Taikoo Place First In Hong Kong To Obtain LEED Communities Gold Certification

Recognition at the community level endorses Swire Properties' pioneering placemaking efforts which extend beyond individual buildings

Swire Properties added another accolade to its list of sustainability credentials, as Taikoo Place was officially awarded by the LEED (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design) Communities certification programme (Gold Rating). This marks the first and only development in Hong Kong to receive this level of achievement.

Taikoo Place was recognised by the “LEED v4.1 for Cities and Communities: Existing Communities” rating system, and notably excelled in the areas of integrative planning, green spaces, conservation, as well as transportation connectivity and accessibility.

This community-level distinction is in addition to the LEED platinum certifications for individual buildings recently obtained by One Taikoo Place and Two Taikoo Place, the two newest triple Grade-A office buildings in Taikoo Place. Other office towers in the Taikoo Place portfolio have already attained various green building certifications, including BEAM Plus and the Zero-Carbon-Ready Building Certification by the Hong Kong Green Building Council.

Tim Blackburn, Chief Executive of Swire Properties said, “We are delighted that Taikoo Place is the first and only ‘community’ to be recognised at this level in Hong Kong. This latest LEED certification for Taikoo Place is a testament to our absolute commitment to integrate sustainability into every aspect of our portfolio, from design, to construction and property management. We will continue to contribute to local communities and to create vibrant places where people and nature can thrive.”

Don Taylor, Director, Office at Swire Properties, said, “With the imminent completion of the Taikoo Place redevelopment project, more world-class amenities are available to the 35,000 people who work at Taikoo Place as well as the neighbouring communities. This includes the opening of Taikoo Square – an expansive green open space that will facilitate urban biodiversity and improve the area’s microclimate and air quality. New climate-controlled walkways, connecting the office towers, offer convenience, comfort and unmatched connectivity within the Taikoo Place portfolio. We will also continue to host a wide range of exciting events and programmes to engage our tenants and the wider public. Our objective is to make Taikoo Place a vibrant destination during the day and at night, and continue to promote Taikoo Place as a Global Business District.”

Peter Templeton, President & CEO of the U.S. Green Building Council (USGBC), said, “Transforming the built environment is a key action to meet global emissions targets and create thriving, healthy communities. By achieving LEED for Cities and Communities Gold certification at Taikoo Place, Swire Properties is showcasing how major developments can support decarbonisation, public health, urban biodiversity, and other critical imperatives at scale. Swire Properties continues to demonstrate global leadership by earning LEED certification and other prominent certifications throughout its portfolio.”

One of Hong Kong’s best-planned commercial hubs, Taikoo Place comprises 10 Grade-A office towers interconnected by elevated walkways that offer easy access across this bustling Global Business District, as well as to nearby public transportation and amenities.

Guided by its 1.5°C-aligned science-based targets, Swire Properties has been adopting industry-leading and low-carbon technologies, and investing in energy-efficiency research and development to strengthen Taikoo Place’s decarbonisation capabilities. These include a cloud-based smart energy management platform that leverages IoT, Big Data, AI and cloud computing to optimise the operation of the building’s plant and equipment, which provides insights into energy savings.

Recognising that its property developments can have long-term, far-reaching environmental and societal impact, Swire Properties has been consistently evaluating its placemaking and placekeeping performance through its proprietary Places Impact Report. The inaugural Report, published in 2020, focused on Taikoo Place and Island East, acknowledging the extent of Swire Properties’ placemaking efforts, and identifying ways to have a meaningful impact on the communities in which the Company operates over the long term.

Swire Properties, currently ranked No. 2 globally in the Dow Jones Sustainability Index (DJSI) – Real Estate Management and Development Industry category, was named “Global Sector Leader (Mixed Use Sector)” for the seventh year in a row in the 2023 Global Real Estate Sustainability Benchmark (GRESB). The Company was also ranked No. 1 in the Hang Seng Corporate Sustainability Index for the sixth consecutive year.