Sabah Al Ahmad International Financial Center, Kuwait, Kuwait

KEO design is pre-certified for LEED Gold status
KEO International Consultants has been notified by the U.S. Green Building Council that the 1.2 million sq ft project, Sabah Al Ahmad International Financial Center, has been officially registered with the U.S. Green Building Council (USGBC) and is now pre-certified to get Kuwait’s first LEED certification.

The client, Securities House for Real Estate Co., and the developer AlShaab Real Estate Co., gave KEO the incentive to pursue a sustainable design using guidelines and tools outlined in the Green Building Rating System in late 2007. In addition to creating an iconic 40 storey tower consisting primarily of high end offices and a hotel, KEO was given the task of achieving a LEED® Gold from the USGBC. As well as meeting or exceeding a series of green requirements, the tower employees a series of wind turbines and PV panels to provide a renewable source of energy.

The design solution translates the client’s brief for various programs into 4 stacked courtyard atriums ranging from 8 floors to 13 floors each. Three of these accommodate office floors while one accommodates a 4-star Business Hotel with 200 rooms. A separate 800 sq m Trading Hall on the ground floor will accommodate 24-hour trading for the facility and there will also be an Antiques Auction Centre. The sculptural shape of the tower induces wind at the top of the building where wind turbines are specially positioned to generate power for the building.
source : www.worldarchitecturenews.com
architecture NOW