Nairobi office complex attains green building status

Vienna Court, a Grade A low-rise office complex, has been awarded the Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) Gold pre-certification. (PHOTO: COURTESY)

Vienna Court, a Grade A low-rise office complex located along State House Crescent, has been awarded the Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) Gold pre-certification.

This makes it one of the few commercial buildings in East Africa to attain the internationally recognised mark of quality in green building.

The Sh2.5 billion project is set to be completed by September 2016. It has incorporated sustainable development features including a mature landscape, central courtyard, provisions for rainwater harvesting, balconies with solar shading, solar control glass, priority parking for energy efficient cars and bicycle storage facilities.

In addition, all office spaces have passive ventilation and access to highly efficient central air conditioning infrastructure.

Future model

“By setting goals and intentions to incorporate green features, enhancing occupants’ health, reducing waste, pollution and environmental degradation, Vienna Court will serve as a model for future high performance green development in the region,” said Gideon Ngure, marketing manager at PDM Holdings, the project’s developer.

Despite the high land prices in Nairobi, Vienna Court has dedicated approximately quarter of an acre to green areas.

Through the services of S. Gary, the lead architect at Leonard Design Architects, the company endeavoured to preserve the existing indigenous gardens by excavating and designing the building around them.

Gary is also the designer of Garden City in Nairobi and Dubai World Trade Centre.

A research by United States Green Building Council reports that LEED-certified buildings have been proven to use 25 per cent less energy and a 19 per cent reduction in aggregate operational costs in comparison to non-certified buildings.

In addition, companies occupying green buildings benefit from a 20 to 25 per cent higher productivity while employee absences were found to be 40 per cent lower than in non-green offices. Also, annual utility costs per employee in green facilities was Sh67,526 lower than in non-green facilities.

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