The International Tower, a Grade A commercial building developed by SinoGulf and Eastgate, has been awarded LEED Gold certification for environmental performance, making it the first office building to achieve this on Abu Dhabi Island.

The LEED rating system, developed by the US Green Building Council (USGBC), is the foremost programme for buildings, homes and communities that are designed, constructed, maintained and operated for improved environmental and human health performance.

Andrew Clout, managing director of SinoGulf, the development manager and co-developer of International Tower, stated that developing a world class asset has been Eastgate and SinoGulf’s target for the building since inception. LEED is a globally recognized symbol of excellence in green buildings and achieving a Gold level was a primary aim for both parties.

“The strength of USGBC has always been the collective strength of our leaders in the building industry," said Rick Fedrizzi, president, CEO & founding chair, US Green Building Council. "Given the extraordinary importance of climate protection and the central role of the building industry in that effort, SinoGulf demonstrates their leadership through their LEED certification of International Tower.”

The 41,000 sq m Grade A commercial tower developed with Shariah compliant debt financing provided by ADNIF, was designed to deliver Grade A office space of an international standard to the Abu Dhabi market place to serve multi-nationals, large local corporates and key government institutions.

International Tower provides flexible, open floor plans up to 1,750 sq m per floor. It achieved LEED for Building Design and Construction: Core and Shell Development at Gold level for implementing practical and measurable strategies and solutions aimed at achieving high performance in sustainable site development, water savings, energy efficiency, materials selection and indoor environmental quality.

International Tower provides Grade A specification with an impressive triple height entrance lobby, efficient rectangular floor plates of 1,700 and 1,750 sq m, an occupancy density of up to 1 person per 8.5 sq m which is the most efficient in the Abu Dhabi market, a 2.7-metre finished floor to ceiling height with a capacity for 150 mm raised access floors.

The 26 floors are serviced with 12x24 person high speed lifts, ground floor retail and seven levels of car parking serviced with their own elevators.

LEED certification is increasingly becoming an objective for international developments. At year-end 2013, approximately 42 per cent of all floor space pursuing LEED certification was located outside the US. The UAE is only second to China in the top 10 countries of LEED registered & certified buildings as at April 2014. – TradeArabia News Service