Leading UAE-based smart and green facilities management (FM) company Farnek, has welcomed its first employees into its new AED 200 million state-of-the-art staff accommodation in Dubai South.

The 100,000 square feet facility, which will become home to some 5,000 Farnek employees by next year, was completed, on time, on budget and to specification.

Spacious, contemporary-designed employee rooms will be managed by a bespoke property software solution, so that new staff can be welcomed 24/7 at a dedicated reception area, sign in and be shown to their rooms in minutes. Other features include a prayer room, medical clinic, restaurant, library, barber shop, as well as leisure facilities and plenty of outdoor space.

“This is the future of staff accommodation. A place where employees feel at home, so that they can relax in modern, comfortable and pleasant surroundings. Also, connectivity is essential for staff welfare today, so free Wi-Fi has been made available to all staff throughout the entire complex,” said Markus Oberlin, CEO, Farnek.  

The low-rise (basement, G+4) employs the latest smart technology and is the most energy, water and waste-efficient building of its kind, not only in the UAE but throughout the region.

“Through its smart and sustainable design, we hope to save at least 20% more than a conventional staff accommodation centre, in energy and water consumption. That could be worth up to AED 3 million every year,” added Oberlin.

The complex also features a 240ft vertical rooftop garden which will produce over 3,000 leafy greens such as lettuce, kale, and spinach, as well as tomatoes, cucumbers, eggplants, capsicums and chillis which will be used in Farnek’s own kitchens.  

Other design features include a 150sqm expanse of solar panels on the roof of the building, which will meet all hot water requirements and over 4,000 LED-lights have been installed throughout, supplying 90% of the total amount of lighting required.

The low energy lighting system also works in tandem with occupancy sensors and photocells installed in the common areas such as the corridors and externally in the parking areas, to optimise the building’s energy-efficiency.

Further sustainable features include reflective glazing and exterior paint, wall and roof insulation, energy recovery ventilation and energy-efficient air-conditioning.