Etihad and Masdar open new LEED Platinum project
Boasts 500 cabin crew apartments in 11 buildings at Masdar City
Etihad Airways has opened its new Etihad Eco Residence project in Abu Dhabi. The project is the result of a partnership between the airline and Masdar and is said to be the city’s first purpose-built, LEED Platinum-rated cabin crew accommodation project.
The airline says the residence offers comfortable, fully furnished one and two-bedroom apartments. The accommodation complex was inaugurated by Tony Douglas, CEO of Etihad Aviation Group, Khaled Al Qubaisi, chief executive for Aerospace, Renewables & Information Communications Technology (ICT) at Mubadala and Masdar CEO Mohamed Jameel Al Ramahi. Other senior executives from Etihad Airways and Masdar were also present for the ceremony.
“The opening of the landmark Etihad Eco Residence underscores not only the importance we place on providing superior housing to our valued cabin crew, but also our responsibility, as part of the greater Abu Dhabi vision, to play a part in transforming the capital into a global leader in smart urban planning, clean energy and sustainability,” said Mana Mohamed Saeed Al Mulla, chief group support services officer at Etihad Aviation Group.
The residence is said to demonstrate Masdar’s commitment to the three pillars of social, economic and environmental sustainability and is designed to promote biodiversity, while minimising the use of high embodied energy materials.
By relying on local suppliers, the project reduced transport-related carbon emissions – at least 20% of materials were either sourced or manufactured within 800km of the project according to a statement.
Yousef Baselaib, executive director of Sustainable Real Estate at Masdar, added: “This new development demonstrates how early project involvement by key stakeholders, including the end-user, developer, design team and contractor, results in a highly desirable end-product. We hope Etihad Airways’ cabin crew enjoy the amenities at their new building, as well as those at Masdar City.”
The project is part of the airline’s crew accommodation strategy of providing superior, environmentally-friendly and facility-rich homes that are in close proximity to the city’s international airport.
