LEED-certified TMB Headquarters raises the bar for the construction industry

This brilliant LEED Platinum-certified office building in Ankara, Turkey, incorporates state-of-the-art sustainable technologies.

The building, designed by Istanbul and London-based design studio Avci Architects, serves as headquarters of the Turkish Contractors Association and has recently been recognized as the International Project of the Year at The Building Awards 2014 in London.

The building features an underground thermal labyrinth and an active thermal slab cooling system which exploit the diurnal temperature range of the local climate to reduce the energy demands. Air heated up due to the operation of machines and the presence of people is collected in ventilation ducts and carried to recovery units. By being forced to travel the long distance inside the labyrinth-like interior the hot air cools down while it moves, losing its heat before it reaches the air conditioning station.

A meticulously designed external skin is made of two layers- the first system of frameless glass to glass and glass to metal panels, and the second one made of stainless steel mesh. The varying transparency created by the multi-layered facade allow workers and visitors to maintain connection with the outside, while remaining responsive to solar orientation and exposure to sunlight.