Masdar selects CH2M Hill to manage the development of the world's first fully sustainable 'Green Community'

'Visionary' is a word that aptly describes the team of minds that conceived the Masdar Initiative, a global cooperative platform for open engagement in the search for solutions to some of mankind's most pressing issues: energy security, climate change and truly sustainable human development. Masdar is the Arabic word for "the source," and the Masdar Initiative will prove to be the source for global collaboration on developing alternative energies and sustainable technologies.

A creation of the Masdar Initiative is the Masdar City Development, the world's first zero-carbon, zero-waste "green community". Nestled in the heart of Abu Dhabi, the six square kilometer alternative energy city will open late in 2009 and will establish a world-class standard for implementing integrated sustainable technologies.

The city will house the Masdar Institute of Science and Technology, the graduate science and research Institute currently being established in cooperation with MIT; research facilities; world-class laboratories; commercial space for related-sector companies; light manufacturing facilities and a carefully selected pool of international tenants who will invest, develop, and commercialize advanced energy technologies. The development will also host Masdar's headquarters, residential space for employees, as well as a science museum and edutainment facilities.

The Masdar "Green" City, being developed by the Abu Dhabi Future Energy Company (ADFEC), appointed last June a consortium led by Foster + Partners to design the master plan of the development and to define the sustainability guidelines for construction within the Masdar City.

Masdar today announced the appointment of CH2M HILL as the program manager for the first phase of the development after a multi-stage competition involving 13 international program management firms.

Six companies were short-listed after the first stage of evaluation, which included a prequalification based on specific expertise in sustainable developments. Four companies made it to the second stage which consisted of team interviews and the submission of an implementation strategy. The final stage included two companies and consisted of a comprehensive analysis of their proposed tools to achieve the ambitious environmental goals of the Masdar Development.

CH2M HILL was appointed because of its corporate alignment with Masdar's vision and its leadership in program management. The firm gives Masdar access to the very best program management processes and tools the industry has to offer.

"Masdar recognized that integrated solutions are needed to address the sustainability of energy, water, air and infrastructure on a world-wide level. We selected CH2M HILL because it is an industry leader in these areas and because of its commitment to sharing its knowledge and resources to build a legacy of sustainability with Masdar," says Dr. Sultan Ahmed Al Jaber, Masdar Chief Executive Officer.

CH2M HILL will be responsible for technology integration and for aligning the efforts of the designers, contractors, and third parties to program goals and standards.

"Masdar is inspiring for its vision, boldness and leadership," said Ralph R. Peterson CH2M HILL Chairman and Chief Executive Officer. "It promises to showcase and accelerate the development and adoption of technologies in renewable energy, energy efficiency, carbon management, waste management and water usage. As innovations and applications created by the Masdar initiative take hold, cities around the world will surely benefit, making a great idea a truly transformative idea."

Sustainability is ultimately about behavior, values, philosophy, and practice. Innovative applications of new and emerging technologies will play a very significant role in shaping Masdar. Equally important will be the means by which residents and visitors embrace these concepts and incorporate them into their daily living.

"Masdar is "the source" of an initiative whose target audience is the world," Al Jaber said . "The aspiration of the strategic alliance between Masdar, Foster + Partners Architects and CH2M HILL is to inspire sustainable 21st century world cities - that is the fullest context of our endeavor."