Sonali Rastogi & Manit Rastogi of Morphogenesis has designed a sustainable, climate-sensitive campus for Wipro that fuses regional identity with modern workplace design.
Designed by Sonali and Manit Rastogi of Morphogenesis, Wipro’s new office campus in Hyderabad reinterprets the traditional Indian courtyard within a contemporary high-rise framework. Spread across 38 acres within a 101-acre master plan in Gopanpally—close to the city’s Financial District and Gachibowli—the campus accommodates 11,000 employees in an environment that promotes collaboration, well-being, and environmental stewardship. Developed as part of the second phase of the master plan, the project features four dynamic new towers that seamlessly integrate with three existing buildings. With its high-performing, energy-efficient design, the campus not only achieved IGBC Platinum certification but also sets a new benchmark for sustainable and community-driven workplaces.
The brief focused on two key objectives: designing a campus that responds to Hyderabad’s tropical climate and optimising ground coverage for nearly 1 million sq. ft. of office space. A 15-acre lowlying natural aquifer was identified by analysing the region’s rainfall patterns and geology. Multiple iterations were developed for the built form using courtyard planning and volumes of varying density and height. They were then overlapped with studies of solar radiation, wind movement, and daylight autonomy. The micro-courtyard typology emerged as the most effective, minimising solar radiation in outdoor spaces and optimising wind movement and daylight.
The design features four towers rising from a podium which encloses multiple courtyards. The podium houses key amenities, including a food court, recreational spaces, a library, and a gym, all connected via shaded pedestrian streets. It is designed as a multi-functional arrival plaza and social hub, achieved at just 10% of conventional costs. It houses key amenities, including a food court, library, gym, and pockets for leisure, connected via shaded pedestrian streets, encouraging interaction with nature in an open atmosphere.
The towers are oriented north-south, opening up the eastwest facades to prevailing winds for natural ventilation. The staggered building heights—9 to 14 floors—temper the overall scale while maximising self-shading and air movement. The massing also introduces terraces that function as extensions to the workspaces, connecting occupants to the outdoors.
The towers are connected on multiple floors, creating grand gateways to the podium, which is further shaded by tensile canopies. Traditional waterfront structures like baolisand ghats have been referenced as an experimental element within the terraced landscape to facilitate evaporative cooling and reduce ambient temperatures. Water featuresat the pedestrian entrance, inspired by the ornate fountains of Hyderabad’s mediaeval Nizami palaces, contribute to passive cooling and enhance thermal comfort throughout the campus.
Passive strategies include evaporative cooling during hot-dry months and physiological cooling during humid periods by capitalising on east-west winds. The facade design minimises heat gain while optimising daylight ingress. A wall to window ratio of 70:30, along with an exposed brick cavity system, improves insulation while reducing thermal load. Taking a cue from the old-school construction of Hyderabadi markets, the facade is clad in earth-hued clay bricks with low U-values, lowering energy consumption by improving insulation and regulating indoor temperatures.
The floor plates are designed for adaptability, featuring a modular layout that maximizes flexibility. Their narrow width enables daylight penetration deep into workstations and reduces dependence on artificial lighting. Work desks are arranged perpendicular to the glazing to minimise glare while ensuring visual comfort. A central circulation core optimises movement, allowing flexible workspace configurations on two, three, or four sides.
Water conservation measures include a 70% reduction in water draw. The campus harvests 100% of roof rainwater and channels surface runoff through an integrated network of drains, percolation pits, and multiple harvesting ponds. Additionally, it recycles 100% of its greywater through an STP-MBR system and employs highly efficient magnetic bearing chillers with variable primary pumping systems to further optimise energy use.
A 0.5 million sq. ft. underfloor air distribution system is integrated with IoT-enabled GECC platform edge devices to enable realtime monitoring of the building’s energy performance. Advanced computational fluid dynamics (CFD) simulations guide the airflow design to maximise cross-ventilation and thermal comfort. Radiant cooling, underfloor systems, and ceiling fans ensure a balance of passive and active strategies to minimise energy use.
The campus achieves an energy performance index (EPI) of 65 kWh/ m²/year, consuming 27% less energy than conventional green buildings. The Wipro office campus exemplifies a sustainable workplace by balancing traditional bioclimatic principles with contemporary construction methodologies. Designed for energy efficiency, environmental harmony, and occupant wellbeing, it represents the vision and values of one of India’s leading multinational corporations— creating a benchmark for future workplaces in the region.
