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ZHA’s Infinitus Plaza and BEEAH Headquarters receive LEED Platinum Certification

Zaha Hadid Architects’ Infinitus Plaza in Guangzhou and BEEAH Headquarters in Sharjah have each received LEED (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design) Platinum Certification; the highest level of sustainability awarded by the US Green Building Certification Institute (GBCI).

LEED certification provides a framework for healthy, highly efficient, and cost-saving green buildings, which offer environmental, social and governance benefits. LEED certification is a globally recognized symbol of sustainability achievement, and it is backed by an entire industry of committed organizations and individuals paving the way for market transformation.

Straddling the sub-surface tunnel of Guangzhou Metro’s Line 2, Infinitus Plaza is divided into two buildings that interconnect at multiple levels. The new global headquarters of Infinitus China, the design incorporates work environments which nurture creativity and collaboration and also includes the group’s herbal medicine research facilities and safety assessment labs as well as a learning centre for conferences and exhibitions. Anchoring the city’s new Baiyun Central Business District as a national centre for China’s health and wellness industries, Infinitus Plaza combines innovative technologies with proven sustainability strategies to create spaces that unite all departments and enhance communication throughout the group. Located within Guangzhou’s humid subtropical monsoon climate, Infinitus Plaza has been designed and constructed to LEED Platinum certification. Optimization of the structure has reduced the concrete required and increased the proportion of recyclable content. 25,088.33 tons of recycled materials have been used in its construction.

The BEEAH headquarters’ design responds to its environment as a series of interconnecting ‘dunes’ orientated and shaped to optimize local climatic conditions. Embedded within its context of Sharjah’s Al Sajaa desert, the design echoes the surrounding landscape shaped by prevailing winds into sand dunes. Ensuring all internal spaces are provided with ample daylight and views while limiting the quantity of glazing exposed to the harsh desert sun, the headquarters’ two primary ‘dunes’ house the public and management departments together with the administrative zone that interconnect via a central courtyard, defining an oasis within the building which is integral to its natural ventilation strategy. Designed to LEED Platinum certification and net zero operations, the headquarters incorporates a high percentage of locally procured materials including GRC panels reducing solar gain. On-site water treatment filtrates wastewater to minimise consumption and its solar farm charges Tesla battery packs to meet the building’s energy demand throughout each day and night. The building’s smart management system automatically adjusts lighting and temperature depending on occupancy and time of day.