KUALA LUMPUR (April 18): Malaysia’s current tallest building, the Merdeka 118 tower, has been awarded the Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) Platinum certification in the LEED v2009 Core and Shell rating system, marking it as the first megatall building in the country to achieve it, according to a press statement on Thursday. 

For context, the Council on Tall Buildings and Urban Habitat defines megatall buildings as buildings that are 600 metres and above. Merdeka 118 stands at a height of 678.9 metres, making it the tallest tower in Southeast Asia and the second tallest in the world.

The LEED certification, on the other hand, acknowledges a project’s compliance with the criteria outlined in the LEED rating system, established and upheld by the US Green Building Council (USGBC). The certification programme is overseen by Green Business Certification Inc (GBCI). 

Spanning over 3.1 million sq ft of gross floor area, the Merdeka 118 tower is connected to 118 Mall and comprises 84 floors of premium Grade A office space, 17 floors of the first and only Park Hyatt Kuala Lumpur hotel in Malaysia, and The View at 118 - the highest observation deck in Southeast Asia. 

PNB Merdeka Ventures Sdn Bhd is the owner and developer of Merdeka 118, and a wholly owned subsidiary of Permodalan Nasional Bhd. 

In the statement on Thursday, PNB Merdeka Ventures chief executive officer Tengku Datuk Abdul Aziz Tengku Mahmud said the USGBC assessed the Merdeka 118 project in the areas of sustainability of the site, water efficiency, energy and atmosphere, materials and resources, indoor environmental quality, and innovation in design. Credits were also given to water efficient landscaping, water use reduction, optimised energy performance, and enhanced commissioning.

“Once the Merdeka 118 tower receives all its platinum certifications, it will set the highest sustainability standards not only in Malaysia but also internationally, reinforcing its iconic status,” he added.

The statement added that Merdeka 118 is targeting Platinum certification from Green Real Estate (GreenRE) and the Green Building Index (GBI). It is also in line to obtain WELL certification from the International WELL Building Institute Asia Pacific supporting the well-being of tenants and the wider community.

Merdeka 118 is linked by four acres of landscaped greenery and open spaces known as Merdeka Boulevard at 118. The statement also pointed out that the tower and green spaces sit adjacent to two of the country’s national landmarks - Stadium Negara and Stadium Merdeka - where the country’s independence was officially declared in 1957. 

https://www.theedgemarkets.com/node/708497