landscape of Riyadh in Saudi Arabia, Zaha Hadid Architects' new King Abdullah Petroleum Studies and Research Centre (KAPSARC) recently opened its doors for the first time during Saudi Design Week 2017. With the late Zaha Hadid and Patrik Schumacher as the architectural design leads, the 70,000m² building will serve as the new research and office campus for KAPSARC, a non-profit institution whose work includes developing economic frameworks and policies that aim to reduce environmental impact and overall cost of energy supply in various regions worldwide. 

ZHA shared more project details, along with some stunning photos by Hufton+Crow below.

Zaha Hadid Architects designed the crystalline KAPSARC building with a cellular, partially modular layout that integrates different departments with interconnecting public spaces. The campus comprises five buildings: the Energy Knowledge Centre, the Energy Computer Centre, a Conference Centre with an exhibition hall and a 300-seat auditorium, a Research Library with an archive of 100,000 volumes, and the Musalla — a quiet space for prayer.

Each of the campus buildings can be entered through a central public courtyard, which also functions as a meeting space during more temperate weather. During the hottest times of the year, people can use an underground pathway that connects to all the buildings.

In response to Riyadh's extreme climate conditions, the campus' buildings were designed with a tough exterior shell as well as a specific arrangement and form that bring in indirect sunlight and heat, creating a more comfortable working environment. “KAPSARC's architecture is porous within,” ZHA describes. “Specific hexagonal cells strategically located within each building are left open to create a series of sheltered courtyards that bring softly-controlled daylight into the interior.” 

The roof profiles are also integrated with “wind-catchers” to provide cooling for the courtyards. KAPSARC's honeycomb grid arrangement also allows for its future expansion. The KAPSARC campus is ZHA's first project to achieve LEED Platinum certification from the U.S. Green Building Council. 

According to ZHA, 40 percent of the building's construction materials were sourced from within 500 miles, and 30 percent of its materials are made with recycled content. All of KAPSARC's potable water is recycled and reused on-site and 100 percent of its irrigation water is from non-potable sources. Features like its massing and orientation, facade optimization, and solar PV array contribute to KAPSARC's 45 percent reduction in energy performance. 

Find more project images in the gallery below.