The world’s largest office is now located in Surat, Gujarat, India’s gem capital, surpassing America. The Pentagon in the US has been replaced as the largest office building in the world by “Surat Diamond Bourse,” a one-stop shop for more than 65,000 diamond professionals.

Spanning over 35 acres of land, the sprawling 15-story complex has been constructed to house the diamond industry. It features a series of nine interconnected rectangular structures emanating from a central “spine.”

The office has 7.1 million square feet of floor space, making it larger than the Pentagon, the headquarters of the United States Department of Defence, which held the crown for nearly 80 years.

This one-stop destination for diamond traders has kept up with the standards of green norms. Project’s CEO Mahesh Gadhavi has claimed half of the building is cooled using natural ventilation, while common areas are powered using solar energy. A flared shape has been designed to funnel prevailing winds through the structure, and “radiant cooling” circulates chilled water under its floors to reduce indoor temperatures.

The inauguration of this project in Nov 2023 will eliminate the need for thousands of people to travel to Mumbai by train daily for business purposes. It will be a testament to India’s entrepreneurial spirit. It will serve as a trade, innovation, and collaboration hub, further boosting our economy and creating employment opportunities.

Meanwhile, Prime Minister Narendra Modi tweeted, “Surat Diamond Bourse showcases the dynamism and growth of Surat’s diamond industry. It is also a testament to India’s entrepreneurial spirit. It will serve as a hub for trade, innovation, and collaboration, further boosting our economy and creating employment opportunities.” (with inputs from the agency)