Qatar,

Msheireb Properties’ focus on innovation, sustainability and green building was recognised last night at the Qatar Construction Week Awards 2011, where the developer tasked with regenerating Doha’s historical downtown picked up the Construction Sustainability Award at a gala ceremony at the Four Seasons Doha.

The Construction Sustainability Award was awarded to Msheireb Properties for the ground breaking sustainability practices implemented at its Msheireb Downtown Doha project. Construction Week chose the group’s signature project as the “winning initiative that will make a positive contribution to the advance of environmental considerations in construction, while also demonstrating clear practical applications”.

Mohamed M. Al Marri, Director of Projects, accepted the Award on behalf of the CEO Eng. Issa M. Al Mohannadi. Eng. Issa said: “We are honoured to receive this award which recognises our unique approach of developing projects that are sensitive to local norms, culture and environment and further underscores our leadership in actively promoting environmental awareness, sustainability and conservation. By creating the world’s first sustainable downtown regeneration project we hope that this will serve as a bold new template for the incorporation of practices such as passive cooling, energy and water conservation and use of renewable energy and reduction of carbon emissions across the world.”

Launched in 2009, Msheireb Downtown will have the highest concentration of LEED certified buildings in the world. The entire site will also be a LEED Certified Neighborhood Development (ND). The development focuses on 12 sustainability objectives that include maximising use of microclimate, reduction of car use, maximising water and energy efficiency, reduction of carbon emissions as well as facilitating community interaction and social exchange.

The Award acknowledges Msheireb Properties’ role in leading the way, with the first neighbourhood regeneration project in the region to have integrated urban sustainability as the paramount design direction, creating a unique architectural language sensitive to Qatar’s climate, culture and heritage.

Msheireb Properties has earned a number of other prestigious industry awards, including the MIPIM Architectural Review Future Projects Awards in Cannes France and the 2010 Arabian Business Award for excellence in Corporate Social Responsibility.