Any growth and development of a community has a direct impact on our environment. With limited available non-renewable resources, architects have become increasingly aware and are focused on achieving green buildings that are environmentally responsible. They judiciously plan from the conceptual stage to the execution stage and also the demolition of buildings to achieve a sustainable building. Thus, a green building aims to increase the efficiency of resources that creates a positive social, economic, and environmental impact.
Here are the 20 highest green rated buildings in the world.
1. Shanghai Tower, China
Year: 2015
Building Type: Mixed Use High Rise
Size: 576000sqm
Rating System: China Green Building Three-Star Rating & LEED Platinum Certification
Architects: Gensler
China’s tallest green skyscraper is built to enhance the vertical community comprising nine zones stacked one above the other. The asymmetrical form of the building is derived to build a lighter structure. Hence, there is a structural twist of 24% to minimize the wind load. The tower also features a spiraling parapet that collects rainwater and is used for the internal air conditioning system.
2. Bank of America, New York
Year: 2010
Building Type: Commercial Skyscraper
Size: 2.2million sq ft
Rating System: LEED Platinum
Architects: Cook + Fox Architects
The first high rise commercial building to achieve LEED platinum is designed with the concept of Biophilia which emphasizes people’s connection to nature through the maximum utilization of daylight and fresh air. The use of low e-glass and heat-reflecting ceramic frit curtain walls helps to minimize the heat gain in the building.
3. More London Building
Year:2003
Building Type: Mixed-Use
Size: 60850sqm
Rating System: BREEAM ‘Outstanding’ accreditation.
Architects: Foster + Partners
The building features its envelope with a high-performance zig-zag façade which allows adequate daylight to enter the building and yet provides shade and insulation. The external louvers further help in capturing the bright sunlight which penetrates the building. The “V-shaped” structure opens towards the scenic riverside.
4. Bullitt Centre, Seattle, USA
Year: 2013
Building Type: Office
Size: 50000sft
Rating System: Living Building Certification
Architects: Miller Hull Partnership
The Self- sustainable building produces its renewable energy through the use of photovoltaics that forms the part of the roof. The building encompasses a treated heavy timber structure with a lifespan of 250 years that helps to keep a constant internal temperature for a longer duration due to its thermal mass.
5. The Crystal, London, United Kingdom
Year: 2012
Building Type: Mixed Use, Cultural, Educational Architecture
Size: 75368sft
Rating System: BREEAM outstanding, LEED Platinum
Architects: WilkinsonEyre
The crystal-shaped structure uses six different types of highly insulated glazing of varying transparency to control the solar heat gain and minimize energy use. The play of angles on the façade is prominent in the building, where the outward-facing glazing is given a reflective coating to minimize heat gain and the inward-facing glazing is made transparent to entrench the building with daylight.
6. Clock Shadow Building
Year: 2012
Building Type: Mixed-Use
Size: 28000sft
Rating System: Top Ten Green Project, AIA Committee on the Environment, 2013;
Architects: Continuum Architects + Planners
Developed on a brownfield site, the building takes a path towards sustainability with the use of salvaged materials such as rusted steel panels, cream city brick and weathered wood siding from former pickle vats infused into its exterior design. The building’s energy conservation is further enhanced through its roof garden and stormwater management.
7. Council House 2, Melbourne
Year: 2006
Building Type: Commercial
Size: 12500sqm
Rating System: 6-star Green Star rating by the Green Building Council of Australia.
Architects:DesignInc
Designed to achieve one of the world’s healthiest workspaces with the use of passive energy to reduce power and water consumption by 80 % and 75 % respectively. A healthy environment is attained through 100% of air intake which is filtered outside with 1 complete air change per hour.
8. One Angel Square, Manchester, UK
Year: 2012
Building Type: Offices
Size: 328000sft
Rating System: BREEAM Outstanding Rating
Architects: 3DReid
The office space is designed to be flexible to accommodate multiple occupants with varying requirements without excessive refit costs. Underground earth concrete tubes are created to provide heat and cooling for incoming air. Concrete ceilings act as a thermal sponge thereby reducing the energy required for cooling by passively soaking up the heat.
9. Olympic House (IOC Headquarters), Lausanne, Switzerland
Year:2019
Building Type: Office
Size: 135000sft
Rating System: LEED V4 Platinum, SNBS Platinum, Minergie P
Architects: 3XN Architects
The dynamic and flexible building is also made sustainable with the use of elements such as green roof and 95% of its material used for construction were reused and recycled from the former administrative building.
