BDD 1227 & St. George Church | PARALX

PARALX, an architecture firm from the Middle East and the US, has finished two significant projects for the Beirut Digital District (BDD), a newly established commercial area in Beirut that focuses on Lebanon’s growing digital and creative economy.

About BDD 1227

The BDD 1227 is a collection of modern office buildings that offer indoor and outdoor workspaces. These workspaces are specifically designed for companies that are representative of the Beirut Digital District. It is worth mentioning that the BDD 1227 is the first set of new offices located next to the rebuilt central district. Additionally, it has received LEED Gold certification, which signifies its commitment to sustainability.

The BDD 1227 occupies a 4.44-acre/1.8-hectare site and provides over 194,000 square feet/18,032 square meters of office space. It is situated amidst 19th-century structures, which adds to its unique charm. The design of the BDD 1227 is inspired by its location on the city’s former Green Line, which was a dividing line during the civil war from 1975 to 1990. The design incorporates elements such as massing, porosity, and a strong connection to the surrounding environment.

PARALX was responsible for restoring Saint George Church, which is located between two buildings in BDD 1227. They were given the task of creating a public outdoor area and a parking garage underneath the church without causing any damage to the historic structure. Additionally, the firm incorporated traditional ornaments commonly seen in 19th-century Lebanese churches and designed a roof made up of parametrically designed truncated pyramids to allow natural light to enter the main interior.

PARALX won a design competition for an office building in the north, while St. George Church agreed to add another building and renovate the church during the early design stages. PARALX has also done master planning for the Beirut Digital District, which includes residential, hotels, entertainment, retail, and more office buildings for the BDD community.

PARALX, founded by architect Karim Moussawer in 2010, oversaw all aspects of a significant urban development project. The project embraced sustainable design principles and obtained LEED Gold certification even before it was finished. Additionally, local photographer Wissam Chaaya captured a collection of photographs showcasing the architectural interiors.

Understanding the history, seeing what’s around, and envisioning how this scale and type of project could fit within that specific context was very important.” — Karim Moussawer, Int. Assoc. AIA, founding principal of PARALX.

Project Info:

Architects: PARALX
Area: 32000 m²
Year: 2023
Photographs: Wissam Chaaya
Lead Architect: Karim Moussawer
Lighting Designers: Black Body Design
Landscape Designers: Greener on the Other Side
LEED Consultants: Eco Consulting
Structure Consultants: CODE
Architects: Jonna Hajjar, Renati Mhanna, Elsy Sayegh, Siba Jaber, Saeed Kendakji
MEP: Jamal Mehio
Life Safety Consultant: Socotec
City: Beirut
Country: Lebanon