Environment & Energy | Sunday 17 May, 2015 12:00 am |

Emirates Green Building Council Honours IRENA Building Architect and Lead Consultant Woods Bagot, Design and Build Contractor Brookfield Multiplex

The recently completed International Renewable Energy Agency (IRENA) headquarters, located in Masdar City, where Masdar is building the world’s most sustainable city, has been named the Green Commercial Building of the Year by the Emirates Green Building Council (EGBC).

The EGBC recognised IRENA building architect and lead consultant Woods Bagot and design and build contractor Brookfield Multiplex at an awards ceremony dinner at the Murooj Rotana Hotel in Dubai. The award recognises a building in the Middle East-North Africa region whose construction and completion has surpassed the highest sustainability standards and includes innovation in design and processes.

Owned and developed by Masdar, Abu Dhabi’s renewable energy company, the IRENA building is the first in the UAE to receive the four-pearl rating for design and construction from Estidama, the Abu Dhabi-certification system which measures and evaluates the energy, water and carbon efficiency of buildings.

Anthony Mallows, director of Masdar City, said: “Our commitment to establishing Masdar City as a leading hub for innovation and sustainability is generating great recognition with the new IRENA headquarters named as the ‘Green Building of the Year.’

“Achieving a four-pearl Estidama rating for the IRENA building, within a competitive, market-driven budget, demonstrates that innovative design and construction, combined with a thorough understanding of sustainable building requirements, can produce outstanding results.”

Richard Fenne, project director at Woods Bagot, remarked: “This award recognises how a truly integrated design process – with all of the project stakeholders engaged – has yielded an exemplary building, and one which sets a new standard for commercial Grade A office space in the UAE and across the wider region.”

Marcus Truscott, managing director at Brookfield Multiplex, added: “Brookfield Multiplex is proud to have been a part of the core team that delivered the IRENA Headquarters‎. To be awarded the highest Estidama Construction Rating to date and to be one of the UAE’s most sustainable and energy-efficient buildings is a reflection of the commitment of all project stakeholders. The IRENA Headquarters building is a prime example of what can be achieved with close collaboration of the developer, design team, contractor and end user throughout the entire design and construction process.”

The focus of the design was to create a highly-sustainable four-pearl Estidama-rated commercial building which exemplifies the overall development of Masdar City as a living test bed for innovation and embodies the Estidama ‘four pillars of sustainability’ – social, environmental, economic and cultural.

The new IRENA building offers a total floor area of 32,000m2 and has approximately 1,000m2 of rooftop solar photovoltaic panels supplying electricity to the building. Due to passive design and smart energy management systems, the building demands over 40 per cent less energy than global energy-efficiency standards. It also demands approximately 50 per cent less water than commercial buildings in Abu Dhabi.

Masdar City is a pedestrian-friendly urban development and free zone that is establishing a ‘greenprint’ for how urban centres can accommodate dense populations while reducing energy, water and waste consumption.

IRENA is an intergovernmental organisation that supports countries in their transition to a sustainable energy future.

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About Masdar

Masdar is Abu Dhabi’s renewable energy company which works to advance the development, commercialization and deployment of clean energy technologies and solutions. The company serves as a link between today’s fossil fuel economy and the energy economy of the future. Wholly owned by the Mubadala Development Company PJSC, the strategic investment company of the Government of Abu Dhabi, Masdar is dedicated to the Emirates’ long-term vision for the future of energy. Masdar City is a pedestrian-friendly urban development and free zone that is establishing a ‘greenprint’ for how urban centres can accommodate dense populations while reducing energy, water and waste consumption.


Media contacts:
Masdar, press@masdar.ae
Tel enquiries in Arabic: +971 2 653 3333
Tel enquiries in English: +971 2 653 6014


About Woods Bagot

Woods Bagot is a global design and consulting firm, with a team of over 1,000 professionals working across Australia, Asia, the Middle East, Europe and North America.

Woods Bagot’s ‘Global Studio’ philosophy drives unprecedented knowledge sharing and deep collaboration across time zones, producing innovative, inspired and functional architecture, interior design, masterplanning, urban design and consulting solutions. Woods Bagot is ranked 7th largest architecture firm in the world (Building Design magazine’s WA100, 2014 and 2015).

Woods Bagot’s organisational structure is unique among international architects. An integrated approach – based on the Global Studio’s ability to collaborate seamlessly in its delivery of projects – allows the firm to leverage the best expertise globally and apply it to each unique project.

Specialising in five key sectors – Aviation & Transport, Education, Science & Healthcare, Lifestyle, Sport and Workplace – Woods Bagot’s diverse portfolio is founded upon a legacy of design excellence. Its diverse portfolio of high-profile projects includes: South Australian Health & Medical Research Institute in Adelaide; Leicester Square Hotel in London; Qatar’s Science and Technology Park (QSTP) in Doha; Melbourne’s Convention and Exhibition Centre and the HQ of the National Australia Bank, also in Melbourne; the Nakheel Tall Tower in Dubai; and the Macquarie Bank, Shelley Street in Sydney.

The Middle East
Woods Bagot has had a consistent presence in the Middle East since 1997. Our clients are seeking to find an architectural expression which is appropriate to a society that is both deeply traditional and also future focused. Our designs draw on our international expertise and experience, coupled with the age-old traditions and architectural heritage of the people, religion and culture of the region, resulting in projects which are innovative, sensitive and convey a strong sense of intent.

With a number of major projects constructed and with its work recognised through numerous awards and international design competitions, Woods Bagot’s Dubai studio is highly regarded for its visionary architectural, interior design and urban design work.

To view the latest Woods Bagot news and projects visit woodsbagot.com.

About Brookfield Multiplex
Brookfield Multiplex is a leading global contractor with a focus on sustainable growth and over 50 years of experience delivering landmark property and infrastructure assets across the Middle East, Europe, Canada, India and Australasia. Experts in creating large-scale and complex landmark buildings, commercial structures and infrastructure projects, the company is forward-thinking and focused.

By aligning innovative design concepts and sustainable construction practices with key fundamental components of green building and environmental management, Brookfield Multiplex has been able to successfully pioneer and deliver a variety of sustainably-rated projects worldwide.