Arcadia’s award-winning, energy-efficient learning environment reflects the progressive thinking of the institution
The Arcadia Preparatory School (Arcadia), one of the finest British curriculum schools in the UAE, has been awarded the LEED (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design) Certification for New Construction and Major Renovations by the U.S. Green Building Council (USGBC).
A ceremony was held to mark this achievement at the school in Jumeirah Village Triangle on May 10th 2017. Mohan Valrani, Chairman of Arcadia and Brian Johnson, Managing Partner – Godwin Austen Johnson, the design consultancy firm behind Arcadia’s environment-friendly design, attended the celebration in addition to teachers and pupils.
Arcadia earned the LEED distinction after fulfilling all the requisites outlined by the rating system. It successfully implemented measurable strategies and solutions aimed at achieving higher building performance in regards to: sustainable site development, water savings, energy efficiency, materials selection and indoor environmental quality.
Brian Johnson said, “We congratulate The Arcadia Preparatory School on their LEED award and are grateful for the support extended to us as we worked towards achieving this highly regarded international certification. We are delighted to have the opportunity to work with The Arcadia Group on this and a number of other educational projects including their Ladybird Early Learning Centre which earned LEED Gold towards the end of last year making these the first two schools in the Middle East to achieve LEED certification.”
Navin Valrani, CEO of the school, said, “As a school, we believe in teaching and leading by example. We want to help build a generation that is sensitised on environmental issues and is aware of sustainable practices. For doing so, we had to first commit ourselves to setting an example.”
“From the outset, we knew LEED was something to aspire for and work towards. As the foremost program for the design, construction and operation of green buildings, we hold this certification in high esteem,” he added.
The Arcadia Preparatory School is the only primary school in the UAE to be LEED-certified. Most recently, the school has also been shortlisted for the MENA Green Building Awards in the Green Building – School category.
– The Arcadia Preparatory School Media
A purpose built school spread across 156,000 square feet, Arcadia boasts premium facilities such as a learners’ swimming pool, an indoor multi-purpose sports hall, state-of-the-art science laboratories, fully-equipped art and music rooms and a library that provides a reading environment conducive to learning.
