Sheikh Zayed Desert Learning Center
Al Ain / United Arab Emirates

energy innovation austria 3/2014
energy innovation austria 3/2014

One pioneering flagship project is the Sheikh Zayed Desert Learning Center, realized in 2014 under the management of the Vienna architects Chalabi Architekten & Partner in the United Arab Emirates. This pioneering structure – a museum and research centre for desert regions and environmental issues – shows that sustainable strategies for buildings can be successfully implemented even under extreme climatic conditions. In this project environmental influences and life-cycle costs were reduced considerably with the aid of innovative designs and technologies. The Desert Learning Center is an almost energy-self-sufficient building. With its combination of active and passive use of solar energy, and with systems that save water and energy, the building satisfies the strictest criteria of sustainability. Total energy consumption is 40 % lower and drinking water consumption 80 % lower than in comparable conventional buildings. Many of the pioneering solutions and components incorporated were supplied by Austrian firms. Within the US programme LEED™ (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design) the building has been certified as meeting the LEED™ Platinum Standard; it is also the first building in the Emirates to be awarded the Arab Green Building seal of approval Estidama 5 Pearls.

www.energy-innovation-austria.at/issue/eia-2014-03 en/?lang=en