The Apollo Corporate Office in Noida, Uttar Pradesh, has been designed to reflect the company’s commitment to innovation and sustainability, blending striking aesthetics with functional design. Defined by two interlinked cuboids connected by a bridging structure, the building is wrapped in a bold exoskeleton that serves as both an architectural diaphragm and a symbol of steel’s versatility. This dynamic design integrates strength and aesthetics while enhancing structural integrity. The receding upper floors accommodate lush green terraces, blending functionality with sustainability, while the expansive porch area symbolises the company’s robust foundation and innovative spirit.
Inside, the building exudes modern elegance with its monolithic design and curved stone edges. A dramatic double-height atrium at the entrance establishes a sense of grandeur, seamlessly connecting to open office spaces on the first floor to foster collaboration. The bold glass façade, accentuated by the exoskeleton, creates visual depth, while the green terraces on every level offer serene outdoor retreats, integrating nature into the urban landscape.
Rudraksh Charan, Principal Architect, and Himanshu Dhiman, Ex-Project Architect, 42mm Architecture, highlight the executive floor features a triple-height lobby with Sicis flooring, metallic fluting, and a suspended glass meeting room, exuding opulent innovation. The cabin, meeting areas, and private washrooms showcase refined luxury and contemporary sophistication.
Sculpted Symphony
The Apollo Corporate Office is defined by three key architectural and structural innovations that shape its unique identity. A bold metal exoskeleton encases the glass core and terraces, showcasing the company’s expertise in steel. The striking 25 ft porch, supported by a single column, exemplifies advanced engineering and scale. A sculpted stone atrium at ground level symbolises strength and grandeur, serving as the building’s heart and fostering connectivity within shared workspaces. Above, a triple-height atrium ties the executive spaces together, with a suspended meeting room at its center, creating a focal point of innovation and collaboration. These features seamlessly blend form, function, and design.
Steel was chosen for its unparalleled versatility, strength, and aesthetic potential. It enables sleek, slender profiles that maintain structural integrity, allowing for a clean, modern aesthetic. The exoskeleton efficiently manages wind loads, ensuring stability while maintaining a minimalist design.
Steel’s adaptability also enabled the dramatic porch, supported by a single column, and the striking use of steel pipes in the facade. These pipes form an intricate exoskeleton that frames the glass and terraces, creating a contrast between solid and transparent elements. The steel facade not only commands attention but also harmonises with its urban environment, reflecting Apollo’s commitment to pushing the boundaries of steel in contemporary design.
Spectacular Showcase
The design and construction of this structure presented significant engineering challenges, particularly in two key areas. Developing the exoskeleton required precise mathematical calculations to create a modular system that seamlessly covered the entire building. Custom junctions were engineered to maintain structural integrity while preserving the sleek, slender aesthetic of the steel members. Additionally, achieving the floating effect of the meeting room in the upper atrium was a complex task. Beams were engineered to exact specifications to support the structure while giving the illusion of suspension.
Advanced technology played a crucial role in overcoming these challenges. BIM software, Revit, was used to design the exoskeleton, allowing precise visualisation, coordination, and modular resolution of the intricate steel structure. This virtual environment helped identify potential issues early, optimise fabrication, and ensure seamless integration with other building elements. STAAD.Pro software was employed to calculate stresses and load distribution, ensuring structural integrity while fine-tuning the design for safety, efficiency, and durability.
Successfully addressing the challenges of this project required a collaborative, multi-disciplinary approach. Structural engineers, architects, and a proactive contracting team worked closely together, ensuring the design stayed true to its vision while maintaining stability and functionality. Meticulous calculations and modeling ensured the structural integrity of the exoskeleton and floating meeting room, while the contracting team optimised construction processes, materials, and costs to keep the project on track.
Sustainability was a central focus throughout the planning, construction, and operational phases of this project, with several measures designed to enhance energy efficiency and environmental harmony. The building’s northeast-facing terraces provide shaded, glare-free lighting, maximising natural light while reducing reliance on artificial lighting for a more energy-efficient workspace. The facade features double-glazed glass units, minimising heat intake and maximising daylight, which reduces cooling and lighting demands.
The HVAC system is optimised to adjust cooling loads based on usage, improving energy efficiency without sacrificing comfort. Additionally, compactly planned building services on the terraces optimise space, while parking is managed underground to minimise surface heat and preserve the environment.
Metallic Marvel
The Apollo Corporate Office is designed with strategic measures to ensure adaptability, durability, and safety. The building incorporates fire towers placed at optimal distances for effective evacuation, while the terraces serve as refuge areas. Fire-rated doors on service cores ensure secure compartmentalisation, limiting the spread of fire.
Flexible floor plates allow for easy office expansion, accommodating evolving needs without requiring significant structural modifications. The steel exoskeleton is anodised to prevent corrosion, ensuring the building’s longevity and maintaining its aesthetic appeal over time.
Prioritising both user experience and safety, the office features a seamless integration of common and executive spaces through thoughtfully designed atriums. The ground-floor atrium, sculpted in curved stone, fosters openness and connectivity, while the triple-height upper atrium links executive spaces, creating a dynamic and collaborative atmosphere. Entry and exit points are clearly marked and equipped with security gates and checkpoints to regulate access. Advanced automation integrates surveillance, access control, and emergency response systems, ensuring occupant safety while maintaining operational efficiency without disrupting the architectural flow.
This structure plays a key role in Apollo’s mission to mass-produce and prototype various forms of steel, making the material accessible for everyday products. This approach opens new design possibilities at an economical rate, enabling broader applications across sectors. A standout feature of the building is its gallery, designed as a lifestyle space where clients can experience Apollo’s steel products in real-world applications. The gallery highlights the material’s aesthetic and functional qualities, fostering innovation and strengthening community engagement with the brand.
Fact File
Project: APL Apollo Corporate Office, Noida
Client: Rahul Gupta
Architect: 42mm Architecture
Structural Consultant: Chordia Engineering Consultancy Services
Project Management: Jayant Rohilla, Curation Tech
Fabricator: Insteel Pvt Ltd, Sai Kripa Works, Form Force
Supplier: APL Apollo
Tonnage: 200 tonne
Current Status: Completed
Quote
“The experience of this project was maddening in the best way possible. Creating a building of this magnitude while meticulously engineering each corner with design excellence and precision was challenging and rewarding. The most exciting part of the process was conceptualising the spaces and developing the building’s identity in alignment with the company’s philosophy. Giving form to that vision while ensuring functionality was a creative journey that brought together architecture, design, and the company’s core values.”
– Rudraksh Charan, Principal Architect, 42mm Architecture
“The experience of this project was enlightening, particularly in engineering the design into modular proportions. Working closely with consultants and contractors to find innovative solutions, without compromising the ethos of the design, was truly collaborative. Managing the site and coordinating various construction phases to bring the final product together with utmost efficiency presented unique challenges. The process reinforced the importance of teamwork and adaptability, ensuring that every detail aligned with the project’s vision and structural integrity.”
– Himanshu Dhiman, Project Architect, 42mm Architecture (Ex)
