Dubai International Financial Centre’s (DIFC) Gate Avenue has been awarded the LEED (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design) Gold accreditation from the US Green Building Council and Green Building Certification.
Gate Avenue was awarded the certification for successfully fulfilling the pre-requisites and credits across nine measurements for building excellence, ranging from integrative design to human health to material use.
AESG, the firm that delivered LEED consultancy services for the project, was instrumental in helping Gate Avenue achieve the Gold certification, as it provided expertise and support for the project, along with onsite management and testing, across all categories, reflecting the best practices applied to the development.
The sustainability consultancy worked to incorporate several innovative features by strategically selecting credits with high sustainability impact and minimal design impact. The credits pursued, such as water reduction, were regionally relevant.
In addition, the building underwent fundamental and enhanced commissioning for efficiency and performance. Furthermore, materials with high-recycled content, including concrete, glass and steel have been installed to reduce embodied carbon emissions.
High-occupancy density rooms include CO2 sensors to provide a fresh air supply, while all of the landscaping utilises recycled water.
Spanning a built-up area of 28,000sqft and 880m of total length, Gate Avenue at DIFC features more than 200 leading lifestyle, retail, art, fashion, food and beverage brands, and a modern grand mosque. It also links the podium levels of all buildings located in the Centre, from the Gate Building, to Central Park Towers.
Provisions have been made for bicycles to allow local residents and people working in DIFC to cycle to Gate Avenue, while open space on the top floor of the building has been provided. AESG also supported the project by developing bespoke tenant fit-out guidelines, green cleaning management policies and a sustainability education manual.
On the key achievement, DIFC Property Management CEO Saleh Al Akrabi said: “We are proud that Gate Avenue at DIFC has been awarded the prestigious LEED Gold Certification. Providing world class sustainable infrastructure, which includes Gate Avenue forms part of DIFC’s commitment to becoming the region’s most sustainable financial centre.”
“We look forward to continuing to build a more sustainable and resilient Centre for our community of more than 25,000 professionals and for all those who visit for business and leisure,” he noted.
Phillipa Grant, Director of Energy and Sustainability at AESG, said: “AESG is thrilled to have provided LEED and sustainability consultancy services for this impressive development. This Gold certification is validation of the team’s significant efforts and commitment to ensuring the development is environmentally and socially responsible.”
“It is this shift towards high performance buildings in the construction sector that will have a lasting and positive impact both now and for generations to come,” she added.