One of the world’s most sustainable urban communities, Masdar City in Abu Dhabi, is looking to propel its sustainable initiatives with its Masdar City Square (MC2), that looks to significantly contribute towards the UAE Net-Zero 2050 Strategy.
Along with its consulting partners, Woods Bagot and Faithful+Gould, the Masdar City team held a groundbreaking ceremony to discuss the MC2 and the role it will play in the UAE’s fight against climate change.
MC2 DEVELOPMENT & UAE'S NET-ZERO STRATEGY
MC2 development covers an area of 29,000 square meter and Gross Floor Area (GFA) of 50,000 square meter, extending Masdar City’s commitment to net-zero. Work on the development is expected to begin later this year and is scheduled for completion in 2024.
The development includes seven single-multi tenant office buildings and a parking facility, with six of the buildings expected to be built to the highest green construction specifications.
The MC2 headquarters building will Abu Dhabi’s first net-zero energy office building, which will mean it will use no more energy than it produces by integrating energy efficiency-focused design and systems and renewable energy technologies. In addition, the MC2 Headquarters building will be immediately identifiable by its innovative solar photovoltaic panel canopy.
Faithful+Gould, a member of the SNC-Lavalin Group, has been awarded a project management consultancy services contract, while global architectural and consulting firm Woods Bagot will handle design and construction supervision consultancy for the MC2 project. Woods Bagot previously designed the IRENA Headquarters in Masdar City.
This contribution to net-zero is of great importance to the UAE, which in 2021 became the first country in the Middle East and North Africa region to commit to achieving net zero emissions through its UAE Net-Zero by 2050 strategic initiative.
“Masdar City is already home to one of the world’s largest clusters of green buildings with Estidama and LEED certifications. With the completion of MC2, and its seven new green buildings, including Abu Dhabi’s first net-zero energy office building, we are further demonstrating how urban development can be both economically and environmentally sound and sustainable. Masdar City is proud to serve as a testbed for sustainable urban development and we look forward to seeing how MC2 enriches Masdar City, Abu Dhabi, and the UAE,” said Ahmed Baghoum, Acting Executive Director, Masdar City who spoke at the occasion of the groundbreaking.
GREEN ACCREDITATION
Six of the MC2 buildings will be 4-Pearl Estidama, LEED Platinum, and WELL Gold certified.
LEED Platinum is the highest certification provided by the Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design program, the most widely used program to evaluate the environmental performance of a building and encourage market transformation towards sustainable design.
WELL Gold is the second highest certification provided by WELL, the world's first building standard that focuses exclusively on human health and wellness. Estidama Pearl Rating System is the green building rating system developed by the Abu Dhabi Urban Planning Council, with 1-5 pearls awarded depending on how many sustainability points the project achieves.
MC2 will be located adjacent to Masdar City’s existing development cantered around the Mohammed bin Zayed University for Artificial Intelligence (MBZUAI) and the Siemens Middle East Headquarters. MC2 will incorporate the existing International Renewable Energy Agency (IRENA) Headquarters and will include courtyards, a day-care, an amphitheatre plaza, shaded pedestrian boulevards, a fitness centre, a meditation room, and more.
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