Sun Hung Kai Properties' (SHKP) Huai Hai Zhong Road office development in Shanghai was recently given preliminary gold certification under the US Green Building Council's Leadership in Energy & Environmental Design (LEED) programme. Certification denotes compliance with international standards for green development.

Green measures

The Huai Hai Zhong Road project incorporates green measures in areas from design to construction. Energy-saving measures include LED exterior lighting and tinted windows to block excess light and reduce the indoor temperature. The air-conditioning and lighting systems are controlled by zone to save more energy. Automatic faucets and environmental toilets reduce water consumption by approximately 30%. The development is connected with the city's mass transit and it has large number of bicycle parking spots to encourage fuel conservation.

SHKP is also using locally-produced materials in the construction as much as possible to reduce the amount of fuel and pollution from transporting materials from further away. Other sustainable measures include using wood from fast-growing trees, reusing timbers in construction and waste separation management.

New addition to Shanghai

The Huai Hai Zhong Road project is in the heart of the vibrant Puxi commercial zone in Shanghai. The development is connected to an existing subway station and another one is planned, and it is served by three main rail lines. It will have 3.5 million square feet of gross area in a high-end shopping mall, two office towers and two luxury residential towers with 64 units. The development will be a new focal point in the heart of Shanghai, and it is scheduled for completion in phases starting in 2010.