AIA East Gateway by Shma Company Limited: A WELL & LEED Certified Green Office Landscape in Bang Na, Thailand

Located in the rapidly developing district of Bang Na, Thailand, AIA East Gateway redefines the contemporary workplace through integrated landscape architecture and nature-based urban infrastructure. Designed by Shma Company Limited, the 16,143-square-meter project establishes a forward-thinking office building model that places employee well-being, environmental resilience, and sustainable water management at the forefront of its design strategy.

Rather than treating landscape as decorative frontage, AIA East Gateway positions green infrastructure as the core architectural framework. The project seamlessly merges park, workplace, and ecological system into a unified spatial experience, offering a biophilic office environment that enhances productivity while responding to Bangkok’s climate challenges.

Biophilic Design and Workplace Well-Being

At the heart of the project is a strong commitment to well-being-centered office design. Lush landscapes extend across the ground plane, podium levels, and sky balconies, transforming conventional corporate spaces into immersive green environments.

Employees can step outside their indoor work zones into outdoor co-working areas surrounded by vegetation. This spatial flexibility allows workers to change their environment throughout the day: supporting improved concentration, reduced fatigue, and enhanced creativity. Research-backed design principles suggest that exposure to natural settings can increase productivity by approximately 15 to 20%, reinforcing the project’s evidence-based approach to workplace architecture.

A defining feature is the 400-meter vibrant red running track that winds through greenery, encouraging daily movement. Complementary amenities include an outdoor fitness center, table tennis spaces, indoor fitness facilities, and a saltwater swimming pool. Together, these components foster physical health while promoting mental restoration through connection with nature.

Social Spaces and Urban Farming for Community Engagement

Beyond individual wellness, AIA East Gateway supports social and community well-being within the corporate setting. Meeting pavilions, shaded resting areas, and shared dining tables create informal gathering zones that strengthen workplace relationships and collaborative culture.

A highlight of the landscape design is the urban farming corner, where edible plant species are cultivated on-site. Employees can harvest fresh produce and participate in gardening activities, transforming the office environment into a living ecosystem. Studies indicate that access to edible gardens can improve overall health by up to 15%, while also fostering social bonding and environmental awareness.

This integration of urban agriculture within a corporate campus reflects a growing trend in sustainable workplace design: where food systems, community engagement, and biophilic strategies converge.

Nature-Based Solutions for Flood Resilience

Bang Na is a flood-prone area, and the project responds with a comprehensive water-sensitive urban design strategy. The site is engineered to function as a water retention landscape during heavy rainfall periods lasting up to four months annually. It can store up to 1,161.25 cubic meters of water, significantly reducing runoff pressure on surrounding infrastructure.

The landscape’s key environmental features include:

• A natural retention pond that doubles as a visual amenity and stormwater reservoir
• Long bioswales designed like vegetated streams
• Rain gardens distributed throughout the site
• Rainwater harvesting tanks integrated into the infrastructure

All green areas are designed as Rain Gardens that slow, filter, and capture stormwater. Bioswales trap pollutants and sediments before water flows into retention ponds, where it undergoes a nature-based purification process. The treated water is then reused for irrigation and landscape maintenance, establishing a circular water management system.

This approach demonstrates how landscape architecture can operate as ecological infrastructure: mitigating flooding, improving water quality, and reducing resource consumption simultaneously.

Environmental Certifications: WELL and LEED

The environmentally conscious design of AIA East Gateway has earned both WELL Building Standard certification and LEED (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design) certification.

The WELL framework evaluates buildings across seven core concepts: Air, Water, Nourishment, Light, Fitness, Comfort, and Mind. By integrating outdoor exercise facilities, clean water systems, edible gardens, and restorative green spaces, the project exemplifies holistic wellness architecture.

Simultaneously, LEED certification recognizes the building’s sustainable site planning, energy-conscious strategies, water efficiency, and ecological integration. These dual certifications underscore the project’s commitment not only to corporate performance but also to environmental stewardship and community benefit.

A Benchmark for Future Green Office Developments

AIA East Gateway sets a new benchmark for green office buildings in Thailand and Southeast Asia. By combining biophilic workplace design, urban farming, rainwater harvesting, bioswales, and retention ponds, the project demonstrates how corporate architecture can become regenerative rather than extractive.

In an era of climate uncertainty and evolving workplace expectations, this landscape-driven office campus offers a replicable model for resilient, health-focused urban development.

All photographs are works of  W Workspace