10. One Central Park, Sydney, Australia
Year: 2014
Building Type: Mixed Use (Residential + Retail)
Size: 255500sft
Rating System:5-star Green star – ‘Multi-Unit Residential Design v1’ Certified Rating by the Green Building Council of Australia
Architects: Ateliers Jean Nouvel
The 130m high skyscraper encompasses a vertical green wall that covers 50% of the building’s skin. Indoor and Outdoor loggias were created to protect residents from noise, wind, and sun. The building also features a cantilevered heliostat that helps to direct light rays onto the garden located below.
11. Amherst College Science Centre, Amherst, Massachusetts
Year: 2018
Building Type: Educational
Size: 251000sft
Rating System: AIA COTE Top 10 Recipient
Architects: Payette
The education center was designed to achieve the maximum usage of daylight into the building. The roof of the building is housed with a combination of skylights and photovoltaic panels that provide both natural and artificial light to reinforce its sustainability.
12. Sohrabji Godrej Green Business Centre, Hyderabad, India
Year: 2004
Building Type: Commercial, Institutional
Size: 20000sft
Rating System: LEED Platinum
Architects: Karan Grover and Associates
The building form responds to its surroundings and its existing topographical conditions. To achieve an energy-efficient building, the roof is designed to accommodate 50 to 60% of its area for vegetation, and the remaining roof space is occupied by photovoltaic cells. The building also features “Waste Water Recycling” by root zone treatment where selected plants purify the water which is further reused for irrigation.
13. Sunshine Coast University Hospital, Queensland, Australia
Year: 2016
Building Type: Health
Size: 160000sqm
Rating System: Six Star Green Star Healthcare v1 Design and As-Built rating.
Architects: Architectus Brisbane and HDR
The hospital design respects the coastal climate and also considers the wellbeing of its patients. The quality of space is enhanced through “Green Spine”, which integrates the central courtyard and an outdoor room.
14. Frick Environmental Centre, Pittsburgh
Year: 2016
Building Type: Educational
Size: 15570sft
Rating System: Living Building Certification, LEED Platinum
Architects: Bohlin Cywinski Jackson
Built as a center for experiential environmental education, sustainable building is designed with a process involving various community interactions. The design incorporates “Rain Ravine”, which collects rainwater from the building roof and is reused to attain net zero-waste within the site. It further acts as an aesthetical element where the water is channeled through a series of stones laid in shale pattern during the rainy season.
15. Vancouver Convention Centre, Vancouver, Canada
Year: 2009
Building Type: Public
Size: 12,00,000sft
Built with 40% of the building’s floor plate resting on the sea, there exists a give and take relationship with the marine water body. The foundation with a tiered platform is used to promote the growth of natural shore life. Furthermore, the structure uses seawater for its heating and cooling systems. Other green features include a living roof that hosts various local plants to recover rainwater and attract birds and butterflies.
16. Bloomberg London
Year: 2017
Building Type: Office
Size: 102190sqm
Rating System: BREEAM Outstanding rating
Architects: Foster + Partners
The design incorporates a façade with a structural sandstone frame and bronze fins of varying scales. These fins vary in its density across the façade concerning its orientation and exposure to sunlight.
17. COFCO Landmark, Beijing, China
Year: 2018
Building Type: Office
Size: 81,725sqft
Rating System: BREEAM Excellent
Architects: Skidmore, Owings & Merrill LLP
The project features twin towers connected by a central glass atrium with one of its towers located next to Beijing’s historic temple of earth. Visual harmony is created by the reduction of height near the temple side and is incorporated with terrace gardens which helps to control the surface water runoff.
18. Bahrain World Trade Centre, Manama
Year:2007
Building type: office+ shopping mall
Floor Area: 121200sqm
Architects: WS Atkins
The building consists of twin towers that are adjoined by three bridges that support 3 wind turbines of 29m diameter each which helps to generate 11 to 15% of its energy needs. The form of the structure takes its inspiration from sails of a ship to enhance the acceleration of airflow towards the turbines.
19. Manitoba Hydro Place, Canada
Year: 2009
Building Type: Office, Tower
Area: 695250sft
Rating System: LEED Platinum Certified
Architects: KPMB Architects
Designed as two towers that get infused towards its northern end, has its opening towards its southern end with a splay area that houses 3 six storied atria with garden form the lungs of the building. The building also features a 24m tall waterfall which helps to control the humidity of incoming air concerning varying seasons.
20. Taipei Financial Center (Taipei 101), Taiwan
Year: 2004
Building Type: Mixed Use, Office, Retail
Area: 374336sqm
Rating System: LEED-EBOM Platinum
Architects: C.Y. Lee and Partners
A resilient model that is built to withstand earthquakes and typhoons is also energy efficient with its energy consumption being reduced annually by 33.41 million kWh which further adds to the cost savings of more than 2 million US dollars per year.
