DIRIYAH'S MASTERPLAN SETS SUSTAINABILITY MILESTONE WITH LEED PLATINUM CERTIFICATION – A LANDMARK ACHIEVEMENT IN THE MIDDLE EAST

The first phase of Diriyah’s masterplan has been awarded Platinum Level LEED for Cities Certification by the U.S. Green Building Council (USGBC). The accreditation in LEED for Cities and Communities marks the first time a project in the Middle East has received the accolade. Platinum certification is the highest level within the LEED framework and recognises Diriyah’s commitment to a smarter, more resilient, sustainable and inclusive future.

Commenting on the announcement, Diriyah Company Group CEO, Jerry Inzerillo, said: “We are thrilled to have been awarded LEED Platinum Certification for the first phase of the Diriyah masterplan. As the first project in the Middle East to achieve this formidable accolade, alongside our recent milestone of 50 million safe man-hours, we continue to set a new benchmark for our peers. Diriyah Company’s sustainable approach, rooted in a reverential celebration of the city’s past and showcasing of its culture, community, and values, has again been validated by this significant global recognition.”

This first phase of Diriyah’s masterplan reflects a luxurious, mixed-use project with entertainment, shopping, cultural, commercial, and residential assets. With 63.2 Billion SAR worth of projects under construction, these assets are anchored around key public squares and open spaces. The project’s urban form encourages a cooling microclimate with narrow streets and courtyards, providing shade and enhancing favourable winds. With central aspects of this first phase planned as car-free, it promotes a sustainable and pedestrianised public realm.

President and CEO of the U.S. Green Buildings Council (USGBC) – and its certification body, GCBI – Peter Templeton, said: “LEED has been a transformative tool for buildings, and we are now seeing the impact it can have at the city and community level, particularly in key areas of human and environmental health. As the first community in the Middle East to earn Platinum certification on LEED v4.1 for Cities: Plan and Design, the first phase of Diriyah’s masterplan is leading the way to a better world and helping USGBC continue toward our goal of sustainability by prioritising issues such as resilience and green infrastructure for all.”

The USGBC’s LEED certification is a globally recognised, prestigious symbol of sustainability achievement and leadership, providing a framework for healthy, efficient and cost-saving green buildings and communities and is the world’s most widely known sustainability certification scheme. A new way forward for resilient, green, inclusive, and smart cities, LEED for Cities provides cities and communities with a globally consistent way to measure and communicate performance.

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