- Gate Avenue becomes one of the first retail and leisure developments in the Middle East region to achieve the LEED® Gold Certification
Dubai, UAE, 8th September 2020: Dubai International Financial Centre’s (DIFC) Gate Avenue has been awarded the prestigious LEED (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design) Gold accreditation from the US Green Building Council and Green Building Certification Inc. This prestigious LEED Gold certification marks the DIFC’s continued commitment to sustainability by ensuring assets reduce their carbon footprint. The achievement ensures DIFC continues to distinguish itself with world class infrastructure.
LEED is the most widely used sustainable buildings rating system in the world, providing a framework for healthy, highly efficient and cost-saving sustainable buildings. It recognises only those projects that follow high environmental standards of sustainability; water and energy efficiency; optimum utilisation of materials and resources and healthy indoor environment quality, which leads to the reduction of global greenhouse gases.
Gate Avenue was awarded the LEED Gold certification for successfully fulfilling the prerequisites and credits across nine measurements for building excellence from integrative design to human health to material use. This was made possible by the expertise and support of AESG – the firm that delivered the LEED consultancy services for the project. Through AESG’s expert advice, supported by onsite management and testing, Gate Avenue, DIFC met LEED’s high standards across all of its categories, reflecting the best practices applied in this development.
Spanning 286,000 square feet of built up area and 880 metres in total length, Gate Avenue at DIFC is quickly becoming part of one of Dubai’s most sought after lifestyle destinations featuring more than 200 leading lifestyle, retail, art, fashion, food & beverage brands, and the modern grand mosque. Gate Avenue links the podium levels of all buildings located in the Centre, from The Gate Building to Central Park Towers.
AESG 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 are regionally relevant. The building underwent fundamental and enhanced commissioning for efficiency and performance. Furthermore, materials with high recycled content, including concrete, steel and glass have been installed to reduce embodied carbon emissions. High occupancy density rooms include CO2 sensors provide a fresh air supply. All of the landscaping is maintained using recycled water. There is also provision for bicycle allows local residents and people working in the Centre to cycle to Gate Avenue. Visitors also benefit from the provision of open space on the top floor of the building. AESG has also supported the project by developing bespoke tenant fit-out guidelines, green cleaning management policy and a sustainability educational manual.
All of these features and initiatives contribute greatly to an environmentally sustainable and efficient development that reduces greenhouse gas emissions and has a significant positive impact on the health and wellbeing of tenants and visitors. Gate Avenue at DIFC has already achieved a 24% reduction in energy consumption and a 55% reduction in water consumption.
Commenting on the announcement, Saleh Al Akrabi, Chief Executive Officer, DIFC Property Management 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.”
“AESG is thrilled to have provided LEED and sustainability consultancy services for this impressive development. This LEED 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”, said Phillipa Grant, Director of Energy and Sustainability at AESG.
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About Dubai International Financial Centre
Dubai International Financial Centre (DIFC) is one of the world’s most advanced financial centres, and the leading financial hub for the Middle East, Africa and South Asia (MEASA), which comprises 72 countries with an approximate population of 3 billion and a nominal GDP of USD 7.7 trillion.
With a 16-year track record of facilitating trade and investment flows across the MEASA region, the Centre connects these fast-growing markets with the economies of Asia, Europe and the Americas through Dubai.
DIFC is home to an internationally recognised, independent regulator and a proven judicial system with an English common law framework, as well as the region’s largest financial ecosystem of more than 25,000 professionals working across over 2,500 active registered companies – making up the largest and most diverse pool of industry talent in the region.
The Centre’s vision is to drive the future of finance. Today, it offers one of the region’s most comprehensive FinTech and venture capital environments, including cost-effective licensing solutions, fit-for-purpose regulation, innovative accelerator programmes, and funding for growth-stage start-ups.
Comprising a variety of world-renowned retail and dining venues, a dynamic art and culture scene, residential apartments, hotels and public spaces, DIFC continues to be one of Dubai’s most sought-after business and lifestyle destinations.
For further information, please visit our website: difc.ae, or follow us on Twitter @DIFC.
About the U.S. Green Building Council:
The U.S. Green Building Council (USGBC) is committed to a prosperous and sustainable future through cost-efficient and energy-saving green buildings. USGBC works toward its mission of market transformation through its LEED green building program, robust educational offerings, an international network of local community leaders, the annual Greenbuild International Conference & Expo, the Center for Green Schools and advocacy in support of public policy that encourages and enables green buildings and communities. For more information, visit usgbc.org and connect on Twitter, Facebook and LinkedIn. About DIFC Gate Avenue
About AESG
AESG is a world leading Specialist Consultancy, Engineering and Advisory firm headquartered in London and Dubai, working throughout the Middle East, Europe and Asia. Our areas of expertise are represented in three core verticals: Building Engineering, Planning and Infrastructure and Strategy and Advisory.
We pride ourselves in being leaders in the industry in each of the services that we offer. We have one of the largest dedicated team with decades of cumulative experience in sustainable building design, fire and life safety, façade engineering, commissioning, building performance, waste management, environmental consultancy, energy management and acoustics.
With unparalleled experience, gained from working on hundreds of iconic developments, our multi-disciplinary team of Architects, Engineers, Scientists, Modellers and Commissioning Managers work alongside our Clients to deliver effective solutions that stand the test of time. Our prestigious portfolio demonstrates our extensive capabilities and our ability to consistently deliver best in class solutions to some of the industry’s most complex technical challenges.