Tuesday 28 November 2017, 17:53

Khalifa International Stadium receives major sustainability award

  • Khalifa International Stadium achieves four-star GSAS sustainability certification

  • Stadium is the first completed tournament venue for the 2022 FIFA World Cup Qatar™

  • Certification hailed as “a major achievement for Qatar”

Khalifa International Stadium – the first completed tournament venue for the 2022 FIFA World Cup Qatar™ – has received a major sustainability certification.

The 40,000-capacity stadium has become the first in the world to be awarded a four-star rating from the Global Sustainability Assessment System (GSAS), which is administered by Qatar-based Gulf Organisation for Research & Development (GORD).

Qatar’s national stadium, which officially reopened in May of this year, underwent extensive redevelopment that was overseen by the Supreme Committee for Delivery & Legacy (SC), Qatar’s 2022 World Cup organising body, and the Aspire Zone Foundation. The official four-star certification follows a provisional award announced in June 2016.

Fitted with innovative and energy-efficient cooling technology, the Khalifa International Stadium received the rating during the second annual Sustainability Summit in Doha, which was organised by GORD and sponsored by the SC.

“We are very proud to receive the four-star certification – this is a major achievement for Qatar, the SC and Aspire Zone Foundation, as we strive to meet our ambitious sustainability targets in the lead-up to 2022 and beyond,” said Bodour Al Meer, the SC’s Sustainability & Environmental Manager.

In order to obtain GSAS certification, developers must employ leading sustainability practices in the design, construction and operation to minimise a building’s ecological footprint. Khalifa International Stadium’s cooling technology uses an energy recovery system in order to reduce energy consumption. In addition, the stadium features energy-efficient lighting systems and plumbing fixtures.

FIFA’s Head of Sustainability & Diversity, Federico Addiechi, praised Qatar’s commitment to sustainability. “It’s great to see that Qatar’s first stadium has successfully received certification so far in advance of the tournament,” said Addiechi. “Also, the fact that such a sophisticated certification system exists and is being widely used in Qatar is very promising.

“Stadiums are at the heart of a FIFA World Cup, making them the focus for the sustainable management of the event.

“We’re extremely happy with the cooperation between FIFA, the SC and GORD. The collaboration will not stop with the certification process – there is so much in the pipeline, which will all be covered in the joint 2022 FIFA World Cup Sustainability Strategy, to be launched in 2018.”