TDIC targets top LEED certification for Saadiyat Beach Residences

TIDC believes it can achieve LEED, the internationally accepted benchmark for the design, construction and operation of high performance 'green' buildings, across two key categories - neighbourhood development (LEED-ND) and homes (LEED-H).

"Although LEED-ND is currently still in its pilot phase, the criteria set forth to achieve its certification is intricately woven into the fabric of the Saadiyat Beach community design," said Lee Tabler, CEO, TDIC.

TDIC intends to leverage the extensive LEED experience of EDAW , the master planners and JZMK Partners, the architectural company commissioned to design the Saadiyat Beach Residences, which comprises seven gated communities surrounding the UAE's only Gary Player signature golf course and overlooking a pristine beach with proximity to nine luxury resorts.

"In designing Saadiyat Beach Residences, JZMK has drawn on its LEED project experience, including Gold-level certification for residential projects in California, and the pre-submittal checklists for large-scale, master planned communities in the United States and internationally," added Tabler.

"From a neighbourhood design perspective, Saadiyat Beach Residences achieves key criteria including, reduced automobile dependence, housing, work and schools proximity as well as site design for habitat conservation. This is evident through the project's close-knit neighbourhood structure, which includes efficient street networks, neighbourhood parks and a pedestrian street character."

Housing and jobs are also integrated into the community design with multiple village-centre style commercial and shopping areas directly adjacent to neighbourhoods. A variety of schools will operate on Saadiyat Island, from elementary through to secondary and beyond, while preservation techniques are safeguarding the large expanses of pristine shore at Saadiyat Beach where development restrictions are in place to conserve natural turtle breeding grounds.

"Additionally, Saadiyat Beach incorporates a strong diversity of uses, housing types and innovation in design with multiple greenbelts, trails and open space linkages," explained Tabler. "Once the LEED-ND programme completes its pilot phase late next year, Saadiyat Beach will be well positioned for certification submittal."

In pursuing LEED-H certification, TDIC is using sustainable water and energy efficient design techniques, such as harvesting water, installing high efficiency fixtures, optimising energy performance, and using efficient hot water distribution throughout Saadiyat Beach Residences.

"With regard to building materials and indoor air quality, design efforts are being focussed on issues such as using environmentally preferable materials, construction waste management planning, outdoor air ventilation and air filtering," said Tabler.

Each Saadiyat Beach residential neighbourhood will have its own park, the best of community facilities, including a 25 metre swimming pool, convenient shopping at a main village centre with a supermarket, cafés, restaurants and community services. Residents will also qualify for membership of a private beach club.

The Saadiyat Beach district - one of seven distinct districts which comprise the Saadiyat Island development - is just a five minutes' drive from the destination's now renowned Cultural District which will be home to iconic museums and arts centres. These include the Sheikh Zayed National Museum, the Guggenheim Abu Dhabi Museum, the Louvre Abu Dhabi museum, a performing arts centre and maritime museum. All have been conceptualised by internationally acclaimed architects including Lord Norman Foster for the Sheikh Zayed National Museum, Frank Gehry for the Guggenheim Abu Dhabi, Jean Nouvel for the Louvre Abu Dhabi, Zaha Hadid for the performing arts centre and Tadao Ando for the maritime museum.

The Cultural District will also be home to a New York University (NYU) campus - the first comprehensive liberal arts campus to be operated abroad by a major US university.

Saadiyat Island's connectivity to the UAE capital and the main airport will also boost its investment appeal. It is just seven minutes from downtown Abu Dhabi, via the 10-lane Saadiyat Bridge which will be completed in 2009, and 20 minutes from Abu Dhabi International Airport via the Saadiyat Link highway which is currently under construction.