Sustainability
Video
We view the challenges of sustainability as opportunities to design better buildings: buildings that are healthier for our clients, more efficient to run, and adaptable for the future. We are a member of the UK Green Buildings Council, and we work with various partners to help us continuously learn and evolve to achieve more sustainable results. We created a Low Carbon Strategy Handbook that sets a benchmark of essential criteria to reduce operational and embodied carbon in all building types, and we conduct regular audits to analyse the impact of our design decisions and promote carbon-aware decision making. In tandem with our design work, we track all forms of our practice’s carbon consumption and are formulating a plan to make meaningful reductions by 2030 and 2050.
Photograph by Virgile Simon Bertrand
Our teams are trained to design in a sustainable way and supported by our in-house Environmental & Sustainability team. We have developed cutting-edge software to model, analyse, and improve every aspect of a building’s design, from orientation and ventilation to solar shading and incorporating renewable energy sources. Using detailed computer simulations, we assess local and regional climate patterns, anticipate the impact of climate change, and produce information to assist clients in making informed decisions. Our processes and methodologies are audited by a third party, providing clients with independent verification of the information we produce. Working together, we deliver buildings of unparalleled quality and longevity, manifesting a legacy that benefits both present and future generations.
Projects
From energy production to material reduction and re-use, we employ multi-faceted design strategies to optimise sustainability in our projects. Learn more.
Courtesy of ZHA
Tall Buildings
01/05
Baghdad, Iraq
2012 - TBC
Rising from the sloping banks of the Tigris River in Baghdad, the design for the new headquarters of the Central Bank of Iraq (CBI) conveys the core values at the heart of the institution: Solidity, Stability and Sustainability.
Photograph by Hufton + Crow
Offices
02/05
Sharjah, United Arab Emirates
2014 - 2022
Powered by its solar array and equipped with next-generation technologies for operations at LEED Platinum standards, the new BEEAH Headquarters has been designed to achieve net-zero and will be the group’s management and administrative centre that sets a new benchmark for future workplaces.
Courtesy of ZHA, render by MIR
Sports
03/05
Stroud, United Kingdom
2016 - TBC
The Eco Park stadium for Forest Green Rovers will be an important addition for the community. The club’s heritage, ambition and vision reflect ZHA’s own, combining the latest material research and construction techniques with new design approaches to build a more ecologically sustainable and inclusive architecture.
Courtesy of Studio Naaro
Striatus 3D Printed Concrete Bridge
Installations + Pavilions
04/05
Venice, Italy
2021 - 2021
Striatus is an arched masonry footbridge composed of 3D-printed concrete blocks assembled without mortar or reinforcement. The first of its kind, the project is a collaboration between the Block Research Group (BRG) at ETH Zurich and ZHA Computation and Design Group (ZHACODE), in collaboration with incremental3D (in3D), made possible by Holcim.
Photograph by Xue Liang 薛亮
Offices
05/05
Guangzhou, China
2016 - 2021
Infinitus Plaza is the new global headquarters of Infinitus China. Incorporating work environments designed to nurture connectivity, creativity and entrepreneurship, the new headquarters also includes the group’s herbal medicine research facilities and safety assessment labs as well as a learning centre for conferences and exhibitions.
Courtesy of ZHA
Tall Buildings
01/05
Baghdad, Iraq
2012 - TBC
Rising from the sloping banks of the Tigris River in Baghdad, the design for the new headquarters of the Central Bank of Iraq (CBI) conveys the core values at the heart of the institution: Solidity, Stability and Sustainability.
Photograph by Hufton + Crow
Offices
02/05
Sharjah, United Arab Emirates
2014 - 2022
Powered by its solar array and equipped with next-generation technologies for operations at LEED Platinum standards, the new BEEAH Headquarters has been designed to achieve net-zero and will be the group’s management and administrative centre that sets a new benchmark for future workplaces.
Courtesy of ZHA, render by MIR
Sports
03/05
Stroud, United Kingdom
2016 - TBC
The Eco Park stadium for Forest Green Rovers will be an important addition for the community. The club’s heritage, ambition and vision reflect ZHA’s own, combining the latest material research and construction techniques with new design approaches to build a more ecologically sustainable and inclusive architecture.
Courtesy of Studio Naaro
Striatus 3D Printed Concrete Bridge
Installations + Pavilions
04/05
Venice, Italy
2021 - 2021
Striatus is an arched masonry footbridge composed of 3D-printed concrete blocks assembled without mortar or reinforcement. The first of its kind, the project is a collaboration between the Block Research Group (BRG) at ETH Zurich and ZHA Computation and Design Group (ZHACODE), in collaboration with incremental3D (in3D), made possible by Holcim.
Photograph by Xue Liang 薛亮
Offices
05/05
Guangzhou, China
2016 - 2021
Infinitus Plaza is the new global headquarters of Infinitus China. Incorporating work environments designed to nurture connectivity, creativity and entrepreneurship, the new headquarters also includes the group’s herbal medicine research facilities and safety assessment labs as well as a learning centre for conferences and exhibitions.