Abu Dhabi’s Masdar City, one of the world’s most sustainable urban developments, with its consulting partners Woods Bagot and Faithful+Gould, has held a groundbreaking ceremony for its latest development, the Masdar City Square (MC2).
The MC2 project covers an area of 29,000 square meters and a Gross Floor Area (GFA) of 50,000 square meters, extending Masdar City’s commitment to net-zero, sustainability, technology, and wellbeing by nurturing an expanded community of businesses operating in harmony with the environment. Work on the development will begin this year and is scheduled for completion in 2024.
The project includes seven single- and multi-tenant office buildings and a parking facility, all reflecting innovative design. Six of the buildings will be built to the highest green construction specifications while the MC2 Headquarters building will be Abu Dhabi’s first net-zero energy office building, meaning it will use no more energy than it produces by integrating energy efficiency-focused design and systems and renewable energy technologies.
Ahmed Baghoum Acting Executive Director Masdar City
“Masdar City is already home to one of the world’s largest clusters of green buildings with Estidama and LEED certifications. With the completion of MC2, and its seven new green buildings, including Abu Dhabi’s first net-zero energy office building, we are further demonstrating how urban development can be both economically and environmentally sound and sustainable. Masdar City is proud to serve as a testbed for sustainable urban development and we look forward to seeing how MC2 enriches Masdar City, Abu Dhabi, and the UAE.”
The groundbreaking was attended by key representatives from Masdar, Masdar City and development partners, including the Acting Executive Director of Masdar City and Mr. Abdul Aziz Bin Shafar, CEO of ASGC.
MC2 will be located adjacent to Masdar City’s existing development centered around the Mohammed bin Zayed University for Artificial Intelligence and the Siemens Middle East Headquarters. MC2 will incorporate the existing International Renewable Energy Agency Headquarters and will include courtyards, a daycare, an amphitheater plaza, shaded pedestrian boulevards, a fitness center, a meditation room, and more.
