Context
Our office collaborated with Larsen and Toubro, Ltd. (L&T-ECC) to design a competition entry for the second phase of a corporate office campus for Cognizant Technology Solutions. The project aimed to expand the existing Phase I complex, located on a challenging site, with iconic structures that harmonized with the preexisting buildings.
Concept
Master Plan:
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Centralized plaza bordered by four structures:
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Two 14-story office towers (north and south).
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Low-profile auditorium (east).
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Cantilevered dining block (west) that completes the plaza’s rectangular envelope.
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Pedestrian Focus: Ground floor designed for walkability with covered loggias, double-height glazed lobbies, and processional entrances.
Office Blocks:
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Private Side (street-facing): Internalized core to maximize perimeter office space.
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Plaza Side: Six tower bays with flexible multi-height spaces (seminar areas, conference rooms, libraries) connected by adjustable metal stairs.
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Penthouse Floors: Top two floors feature internalized gardens for corporate administrative functions.
Key Features:
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Dining Facility: Triple-height glazed lobby blocks northern vehicular traffic; five-story dining hall overlooks the plaza.
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Auditorium: Transparent design with solid internal cells, allowing visual connectivity to the plaza.
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Sustainability: LEED certification targeted.
Team
Design Leadership:
Principal Designer: Cyrus Subawalla
Project Designer: Sangwan Seo
Collaborators:
A/E Design: L&T-EDRC
Construction: Larsen & Toubro (L&T-ECC)
Firm: CSA Partners Ltd. (Architects & Urban Designers)
Project Data
Building Type: Corporate Technology Campus
Sustainability: LEED Certification (targeted)
Location: Siruseri (Chennai), India
Site Area: ~29 acres
Project Area: ~4 million sf (Phase II)
Client/Lead Partner: Larsen and Toubro, Ltd. (ECC & EDRC)
Completion Year:
Concept completed in 2011 by CSA.
Phase I constructed; Phase II on hold.
Construction Cost: Undisclosed
Recognition: Invited Competition Winner (As Design Consultant to L&T) Conceptual and schematic design for 2+ million sf completed in <75 days.