Louvre Abu Dhabi scoops Green Building Award

Louvre Abu Dhabi, the world-class museum located at the heart of the Saadiyat Cultural District, has received the Green Building Award at The Green Middle East Awards for Environmental Excellence at the Expo Centre Sharjah. The Green Middle East Awards for Environmental Excellence is considered one of the few environmental awards schemes in the Middle East, where the winners of the awards are among the elite of the Middle East for their sustainability and environmental excellence. The leading cultural institution, which is being developed by the Tourism Development and Investment Company (TDIC), was recognised for its sustainable design and overall environmental excellence. Dr. Nathalie Staelens, Head of Environmental Services at TDIC received the accolade. "We are delighted to receive this award for Louvre Abu Dhabi, which goes on to show that TDIC ensures that environmental sustainability is integrated into its developments including large-scale projects such as Louvre Abu Dhabi," said Dr. Staelens. This is not the first environmental accolade the museum has received. Also this year, Louvre Abu Dhabi earned a Three Pearl Design Rating Certificate, awarded by the Urban Planning Council (UPC) as part of its Estidama Pearl Building Rating System - the first certificate to be provided for a cultural development of this scope and design in the region. Once completed in 2015, Louvre Abu Dhabi will be one of three museums within the Saadiyat Cultural District, designed by world-renowned Pritzker-prize winning architects. Zayed National Museum will be completed in 2016, followed by Guggenheim Abu Dhabi in 2017. Saadiyat's Cultural District will add to the appeal of the island which exudes an exclusive lifestyle through high-end residential, leisure, educational and tourism facilities.