WOMEN BRIGADE

Sectors and industries that have largely been male-dominated are now seeing significant contributions from women. The real estate sector, for one, has women increasingly taking up responsibilities across the board that include opting for on-site positions rather than seeking one that offers the comfort of an office. For most women engineers and architects, working out of a construction site is not only important but a matter of professional pride.

This is exactly what a team of young architects and engineers felt when they were given the task of conceptualizing, designing, and executing The Arcade at Brigade Orchards - a 3,00,000 square feet retail and office space, part of Brigade Orchards, built around the theme, 'a city within a city'. Mentored by Nirupa Shankar, Executive Director, Brigade Group, the team included 12 core members from legal to design to development to project management and engineering.

Commenting on the project and the team, Nirupa Shankar said, “Some of the most senior and key positions at Brigade are held by women who are experts in their respective fields, many of whom command respect within the organization and in the industry. Therefore, it wasn't something that was out-of-the-ordinary for us at Brigade to put together a skilled team to work on this project, who also just happened to be women. It has been established time and again that women have the inherent qualities that enable us to multitask, seamlessly collaborate with teams and in doing so add value to the task at hand. This is best illustrated by the fact that. The Arcade at Brigade Orchards has an excellent rating in the company's project evaluation score, thereby speaking volumes about the team and their work. I strongly believe that women will continue to break barriers in the construction industry. In fact, a recent IMF report says that India's GDP will increase by 27% if participation by women equalled that of men in the workforce, clearly suggesting there is untapped talent waiting to be harnessed.”

Ambika Mallela, the project architect, said, “This project is definitely the highlight of my career, especially because I got to work with a group of uber-talented and committed women. Brigade is an equal opportunities employer, and I can proudly say is setting standards for the industry. I am indeed honoured to have been part of the team behind The Arcade at Brigade Orchards.”

Located in Devanahalli, 10 minutes away from the Kempegowda International Airport, The Arcade at Brigade Orchards is a multi-faceted and inclusive commercial enclave. At the entrance of Brigade Orchards, The Arcade is a ground plus five floors structure that provides shopping areas on the ground and first floors and office spaces on the second to fifth floors. Designed as per NBC & KFF norms with zero discharge design, this premium retail and office destination within a world-class integrated enclave is developed on the lines of a high street offering, alfresco seating, an open atrium with high ceilings, and a premium finish. It includes road-facing shops, a beautifully planned atrium, a stepped terrace garden and corridors, natural light and ventilation, and ample parking spaces. The project is a mix of both colonial and contemporary design, with the entire structure being built around the central courtyard. A lot of open spaces have been incorporated with soothing landscapes, including step terrace gardens. Retail and commercial floors are designed in such a way that customers can expect maximum efficiency. It was conceived as a neighbourhood shopping centre that would cater to the nearly 4000 families of Brigade Orchards, meeting the need for convenience of the residents while also catering to those living in the neighbourhood.

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