Nine ADPC Buildings Receive Estidama Rating

Strong collaboration was integral to ensuring the building designs met the Estidama PRS requirements without causing any delays to ADPC, which needs to meet its pre-arranged completion deadlines. A number of workshops were held involving the Estidama and ADPC teams, and a series of risk management scenarios was conducted, and building criteria developed, to prevent delays. A safe credit pathway was established for site-wide credits for all buildings, resulting in the first building being assessed over 10 days and the final building being assessed within 24 hours, due to a highly collaborative approach and pre-approved credit pathways being followed. The Estidama customer support process is now being continued during the construction phase though jointly held construction audits, which is adding significant technical value to the site team.

Furthermore, the UPC’s Development Review Team supported ADPC in implementing one of the integral components of the Estidama PRS: the Integrated Development Process (IDP). This ensures that all team members, from project inception and design, through to construction and operation, work together to optimise the process and seek out innovative and sustainable solutions throughout the development and operation lifecycle.

ADPC’s CEO Tony Douglas comments: “With the PRS, Estidama represents one of the most ambitious sustainable building design rating systems in the world. Utilising the Estidama PRS will result in long-term cost savings and highlight our commitment to implementing sustainable development and the wider objectives of the Economic Vision 2030. Our close working relationship with the UPC’s Estidama team has allowed ADPC to meet the mandatory 2 Pearl Rating, whilst adhering to our tight schedule through a truly collaborative approach.”

In addition to mandatory credits such as the IDP, developments are awarded credits based on other criteria such as efficient water and energy use.Options available to designers and construction managers include the use of hollow rather than solid block construction to help insulate the building (thereby reducing A/C costs and raw material usage), using double-glazed low E glass to reduce heat gain, yet allow for better natural light conditions, implementing high efficiency HVAC systems which promote energy savings whilst improving indoor air quality combined with materials selection and construction and operational waste management systems.

Falah Al Ahbabi, General Manager, UPC, (pictured with ADPC CEO Tony Douglas) concluded, “The strategic role played by Estidama in facilitating the rating of these projects at Kizad demonstrates the level of support we offer to our partners in achieving a Pearl Rating. The Estidama PRS is the first sustainability benchmark in the Arab region to ensure and evaluate the sustainability performance of all kinds of buildings and developments in the Emirate. While the benefits of the PRS, both environmentally and financially are far reaching, it is important to remember that Estidama is not just a building rating system, but a clear and progressive sustainability programme based on a long term vision and supported by four equal pillars : economy, environment, society and culture. The economic diversification resulting from the implementation of this project is equally important”.