Representatives of Toronto's Brookfield Property Partners and the Investment Corporation of Dubai gathered last week to officially break ground on a $1 billion development in Dubai, known as ICD Brookfield Place. Designed by Foster + Partners in collaboration with Sullivan, the new 53-storey highrise will feature a mix of office spaces, hotel suites and an ample retail component at its base.  

Aerial view of ICD Brookfield Place, image via Foster + Partners

At 282 metres, the tower will be one of the tallest building in the Dubai International Financial Centre (DIFC), a federal financial free zone located in the Emirate of Dubai. This is the first tower being built since the financial crisis of 2008, which brought about a period of financial turmoil in the United Arab Emirates.

ICD Brookfield Place seen from Al Sa'ada Street, image via Foster + Partners

The diamond-shaped building will be clad in a clear glazing designed to reflect sunlight. Upon completion in late 2018, the tower will house 83,600 square metres of Grade A office space on floors 1 through 50, as well as 'Skyview Suites' and a 'Sky Garden' on the remaining three upper floors. Adjacent to its base and fronting Al Sa'ada Street will be a five-storey, 14,000 square metre retail building, which will also include several amenities such as a private fitness club and spa.

Interiors of ICD Brookfield Place, image via Foster + Partners

The tower's parking garage will accommodate up too 2,700 cars, and the development will also be served by the nearby Financial Center station of the Dubai Metro. Furthermore, the 4-acre site will be connected to its surroundings and DIFC gate precinct by a pedestrian bridge and a landscaped public garden. The tower was designed with efficiency in mind, and is aiming to achieve a LEED Gold certification with a range of environmentally-friendly features.

Retail portion of ICD Brookfield Place, image via Foster + Partners

What is your opinion about Foster's design for this new Dubai development? Tells us by leaving a comment in the thread dedicated for this project, or in the dedicated forum thread. Additional high-resolution renderings and information are available in the datable file for ICD Brookfield Place.