The new office campus for IT giant Infosys in Nagpur surpasses conventional benchmarks for sustainability and energy efficiency. Situated within the Special Economic Zone adjacent to the city’s upcoming MIHAN commercial hub, the campus accommodates over 2,000 employees across 33 Acres (out of a total of 142 Acres) in its Phase-1 development, with future phases planned for expansion.
This new Infosys campus features a net-zero energy-enabled design that responds to Nagpur’s composite climate. The architecture, inspired by Nagpur’s unique latitude (just below the tropic of Cancer), embodies the practice’s S.O.U.L. (Sustainable, Optimized, Unique, and Liveable) design process. Furthermore, the new facility incorporates passive design strategies to reduce its energy consumption significantly.
Moreover, the architects prioritized cultural inclusivity and stakeholder participation throughout the design process. This further ensures that the campus reflects the aspirations and values of its users while retaining contextual identity. Collaborative workshops, design charrettes, and feedback sessions facilitated meaningful dialogue between architects, clients, and end-users, resulting in a truly inclusive and responsive design solution.
Site Planning and Morphology
Infosys building’s form and orientation played an integral role in achieving the numerous sustainability goals. It features a distinctive X-shaped plan, with each of the 100 M-long wings oriented at 22.5 degrees to the tropic of Cancer, and the central intersection forming the core. This intervention, along with limiting the depth of each floor plate to 18m, ensures that 90% of the workspaces receive ample daylight from both sides. The morphology also responds to programmatic requirements, establishing a central circulation node that brings together the Offshore Development Centres (ODC) located in the wings.
Planning Efficiency
The Offshore Development Centres (ODC) are designed with high levels of efficiency. Roughly 20% of the area is dedicated to circulation cores, and 80% is reserved for workspaces. The diverse programme includes collaborative workstations, conference rooms, break-out areas, and office pods.
Each workspace is uniquely designed using a myriad of materials—and is characterised by a distinct shift in flooring patterns, adaptable furniture such as high stools, tables, etc., and a diverse colour palette. Amenities like gyms and relaxation pockets are also included in the programme to promote health and well-being.
The utility zones in Infosys are separated from the workplace. This further optimizes circulation patterns for various user groups. Parking layouts are also designed efficiently, and the strategic placement of service cores enables operations to be carried out smoothly without disrupting any workflows. This helps ensure a pedestrian-friendly campus. meanshilw, the low building height maintains proximity to the surrounding landscape, facilitating human-nature interaction.
Passive and Sustainable Design Strategies
One of the key design strategies in the new Infosys campus was the integration of passive cooling techniques tailored to Nagpur’s climate. Borrowing from traditional architectural principles, the campus features natural ventilation systems and thermal mass elements. These further regulate indoor temperatures, reducing reliance on mechanical cooling.
Meanwhile, vertical fins are strategically oriented at varying angles along the entire length of the facades to regulate ingress of light. The base hue for the fins is orange, and earthy tones are added to develop a gradient. The design is inspired by the seven swaras (Indian classical music notes) and adds a sense of rhythm and visual dynamism to the building exterior.
The fins’ configuration responds to the specific programme and is different for workspaces, break-out areas, and meeting spaces. A narrow 40-degree angle is employed for workspaces, whereas the fins open up to a wider, welcoming 60-degree angle in break-out spaces and meeting areas. This grants ample views to the adjacent landscape. By decreasing the window-to-wall ratio, coupled with light shelves, glare on workstations is significantly reduced.
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The design also integrates state-of-the-art technologies, like a radiant waffle cooling system, projected to result in substantial operational cost savings. This system utilizes the mass of the concrete slabs to absorb and dissipate heat, maintaining comfortable indoor conditions without the need for excessive energy consumption. The integration of smart building controls further optimizes energy usage, allowing for real-time monitoring and adjustment of environmental parameters.
Additionally, these design strategies have led to a 52% reduction in the Energy Performance Index (EPI) compared to GRIHA benchmarks. This also means that the campus consumes only one-fifth of the energy of a typical office building.
Elements of History and Culture
Beyond its functional aspects, the architectural design of the Infosys campus reflects a deep appreciation for cultural and historical contexts. The design borrows inspiration from Nagpur’s rich heritage. It further incorporates elements of local art, symbolism, and craftsmanship into the built form.
The perpendicular edges of the building feature monolithic concrete walls and are visualized as urban canvases. The 30 M-tall RCC walls showcase a ‘Zero-Mile Location’ contemporary illustration of Nagpur Fort on one end. Meanwhile, a mind tree representative of Infosys’ work culture is on the other. From the contemporary art depicted on the façade to the thematic artwork scattered throughout the interior spaces, every aspect of the campus reflects a celebration of regional identity and tradition.
The Infosys Campus stands as a pioneering 21st-century workspace, showcasing innovative design strategies aligned with sustainability goals and cultural identity. It serves as a model for India’s urbanization challenges (an estimated 1 Billion-SqFt of construction) in the next decade. This further emphasizes the importance of responsible architecture in shaping the future of workspaces.
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Project Details:
| Name of Project | Infosys Campus |
| Typology | Office |
| Location | Nagpur, Maharashtra |
| Total Site Area | 142 Acres |
| Site Area for Phase 1 (SqFt & SqM) | 1.44 Million-SqFt / 1,33,546 SqM / 33 Acres |
| Total Built-up Area | 3,17,500 SqFt (9,500 SqM) |
| Start Date | March 2021 |
| Completion Date | January 2023 |
| Design Firm | Morphogenesis |
| Team | Principal Designer: Manit Rastogi, Sonali Rastogi Design Team: Architecture & Master planning: Nanda Kumar, Barani P Karthik Interiors: Ashish Sengupta |
Morphogenesis
Website: www.morphogenesis.org
LinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/company/morphogenesis
Instagram: www.instagram.com/morphogenesis.official
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