Green Building
Garden City, Nairobi Business Park win LEED pre-certification
The two have raised the bar on construction of commercial spaces in Kenya.
Garden City Mall and the second phase of Nairobi Business Park have been awarded the prestigious LEED Gold pre-certification, making them the first such certification for any project in Kenya.
Located along Nairobi’s Thika Road, Garden City retail project was awarded the certification for implementing solutions aimed at achieving high performance in site development, materials selection, energy efficiency, water savings and indoor environmental quality.
On the other hand, the Nairobi Business Park 2 was awarded the certification for embracing green building technology, smart planning and sustainable strategies.
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Features of the two projects that assist in increased energy use efficiency and all-round environmental sustainability include energy-efficient lighting and air conditioning systems, high-performance glazing, among others.
To acquire a LEED pre-certification, a project must meet minimum programme requirements prior to registration and submission of the pre-certification documents to the Green Building Council.
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By acquiring Kenya’s first LEED certification, Garden City and Nairobi Business Park have raised the bar on construction of commercial spaces in achieving environmentally friendly designs.
Nairobi-based project management firm Mentor Management (MM) secured the certifications for both projects, an endeavour that took more than a year.
“The harsh reality in the local market is that that buildings are leased out to tenants who bore the burden of inefficient power which also contribute to environmental degradation. This has necessitated innovation on our part to develop environmentally conscious buildings,” said MM chief executive James Hoddell.
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MM partnered with Web Limited, a green building consultancy, to design the commercial buildings to meet international green building standards.
Web Limited is seeking to launch the Kenya Green Building Society (KGBS) by end of the year as well as create Kenya’s own environmental standards system for property.
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