JLL Mumbai office receives LEED gold certification

By Realty Quarter Bureau

JLL, India’s largest real estate services firm, adds a unique distinction as its newest office in Bandra – Kurla Complex (BKC), Mumbai, is awarded LEED® Gold Certification for commercial interiors (LEED® – CI). Mahesh Ramanujam, President and CEO, U.S. Green Building Council (USGBC) handed over the prestigious certification in a ceremony held at JLL’s Mumbai office. The LEED® – CI certification recognizes an office premise for green tenant improvements, showcasing the occupiers’ environmental commitments and leadership in creating sustainable and future ready office spaces.

 Ramesh Nair, CEO and Country Head, JLL India said, “LEED Gold certification is a matter of pride and prestige for us. Our primary objective has been to create a people friendly work environment that would enhance the working experience for our colleagues and clients, in alignment with JLL’s global ‘people first’ workplace culture. Our new office in ONE BKC amply reflects our philosophy and is the epitome of impeccable interior design and layout, ultra-modern comforts and conveniences as well as sustainable Grade A real estate. Achieving this certification is evidence of our efforts in creating the ‘workplace of the future’ and one which appeals to the millennials who constitute the majority of our workforce.”

 Mahesh Ramanujam, President and CEO, USGBC said, “Achieving LEED certification is more than implementing sustainable practices. It represents a commitment to making the world a better place and influencing others to do better. Given the extraordinary importance of climate protection and the central role of the building industry in that effort, JLL demonstrates their leadership through their LEED certification of JLL’s Mumbai office.”

The office provides for a tech-enabled environment with collaborative zones spread over 22,000 sq ft of prime, 100% environmentally sustainable work spaces. It has been specifically designed to provide a superlative working experience to boost productivity in tandem with wellbeing. In the face of evolving client expectations, this new innovation centre is a live model of the Future of Work and Human Experience – Concepts which will be the base for future modern workplaces, of which JLL is a strong advocate in this age of disruption.

Key features of the state-of-the-art office at ONE BKC, Mumbai are:

• Energy-efficient and state-of-the-art mercury free LED lighting
• Occupancy / vacancy detecting lighting sensors
• Daylight harvesting via sensors for lighting, and maximized tech-enabled day lighting
• Water-efficient fixtures to avoid waste
• Rapid access to public transport to minimize carbon footprint
• Enhanced air quality via Low VOC paints, adhesives and sealants
• Advanced air conditioning systems
• Waste segregation at source
• All-white room to encourage enhanced cerebral discussions
• Nature-aligned with life-sized trees and nature sounds to de-stress the workplace

 Rajat Malhotra, COO, Integrated Facilities Management (West Asia), JLL, said, “We ensured that that the design of our new office reflected the Firm’s commitment to sustainability in the built environment through compliance to standards prescribed in the LEED – CI certification system. JLL endeavours to make every effort in creating a healthy and enabling work environment for its employees as well as clients. Our efforts at JLL ONE BKC epitomize that endeavour and aspiration. The Firm has leveraged the knowledge and best practice contained in certification systems such as LEED and Well Rating Standards to walk the talk in terms of not only certifying the interiors as Green but in creating a work space that enhances experience, improves health and increases productivity. We have designed our office to be safe, sustainable and happy. Achieving a LEED –CI Gold certification for our office is a befitting encouragement and recognition of our team’s efforts in giving ourselves a state-of-the-art facility.” 

Sustainable office premises provide better air quality, natural light and an optimal and pleasant indoor environment. Enhanced IEQ (Indoor Environmental Quality) for occupants are achieved by initiatives such as using less toxic interiors, low-emitting adhesives, paints, carpets and composite wood, illuminating 75–90% of the space with natural light, and increasing thermal comfort via zone controls for air conditioning and better ventilation. These factors are most important in improving the quality of work life and the efficiency of occupiers. Cumulatively, they directly translate into improved productivity and decreased ailments for occupants.