Leaving a Lasting Legacy

In the heart of the King Abdullah Financial District, SAY Studio has created a new kind of headquarters for accounting and consulting giant Deloitte. The eight-floor project is, says the studio, “Rooted in the firm’s deep awareness around time – how it passes and shapes decisions, and how the right ideas can outlast it.” The workplace does not feel ‘corporate’; rather, the floor plan unfolds in continuous, concentric layers, like the ripples left behind when a stone meets water. The designers say this is a metaphor for Deloitte’s work: “Solutions designed not just for the present, but for what comes next. Circulation is fluid; there are no dead ends or rigid corridors, rather a natural rhythm that draws people forward.”

SAY Studio states that four forces guided the design – organic, directed, experiential and centred – resulting in spaces shaped not only to function, but to be felt, with an emphasis on wellbeing. The building feels alive and responsive to people, making use of greenery in unexpected places, tactile and calming materials, light to energise shared tables and quiet corners, and glass walls to offer transparency without sacrificing focus.

Focused workstations sit alongside collaborative hubs, enabling a variety of working arrangements, while quiet zones support deep concentration and common spaces invite collective ideation. Conference rooms, anchored around organic focal points, encourage discussion and connection. The informal work settings of the fourth floor, known as ‘Your Work, Your Way’, encourage spontaneous dialogue. The eighth floor – the ‘Greenhouse’ – is a catalyst equipped with advanced technology, designed to adapt effortlessly from hands-on workshops to large-scale gatherings.

Laila Al-Yousuf, Design Director at SAY Studio, says, “This building is a manifestation of Deloitte’s values, reflecting sustainability, forward-thinking design and a deep understanding that work environments should inspire, nurture and endure.” This space acknowledges time while creating an environment where people can pause, connect and build lasting work.