Summertown Interiors completes refurbishment of LinkedIn’s MENA HQ
The 1,600sqm two-floor refurbishment project reflects LinkedIn’s ambitions of having a sustainable, dynamic and highly tailored headquarters
Fitout contractor Summertown Interiors has completed the refurbishment of LinkedIn’s Middle East and North Africa headquarters in Business Central Tower, Dubai.
In a statement, the contractor said that the new sustainable interior project is aimed at attaining gold certifications in both Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) and WELL Health-Safety Ratings.
The project was carried out in close collaboration with Dubai-based architectural and design consultancy SAY Studio, project management specialists CBRE Project Management and engineering consultancy firm Cundall, the statement added.
It highlighted that the 1,600sqm two-floor refurbishment is a reflection of LinkedIn’s mission to “connect the world’s professionals to make them more productive and successful.” The team brought this concept to life by creating a physical space that embraces a creative and welcoming hybrid working environment.
In early January 2021, Summertown Interiors’ design and build said it helped Takeda’s new Dubai HQ earn LEED Silver Certification.
Marcos Bish, Managing Director of Summertown Interiors said: “It was inspiring to work on such a dynamic and sustainable fit out project for LinkedIn, which was highly tailored to their people and future-focused business model. We are delighted that LinkedIn are aiming for both LEED and WELL Gold certified ratings for their new workspace; and hope the LinkedIn team enjoys their new workspace for years to come.”
He pointed out that some of the key highlights of the new sustainable workplace include collaborative working spaces, a multi-functional training room and dedicated media recording room. There is also a welcoming café with a micro-kitchen co-working space, and a well-equipped mother’s room and social games room.
The result is a dynamic blend of workspaces that are welcoming and inspiring for LinkedIn’s employees, he said.
Bish added: “A key challenge in delivering this complex workspace was to ensure all stakeholders were kept informed of the project’s progress throughout. Our transparent approach to regular progress reporting and clear communication ensured that the project met the high-end quality expectations of the client. We used our Matterport 3D scanning technology to keep all stakeholders connected, which also enabled LinkedIn’s European team to keep up to date with the refurbishment’s progress virtually.”
In mid April 2021, Summertown Interiors said it would refurbish the food court at Times Square Centre.
Other initiatives and innovations included in the refurbishment program included desks turned into alternative settings to promote more flexible working styles, while meeting rooms were equipped with state-of-the-art technology to embrace hybrid work for a clear, collaborative experience.
The design team prioritised creating a community of new experiences that helps to foster team collaboration and creativity, the statement continued.
James Fee, LinkedIn EMEA Design + Build Lead concluded, “Summertown were excellent to work with on our project – from the initial client set up through to opening for First Day of Business. They also worked hard to ensure a team first approach was established and maintained. I think this helped promote a unified approach to problem solving from start to end and helped us deliver the project in a short timeframe on site, actively dealing with many global stakeholders.”
In late September 2021, Summertown Interiors said it achieved positive sustainability results and is on track for its JOURNEY2030 sustainability goals.
