Mashreq’s global HQ is UAE’s first commercial building to achieve LEED Zero

Image credit: MASHREQ

Mashreq’s global headquarters is the first commercial tower in the UAE and the second in the Middle East to achieve the LEED Zero Energy (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design) certification by the US Green Building Council. The LEED programme is an internationally-recognised green building certification system, which verifies that buildings are designed to improve performance across key sustainability metrics such as energy savings, water efficiency, CO2 emissions reduction, improved indoor environmental quality, stewardship of resources and sensitivity to their impact.

Global built environment consultant JLL has collaborated with Mashreq to realise the bank’s net zero ambitions for its 32-storeyed global headquarters. JLL is an international real estate and investment management firm.

Mashreq headquarters’ sustainable architecture

Located in Downtown Dubai, the 38,484-sq-metre inverted L-shaped tower of Mashreq bank was designed by Skidmore, Owings & Merrill and it builds on the sustainable self-shading strategy pioneered in the Middle East by the Chicago-based architectural firm.

The high-performance glass facades are orientated for reduced solar transmission and its MEP systems are optimised through an automated building management system.

Incorporating the highest standards of sustainability and achieving 36 per cent reduction in overall energy consumption against the industry baseline, the stone-clad tower was certified as LEED for Operations and Maintenance (O+M) in 2022. This was improved to LEED Gold as Mashreq drove to achieve higher efficiencies in resource management and improving indoor environmental quality across its built environment.

LEED certification is a globally recognised standard of sustainability for healthy, cost-saving, carbon-efficient, green buildings. LEED Zero is the latest and highest category under the certification programme and represents a new level of achievement in the region.

According to JLL, Mashreq’s global headquarters operates at optimum efficiency on site and its energy consumption is also being offset through renewables. Mashreq’s current offset commitment of three years will be continued beyond 2026, it added.

JLL said the LEED recognition for Mashreq comes in line with the firm’s vision to lead the real estate industry into a healthier and more environmentally sustainable future. “Through a holistic approach that combines expertise and technology the building has proven that Zero Energy operations is possible in the region,” remarked Louise Collins, the head of Project and Development Services UAE and Head of Engineering and Energy for MEA.

“JLL continues to work with Mashreq on driving energy intensity reductions and position it for long-term successes across its full property asset portfolio,” noted Collins.

The LEED Zero stamp places Mashreq in a select group 26 buildings worldwide to have achieved this certification.

Bassem Fekry Farid, executive vice president, head of Corporate Real Estate and Administration, Mashreq, said, “We are proud to achieve the prestigious Leed Zero Energy certification for our Global Headquarters, making it the first commercial tower in the UAE and the 2nd building in the Middle East to accomplish this remarkable feat.”

“This accomplishment reflects our unwavering commitment to environmental sustainability and our efforts towards a greener future and a greener economy. Our partnership with JLL’s energy and sustainability services has been instrumental in realizing our net zero ambitions,” he added.