Dubai International Financial Centre’s Gate Avenue awarded LEED Gold Certification

The 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.

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 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.

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 and 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.

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 bicycles and allows residents and others working at the Centre to cycle to Gate Avenue. AESG has also supported the project by developing bespoke tenant fit-out guidelines, green cleaning management policy and a sustainability educational manual.

Gate Avenue at DIFC has already achieved a 24 percent reduction in energy consumption and a 55 percent reduction in water consumption.

Commenting on the announcement, Saleh Al Akrabi, Chief Executive Officer, DIFC Property Management said, "Providing world-class sustainable infrastructure, which includes Gate Avenue forms part of DIFC’s commitment to becoming the region’s most sustainable financial centre."

"This LEED Gold certification is a 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.