Objective

The Client’s initial aspiration was to achieve at a minimum the Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design LEED Core & Shell 2009 “Silver” certificate. However, additional sustainability requirements were deemed obtainable throughout the construction process, and the team subsequently decided to enhance its efforts and attempt the “Gold” rating.

Brief

While still at early conceptual stage, we were appointed and joined the project’s design team as the LEED Sustainability Consultants. Our role throughout the design, tender, and construction stages was to advise on the various LEED credit requirements and sustainability measures to ensure that the building obtains the LEED Silver / Gold Certificate. 

Part of our responsibility entailed undertaking dynamic day-lighting simulations and thermal modelling analysis of the proposed building, and advising on cost-effective and suitable energy-efficiency solutions for the BCC Mall –taking into account the local coastal Mediterranean climate and available resources. The aim was to reduce the building’s cooling load, as well as its overall energy consumption, while keeping in mind constraints imposed by the inherent nature of a shopping centre. 

Other sustainability matters were tackled, namely: lessening waste generated during construction by recycling, reusing, or donating waste materials; significantly reducing the project’s water consumption through low-water fixtures; favouring public transportation access by establishing new bus shelters around the Mall; enhancing internal thermal comfort and indoor environmental quality; specifying low-toxicity paint and finishes as well as FSC-certified wood; and implementing a Green Cleaning Policy as well as a thorough Recycling Policy once the BCC shopping centre is operational.