Diriyah Gate Development Authority (DGDA) has announced that the first phase masterplan of its giga-project has been awarded platinum-level pre-certification for the Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) accreditation by the United States Green Building Council (USGBC).
LEED certification can be achieved at diverse levels: the building, neighbourhood, community and city levels. The first phase of the Diriyah development has targeted the certification at both the building and city levels.
The pre-certification of LEED for buildings and cities at a platinum level shows that the development has sustainability at its very heart, and is incorporated into every facet of its planning, design, construction and operation phases.
The first phase of the Diriyah development has targeted the certification at both the building and city levels
Group CEO Jerry Inzerillo said: “I am thrilled that our efforts have been recognized by the LEED precertification as climate and nature-related considerations are at the heart of our development.”With regenerative tourism and a people first development at the epi-center of our philosophy, we want to ensure that Diriyah is a shining example when it comes to sustainability standards internationally, and will result in a highly liveable, pedestrian city.”
Mohamed Saad, the Acting DevCo President for DGDA, said the significance of Diriyah’s preliminary LEED accreditation cannot be overstated and has involved input from every portion of DGDA. “Thanks to this large collaborative effort, we are well on our way to demonstrating to the world that our development is comprehensively sustainable at every level,” he said.