The World Health Organization gets LEED Gold certification, a first for the Hashemite Kingdom.
It’s like the Olympics, but in green building codes: The new Amman headquarters of the World Health Organization (WHO) just grabbed top kudos for green building: Certified Gold under Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED), a world standard for green building certification.
Housing both WHO and the Regional Center for Environmental Health Activities inside four stories, it shrinks the need for newly built space by creating common areas for reception, meeting rooms, library and video conference rooms.
In the end, each occupant needs less total area. The offices are smartly sited to exploit pre-existing infrastructure and access to public transportation. There’s loads of interior daylighting. Almost half of all building materials were regional or locally-sourced, and throughout construction, the builders diverted 78% of the waste material from landfills. Green Prophet loves to see green action at work through the entire building lifecycle!
WHO follows on the green heels of the Dutch Embassy in Amman, which became Jordan’s first LEED-certified project in 2010.
Designed by Amman-based Engicon, with LEED consultation provided by Energy Management Services INT, the 3,900 m2 building is the first in Amman – and the first in Jordan! – to achieve a LEED Gold certification.
Jordan Green Building Council tracks progress on thirteen LEED-registered projects in-Kingdom, including the Amman Institute (owned by the Greater Amman Municipality); the Jordan National Financial Center (owned by the Jordan Securities Commission); and the Middle East Insurance Building (owned by the Medical Insurance Company). Hope WHO’s success has them following this sustainable LEED-er to more Gold.
::Engicon
(Photos from Engicon and Jordan Green Building Council websites)
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