Perkins Eastman Commits to Greening International Design Projects With EDGE
Top international design and architecture firm Perkins Eastman has pledged to apply EDGE, the green building certification system for emerging markets, to at least five of its clients’ projects in the next year. EDGE, which stands for Excellence in Design for Greater Efficiencies, is an innovation of the International Finance Corporation (IFC), a member of the World Bank Group. The partnership agreement was signed between Perkins Eastman and IFC in Washington, DC.
Perkins Eastman and IFC decided to collaborate in recognition of their shared aspirations that architectural firms can play a pivotal role in influencing the construction industry to follow a more low-carbon, less resource-intensive path. Through the partnership, the entities will work together to promote sustainable design practices in emerging markets, with an emphasis on India and China. Perkins Eastman’s pioneering of EDGE is intended to encourage other major design firms to follow its lead.
EDGE was created to respond to the need for a measurable solution to prove the financial case for building green and help jumpstart the proliferation of green buildings. EDGE includes complimentary software to empower building professionals to quickly and easily determine the most cost-effective ways to build green based on occupant behavior, building type, and the local climate.
Perkins Eastman has a strong commitment to sustainability that can be seen in many of its projects around the world, such as Huishan North Bund in Shanghai, a dynamic mixed-use development and marina on the Huangpu River, comprising several new buildings that have achieved LEED Gold, China 3-Star Rating, and BREEAM Excellent Certifications; and the Kartal Towers in Istanbul, a residential and mixed-use development that is projected to achieve energy savings of 30 percent. The firm is a signatory to the 2030 Commitment, an industry initiative to reach carbon neutrality within the next two decades.
“We’re impressed that IFC has assembled a team fully committed to addressing this global issue and turning it into an opportunity for emerging markets,” said Scott Kilbourn, Principal and Chief Operating Officer of Perkins Eastman’s international practice. “We think EDGE is a valuable forecasting tool that will help us shape and grow our sustainable design practice abroad, while helping to establish strong communities and smart placemaking.”
“Perkins Eastman has attracted brilliant creative minds to its practice who inspire design that emphasizes environmental performance,” said Christian Grossmann, IFC’s Director of Climate Change. “We are grateful that such a prominent firm has taken a leadership role in supporting IFC’s quest to help mitigate climate change through the mainstreaming of green buildings in emerging markets.”
IFC’s ambition is to transform 20 percent of the construction market in 125 industrializing countries with the support of industry leaders, governments, and financial institutions. Resource-efficient buildings provide a tangible value that can be passed from the developer to customers in the form of utility savings. They also have less negative impact on the environment and reinforce a more sustainable corporate brand.
IFC has a green building investment portfolio of nearly $2 billion, which includes its own direct investments and mobilized financing. Complementing its investment work, IFC advises governments on green building regulations in Colombia, Indonesia, Peru, the Philippines, and Vietnam.
About Perkins Eastman
Perkins Eastman is among the top design and architecture firms in the world. With almost 1,000 employees in 15 locations around the globe, Perkins Eastman practices at every scale of the built environment. From niche buildings to complex projects that enrich whole communities, the firm’s portfolio reflects a dedication to progressive and inventive design that enhances the quality of the human experience. With work in 46 states and more than 40 countries, the firm’s portfolio includes high-end residential, commercial, hotels, retail, office buildings, corporate interiors, schools, hospitals, museums, senior living, and public sector facilities. Perkins Eastman provides award-winning design through its offices in North America (New York, NY; Boston, MA; Charlotte, NC; Chicago, IL; Dallas, TX; Los Angeles, CA; Pittsburgh, PA; San Francisco, CA; Stamford, CT; Toronto, Canada; and Washington, DC); South America (Guayaquil, Ecuador); North Africa and Middle East (Dubai, UAE); and Asia (Mumbai, India, and Shanghai, China).
About IFC
IFC, a member of the World Bank Group, is the largest global development institution focused on the private sector in emerging markets. Working with more than 2,000 businesses worldwide, IFC uses its capital, expertise, and influence to create opportunity where it’s needed most. In FY15, IFC’s long-term investments in developing countries rose to nearly $18 billion, helping the private sector play an essential role in the global effort to end extreme poverty and boost shared prosperity. For more information, visit www.ifc.org.
About EDGE
An innovation of IFC, EDGE helps property developers to build and brand green in a fast, easy, and affordable way. EDGE is supported by free software that encourages solutions to reduce energy, water, and the energy used to make building materials by at least 20 percent, which is the standard for EDGE certification. The program has been generously supported by the following donors: Austria, Canada, Denmark, ESMAP, EU, Finland, GEF, Japan, and Switzerland. For more information, visit www.edgebuildings.com.
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