Winners of 2017 MENA Green Building Awards honoured for innovation and excellence in sustainability practices

Emirates Green Building Council (EmiratesGBC), an independent forum aimed at conserving the environment by strengthening and promoting green building practices, today announced the winners of the 2017 MENA Green Building Awards that recognise innovation, creativity and excellence in promoting sustainability best practices. With record submissions from six nations across the MENA region, the awards highlighted the growing focus of industry stakeholders to promote innovation and best practices to drive sustainable built environments.

At a carbon-neutral awards ceremony held at Roda Al Murooj hotel in Dubai, the winners in various professional categories were honoured in the presence of government officials, industry leaders, representatives of academia and media. The Dr. Owainati Student Excellence Award for a student from a recognised university in the UAE, who has conducted exceptional research on a subject related to green building in the Middle East, was also presented at the event. 

Supported by the World Green Building Council (WorldGBC), the 2017 MENA Green Building Awards was organised by EmiratesGBC in partnership with the JordanGBC and LebanonGBC. The event was highlighted on social media under the hashtag: #MENAGBAwards.

Saeed Al Abbar, Chairman of EmiratesGBC, said: “We congratulate the winners of the 2017 MENA Green Building Awards not only for their demonstrated excellence in driving the sustainable built environment of the region but also for their commitment and dedication to innovation and promoting green best practices. This year, we had a record number of submissions, underlined by their quality, creativity and original thinking. Across all the categories, what is clearly apparent is the focus on pushing boundaries, setting new benchmarks and contributing to the all-round vision of securing a greener future for our coming generations. We hope to share the insights from our winners for the benefit of the larger community and to support the building industry in undertaking new and proven sustainable best practices that help achieve better living environments, higher energy and water use efficiency, and reduce the carbon footprint.”

Lee Siang, Chairman of WorldGBC, added: “The 2017 MENA Green Building Awards highlights the dedication of the regional construction industry stakeholders to pursue environment-friendly practices. The innovations and best practices that the winners present are uniquely suited for the region and can be replicated in similar environments globally. This makes the Awards a key part in the global sustainability narrative that the World Green Building Council promotes.”

The winners of the MENA Green Building Awards 2017 are:

• Green Building of the Year:

1. Green Hotel:  Hilton Garden Inn, Mall of the Emirates (Majid Al Futtaim)
2. Green Commercial Building: Cleveland Clinic Abu Dhabi; shortlisted - My City Centre Al Barsha (submitted by Majid Al Futtaim) and ADNOC New Corporate HQ (submitted by HOK)
3. Green School: University of Dubai, submitted by Kier Dubai LLC; shortlisted - The Arcadia Preparatory School, submitted by Godwin Austen Johnson
4. Green Residential Building: The Sustainable Autonomous House, submitted by Mohammed bin Rashid Space Centre; shortlisted - Al Zahia Residential – Phase 2, submitted by Majid Al Futtaim and NAGEEB (National Action for Green Energy Efficient Building) Programme, submitted by The Green Pact

• Sustainable Design of the Year: Neighbourhood One Residences Phase 1, submitted by Multiplex and Woods Bagot; shortlisted - New Ducab Headquarters, submitted by Ramboll and Royal Herbs El Bahariya Farm Headquarters, submitted by ECOnsult
• Facility Management Organisation of the Year: Emaar & CBFA JV Partnering Innovation, submitted by EMAAR/CBFA JV; shortlisted – Adeeb Group and Mayar Facilities Management LLC
• Contractor of the Year: Consolidated Contractors Company (CCC); shortlisted – ALEC and Multiplex Constructions LLC
• Developer of the Year: Majid Al Futtaim; shortlisted – Diamond Developers
• Green Building Material/Product:
  1. Energy Management: Daikin inverter R32 Split, submitted by Daikin Middle East and Africa; shortlisted - Daikin VRV IV, submitted by Daikin Middle East and Africa, and MasterSeal AWB Air and Water Barriers (formerly Enershield), BASF Construction Chemicals UAE LLC
  2. Indoor Air Quality: Edmonds Eco Power Hybrid Ventilator, Synergy United
  3. Conventional Construction Materials: Recycled Crushed Aggregates, submitted by Al Dhafra Recycling Industries in partnership with TADWEER - Center of Waste Management Abu Dhabi

• Green Building Research Award: Third Working Spaces as Means to Improve Comfort in Office Buildings in the UAE, submitted by Consulting Engineering Office; shortlisted - Long Term Performance Testing of High Solar Reflective Index (SRI) Materials in Gulf Environmental Conditions, submitted by RAK Research & Innovation Center, American University of Ras Al Khaimah and The Real Value of Improving U-values, submitted by Kingspan Insulation LLC
• Retrofit Project of the Year: The Fairmont Palm Hotel & Resort - Guaranteed Savings Energy Performance Contract, submitted by Taka Solutions; shortlisted - Liberty Automobiles Retrofit Project, submitted by Liberty Investment Co. LLC; and Siemens Demand FlowTM Solution for American Hospital Energy Optimisation, submitted by Siemens LLC

• Best Operations & Maintenance (Existing Buildings): Emaar & CBFA jv - Operational & Sustainability Practices at The Dubai Mall, submitted by Emaar & CBFA jv; shortlisted - Operation and Maintenance of entertainment attractions in the UAE, submitted by Emaar Entertainment; and City Centre Mirdif, submitted by Majid Al Futtaim

Additionally, the 2017 Dr. Owainati Student Excellence Award and cash prize was presented to Enas Alkhateeb, Faculty of Engineering and IT, British University in Dubai, UAE for ‘Potentials of Retrofitting the Federal Buildings in the UAE to Net Zero Electricity Cost Buildings.’

Two students were short-listed for their notable research: Borhan Torkfar, Department of Mechanical Engineering, College of Engineering, RIT University of Dubai for ‘Feasibility of Using Solar Thermal Systems for power generation in Residential Building in Shiraz and Dubai;’ and Rawad Raidan, Department of Mechanical engineering RIT- University of Dubai for ‘Approaching a Design Tool for Dubai villas with on-grid solar PV.’

KPMG was the official Observing Auditors for the 2017 MENA Green Building Awards to ensure the highest standards of corporate governance and transparency. The event was supported by EmiratesGBC’s corporate members AkzoNobel as Gold Sponsor and Multiplex as Silver Sponsor.

To ensure carbon neutrality of the 2017 MENA Green Building Awards, emissions from power consumption, heat energy, refrigeration and other sources were calculated. The journeys of participants to the event, as well as catering and lodging, event-specific materials and waste, were also considered. These will be offset against a project that replaces fossil fuel with renewable energy solutions.

EmiratesGBC regularly hosts and participates in multinational events, conferences and forums. It has also developed a suite of activities, inclusive of networking events, technical workshops, focus days and facilitated training based around specific issues related to the built-environment that meet the needs of its members, of the UAE community and the wider Middle East.