The rapidly developing economy of India is perhaps most obviously reflected in its ever changing and increasingly impressive cityscapes.

Nowhere is this trend more evident than in the city of Hyderabad.  Home to over four million people, it is the capital and the most populous city of the southern state of Andhra Pradesh.

Hyderabad is a shining example of the incredible progress made by India in recent times, becoming a major hub for the burgeoning information technology, biotechnology and pharmaceutical industries.

Banking is now high on the list of key sectors served by Hyderabad, especially after the construction of what is currently India’s largest steel-framed structure – a new headquarters for the country’s leading private sector bank – ICICI Bank – located in the city’s financial district.

Designed by architects Hafeez Contractor, the building is 25 storeys high. 162,000m2 of 80mm composite metal floor decking was installed with the building having a total floor area of four million square feet.

In addition to its impressive, high-tech, glazed facade and sheer magnitude, the ICICI headquarters is also a powerful symbol of a sea change in construction techniques in India.

Concrete has been the traditional building material of choice for large-scale projects. But demand is increasing for more affordable, yet taller, buildings with flexible space and ever faster installation speed, a challenge composite metal floor decking can easily meet.

View the full project case study for ICICI bank  here.