The new headquarters at the Prince Mohammed Bin Salman Nonprofit City will be a hub for driving youth development, innovation and creativity
Riyadh, Saudi Arabia; May 30, 2022: Mohammed bin Salman Foundation “Misk” today announced key details about its new headquarters, located in Prince Mohammed Bin Salman Nonprofit City in 2025.
The world’s first nonprofit city was launched by His Royal Highness Mohammed bin Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud, Crown Prince, Founder and Chairman of the Board of Misk Foundation. It will contribute to achieving the goals of Misk in supporting innovation and entrepreneurship while nurturing future leaders.
Dr Badr Al-Badr, CEO of Misk Foundation, said: “The primary pursuit of The Foundation is to deliver the Vision 2030 of its Founder His Royal Highness Mohammed bin Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud to empower youth in education, entrepreneurship, art, and culture. Every aspect of the new headquarters is specially designed to create an environment which nurtures collaboration and creativity, from beautiful outdoor gardens where people can gather to relax and exchange innovative ideas, to expansive views of the wadi and Riyadh’s skyline which serve to inspire and motivate people to transform the Kingdom for the better.”
The building is designed by the international architect Conrad Gargett, highlighting the innovative and pioneering spirit of The Foundation. The award winning design celebrates the Salmani architectural style, which follows the wishes of the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Abdullah bin Abdulaziz Al Saud, to ensure it reflects the identity of the city of Riyadh, whereby it combines the originality and spirit of the ancient Najd with the spirit of modernity. The Salmani style encompasses the details of the overall scheme, identifies the materials, and ensures the design has open and integrated spaces. Misk Foundation headquarters will include a boutique museum that showcases The Foundation journey, and also highlights the rich heritage of Wadi Hanifa.
At the heart of the Misk Foundation headquarters’ design is a publicly accessible central gathering space. This landscaped space “Garden Court” will attract pedestrians into the building and allow them to experience the micro-climates of the covered garden. The office accommodation wraps around this central garden space, which will allow The Foundation team the opportunity to engage with nature, make connections and exchange ideas away from their desks. The nurturing environment will be shaded by an over-scaled Mashrabiya roof structure, that filters light and heat for optimal comfort. The foundation held an employees’ survey to get them involved in the design by understanding what they look for in their work environment.
John Flynn, Director, Conrad Gargett, said: “We are honored to deliver a cutting-edge design for Misk Foundation headquarters, which takes into consideration the vision of the Founder as well as the long-term strategic goals of Prince Mohammed Bin Salman Nonprofit City. With our focus on environmental sustainability and our ambition to achieve LEED Gold certification, the new design incorporates traditional design elements with healthy environments that promote the well-being of all staff and visitors. We hope that it will become a treasured part of the new city.”
The Foundation headquarters also supports the Riyadh Green Initiative, reflecting the Kingdom’s vision of increasing the per capita share of green space while adding to Misk Foundation’s team overall well-being. With professionals seeking a healthy work environment, the focus of setting the highest standards in environmental care will attract more talent by delivering a happier, healthier, and serene workplace.
Prince Mohammed Bin Salman Nonprofit City is located in Irqah neighborhood, adjacent to Wadi Hanifa, on an area of around 3.4 square kilometers.
ENDS
