What Qatar’s first WELL Gold certified office taught us about designing for performance

Starting with people, not space

When we began the process of selecting our Doha office, the starting point wasn’t the building itself - it was our people. Before any decisions were made, employees were consulted about how they work, what they need from a workplace, and what helps them perform at their best.

What emerged was a clear message: a successful workplace is not defined by how it looks, but by how it feels and functions day to day.

That insight shaped everything that followed. 

Rethinking what a high-performing workplace means

So, what does a WELL Gold certified office actually look like?

It’s easy to assume the answer lies in finishes, layouts or high-end amenities. But in reality, the defining qualities of a high-performing workplace are often less visible. They lie in the environment itself - the air we breathe, the temperature we experience, the light we work under, and the sense of comfort and connection we feel throughout the day.

The goal was never to simply achieve a certification. It was to understand what workplace performance really means in practice, particularly in a region where climate and indoor environments play such a dominant role.

The result is Qatar’s first WELL Gold certified office. More importantly, it represents a deeper exploration of how workplaces can be designed, and adapted, to perform better for the people who use them. 

Working with what already exists

Another key lesson came from where we started: the existing building.

Rather than creating something entirely new, we worked within the constraints of what was already there. This meant adapting systems, improving environmental performance and rethinking how the space operates, rather than redesigning it from scratch. This required careful coordination and a balance between performance, feasibility, and cost. It demanded flexibility, collaboration and, at times, a willingness to challenge conventional approaches.

But these constraints also reinforced a valuable lesson: improving workplace performance is not about perfection, but about making considered changes.

In doing so, the project became as much about retrofit as it was about design, demonstrating that meaningful improvements can be achieved without new construction. 

Designing for the invisible

Many of the most impactful changes are not immediately visible.

Air quality became a central focus. In a climate where outdoor conditions can limit natural ventilation, ensuring clean and consistent indoor air required a carefully engineered approach.  

A continuous supply of fresh, filtered air is delivered into the office through enhanced filtration and real-time monitoring, maintaining indoor particulate levels at just 7 μg/m³ (PM2.5). This is approximately five times lower than the surrounding outdoor air and significantly cleaner than typical urban conditions. Verified by five AWAIR sensors, the result is an indoor environment that actively supports occupant health and cognitive performance. 

Thermal comfort was approached with equal care. All spaces were rigorously designed and assessed in line with ASHRAE Standard 55, ensuring that temperature, airflow and humidity remain within defined comfort ranges. These factors may seem subtle, but they play a crucial role in how people feel, and how effectively they can work, throughout the day.

Daylight was also prioritised through detailed modelling and layout planning. The workspace was designed to ensure 100% daylight provision across occupied areas, while carefully managing glare to create a balanced and comfortable visual environment.

Acoustics proved to be just as important. In highly serviced environments, noise from mechanical systems can easily impact concentration and comfort. To address this, the office incorporates extensively acoustically treated boxes to minimise noise generated by building systems. This reinforced an important lesson, that sound, like air quality and thermal comfort, is essential to the overall experience of a space. 

Bringing nature indoors

Alongside these systems, more tangible interventions play an equally important role.

Biophilia - the connection between people and nature - was a key consideration throughout the design process. As modern office lifestyles increasingly keep people indoors for extended periods, bringing elements of nature into the workplace becomes ever more important, regardless of regional climate.  

This is reflected in the introduction of more than 300 indoor plants, helping to soften the environment and create a space that feels more natural, balanced and supportive of wellbeing. Combined with low-VOC material selection, these elements contribute to both environmental quality and the overall experience of the workspace. 

Measuring the impact

The success of the space is ultimately reflected in how it is experienced.

Feedback from staff shows that the workplace actively supports both wellbeing and productivity, with strong levels of engagement and satisfaction. Absenteeism has reduced by 36%, and 96% of the team would recommend Cundall as a great place to work - highlighting the direct relationship between environment and performance. 

Looking beyond the surface

So, what did Qatar’s first WELL Gold certified office teach us about designing for performance?

Beneath the surface, it performs differently - creating an environment that is healthier, more responsive and more aligned with the needs of its users.

As the conversation around workplaces in Qatar continues to evolve, this highlights a broader shift: the future will not be defined by new buildings alone, but by how we retrofit and enhance existing spaces, turning them into high-performing environments for the people who use them.