Because of the work-from-home epidemic in the United States, the corporate real estate business is a tough one to be in right now.
In the city of Surat in India, a corporate complex dedicated to diamond cutting has been built that is so massive that it makes the Pentagon look like a tiny house.
It spans over 35 acres, houses over 65,000 people working in the diamond industry, and 7.1 million square feet of floor space inside this sprawling monstrosity. That is over 500,000 square feet more than the Pentagon. It will open in November and took over four years to construct.
Check out the keynote speakers and details for The Vault 2023 and secure your tickets!
It is billed as a “one-stop destination” home to tens of thousands of diamond cutters, polishers, and traders. There are a total of nine rectangular buildings that are interconnected with a central “spine.” It’s almost a mini-city, with dining, retail, wellness, and conference rooms scattered throughout.
It cost $388 million to build, and the primary reason is convenience; it saves thousands of people from having to travel from Surat to Mumbai by train. That’s a one-way trip of 150 miles.
Here’s what Mahesh Gadhavi, the CEO of Surat Diamond Bourse, told CNN.
“It’s difficult … (some) people have to spend three and a half to four hours, daily, to come from their homes to their offices and back home again.”
It is an architectural wonder in many ways. It was designed to have winds blow through the structure to provide natural cooling for almost half of the buildings.
Add comment