Cubellis, 5 Capitals Form Association to Provide Green Building Advice, LEED Services to UAE Developers

By Anuradha Kher, Online News EditorBoston–Cubellis, an international architecture, interior design and engineering firm, has entered into an agreement with 5 Capitals Environmental and Management Consulting to form an association that will provide sustainability and green building advice along with LEED (Leadership in Energy Environmental Design) accreditation services to developers in the United Arab Emirates (UAE). The firm will operate from its headquarters in Dubai with the help of an expert team of six to eight people that has extensive experience helping businesses find solutions to their environmental and sustainability challenges.The new association, created by Cubellis and 5 Capitals, will work to create a model of sustainable development that provides a way of looking at the various parts of the development equation in such a way that decision makers, businessmen and developers can form balanced, “capital enhancing” plans. Currently, the association is working on three projects in Dubai.Recently, Vice President and Prime Minister of the UAE, Shaikh Mohammad Bin Rashid Al Maktoum, who is also the ruler of Dubai, passed an order mandating that all buildings that are being developed by a government-owned or government partnered developer in Dubai have to be constructed as per environmentally friendly green building standards. “Due to the order, this is a timely decision to create this association,” Steve Leone, AIA, LEED AP, principal and director of sustainable design at Cubellis, tellls MHN. “The fast pace of development in Dubai is our biggest challenge with this venture.”“Together, Cubellis and 5 Capitals have great potential to become involved on upcoming project opportunities, ensuring that residences, commercial buildings, resorts, hospitality and retail buildings implement the decision to “go green” according to the highest international standards that are suitable for Dubai. This alliance cements our deep commitment to sustainable design, while maintaining a healthy city that follows the global benchmarks in sustainable development and clean environmental practices,” Leone adds.The association hopes to provide global resources and expertise, and enable the teams to satisfy new and existing clients. Ken Wade, director of environmental planning and sustainability at 5 Capitals, says, “We look forward to applying our combined experience in the development of solutions for clients who are facing new challenges associated with issues such as globalization, rapid economic growth, changing demographics and the resulting social, economic and environmental impacts in the booming real estate development sector.”