Already recognized for its role in delivering the St. Louis region's first two LEED (Leadership in Energy & Environmental Design) Platinum-certified commercial buildings, St. Louis-based Vertegy's sustainable design and consulting services have recently caught the attention of a development team embarking on a residential project that will take the firm's expertise overseas. The sustainable consulting firm announces it has been tapped to assist with the sustainable design of a world-class student housing complex in Qatar, an Arab Emirate in Southwest Asia.
The project, Education City, is a 2,500-acre campus on the outskirts of Doha, Qatar. The development is already home to various research and education centers, as well as branch campuses of some of the world's leading universities. Vertegy will be assisting Kansas City-based engineering firm Burns & McDonnell with the sustainable design for the two campuses that will accommodate separate housing for 600 male and 600 female students. Upon completion, the 12 buildings, which are tracking for LEED Platinum certification by the U.S. Green Building Council, would yield the world's largest collection of platinum buildings in one location.
The facilities will consist of a combined 850,000 square feet of space. Each complex will include a cafeteria, gathering area, prayer room, and walls that point to Mecca. The new housing will maximize energy efficiency and water use, utilizing wind turbines, photovoltaic cells and a biomass wall for filtering gray water. The students living in the complex will also benefit from wireless computer systems and smart-room technology, which allows residents to control temperature, lighting and music simply by entering the room.
