Saradar Training Academy
Saradar Training Academy transforms an existing building in Ashrafieh, Beirut into a flexible learning and social environment for the bank. Conceived as an adaptive reuse project, the design reconfigures a constrained, relatively dark interior into an open and dynamic training center that reflects a more creative and agile approach to learning.
Rather than following the conventional corporate model of training rooms organized around corridors, AccentDG conceived the project as a journey. A continuous circulation loop—the “Track”—moves through the building, simultaneously organizing circulation, defining spaces and connecting different activities.
The journey begins in a double-height communal lobby flooded with natural light. A two-level living wall incorporates seating niches, while a coffee station, informal gathering areas, booths and shared working tables encourage interaction and spontaneous encounters.
From the lobby, the Track meanders between two curvilinear glass volumes. One contains flexible training rooms that can operate independently or open into a larger space. The other accommodates a more secluded virtual training room, while adjacent activity zones provide informal settings for collaboration, brainstorming and relaxation.
Materiality reinforces the identity of the Track. Purple epoxy references the bank's visual identity against a predominantly grey concrete floor, while areas of timber and artificial grass differentiate particular activities. Concrete, painted surfaces, plywood, mirrors, black metal frames, glass and illuminated polycarbonate introduce a varied material language throughout the interior.
On the upper level, spaces open toward the floor below and extend to an outdoor terrace. A suspended net creates an informal area for resting while allowing daylight to penetrate deeper into the building. Hammocks, daybeds, seating and planting transform the rooftop into an unexpected garden and breakout space within the dense urban setting.
Through adaptive reuse, the existing structure is transformed into a fluid and informal learning environment where planned training activities coexist with social interaction and spontaneous encounters. The academy becomes more than a collection of classrooms: it operates as a creative hub embedded within the city.
