Korea's Songdo International Business District Reaches 106 LEED-Certified Buildings Totaling 19.5 Million Square Feet

NEW YORK, May 6, 2015 /PRNewswire/ -- Songdo International Business District (IBD) today announced that it has achieved a total of 19.5 million square feet of LEED® certified space, bolstering its position as one of the world's most ambitious LEED developments. Songdo IBD, a 1,500-acre new city on the coast of Incheon, South Korea, is setting new standards for sustainable urban development in Asia and worldwide.

Songdo IBD (http://www.songdo.com) is a joint venture between New York developer Gale International and Korean construction firm POSCO E&C, under the governance of the Incheon Free Economic Zone Authority. The U.S. Green Building Council's LEED (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design) green building program is the foremost program for the design, construction and operation of green buildings.

The 19.5 million SF (1.8 million SM)) figure represents 12 projects comprising 106 buildings (71 residential, 27 retail and 8 commercial).  The most recent Songdo project to gain certification is the 68-story Northeast Asia Trade Tower (NEATT), which achieved LEED Silver. The landmark NEATT at 305 meters (1,001 feet) is the tallest building in Korea and was designed by internationally renowned firm Kohn Pedersen Fox Associates.

Gale International and POSCO E&C are pioneers of LEED in Korea. Songdo's "firsts" include:

• The First LEED-certified Exhibit Hall in Asia (Convensia Convention Center) - The Convensia is also the first building in Korea over 1,000 square meters to achieve this prestigious certification of sustainable design.
• The First LEED-certified Residential Tower in Korea (Central Park I)
• The First LEED-certified Hotel in Korea (Sheraton Incheon)
• The First LEED-certified School in Korea (Chadwick International School)

According to the most recent figures from the USGBC, there is a total of 47.7 million SF of LEED-certified space in Korea of which developments within Songdo IBD represent approximately 40%. Songdo IBD blocks/buildings register with the USGBC under the "LEED-NC" (New Construction) or "LEED-CS" (Core and Shell) Rating Systems.  

Songdo IBD is globally recognized as the world's foremost smart, sustainable city-scale development. In 2012, the newly established Green Climate Fund (GCF) selected Songdo as the home for its Secretariat.  It is anticipated that the sustainable infrastructure and technological innovations being pioneered in Songdo will have applications for many of the GCF-funded projects in developing nations.  Songdo features one of the world's largest pneumatic waste collection systems (obviating the need for garbage trucks) and a state-of-the-art cogeneration plant. Targeted citywide water recycling will reach 40% and waste recycling 76% by the year 2020. Songdo IBD is comprised of 40% green space and is a pedestrian city while also featuring a first-rate system of public transportation including buses, subways, water taxis, and extensive bikeways.

"We are immensely proud that Songdo IBD has been a champion of LEED in Korea and has become a leader in sustainable development not just in Asia but worldwide," said Stan Gale, CEO and chairman of Manhattan-headquartered Gale International.

"Songdo International Business District has set a high bar for LEED certification in Asia and across the globe," said Rick Fedrizzi, CEO and founding chair, USGBC. "It's a great example of how green building responds to the most important challenges of our time, including global climate change, dependence on non-sustainable and expensive sources of energy and threats to human health."

About Songdo IBD

The $35 billion Songdo International Business District (IBD) is being built on 1,500 acres of reclaimed land along the Yellow Sea in Incheon, South Korea, by Gale International, a premier international real estate investment and development company headquartered in New York, and POSCO E&C of Korea. Songdo IBD, often called the largest private real estate venture in history, will include one hundred million square feet of office, residential, retail, hotel and public space. Songdo IBD, more than 60% completed, already has 36,000 residents with 50,000 commuting daily. Upon completion, projected for 2018, the city will be home to 65,000 residents and 300,000 people will commute in daily. Core components of Songdo IBD's built environment that have been completed include the 68-story Northeast Asia Trade Tower; Convensia Convention Center; the Sheraton Incheon; the 100-acre Central Park (modeled after New York's); numerous residential and commercial projects including more than 1,000 retail stores; Chadwick International School; and the Jack Nicklaus Golf Club Korea. Songdo IBD also is the leading example of a "ubiquitous city" in which technology is pervasive and key IT systems are linked. It has partnered with Cisco to provide TelePresence immersive videoconferencing in homes, offices and schools, among other digital initiatives. Connected to Incheon International Airport via a stunning 7.4 mile bridge, Songdo IBD is situated at the crossroads of Northeast Asia and is a 90 minute flight to Shanghai and to Tokyo, and a three hour flight to Hong Kong. Just 35 miles southwest of Seoul, a proposed GTX train would reduce the trip to Songdo IBD to 25 minutes.

For more information see songdo.com.

About Gale International

Gale International is a premier international real estate investment and development company with headquarters in New York and offices in California and Songdo International Business District, South Korea. For more information please visit www.galeintl.com.

About U.S. Green Building Council (USGBC)

USGBC is committed to a prosperous and sustainable future through cost-efficient and energy-saving green buildings. USGBC works toward its mission of market transformation through its LEED green building program, robust educational offerings, a nationwide network of chapters and affiliates, the annual Greenbuild International Conference & Expo, the Center for Green Schools and advocacy in support of public policy that encourages and enables green buildings and communities. For more information, visit usgbc.org, explore the Green Building Information Gateway (GBIG) and connect on Twitter, Facebook and LinkedIn.

About LEED

As the most widely recognized and widely used green building program across the globe, LEED is transforming buildings, homes and communities in all 50 states and 135 countries. LEED guides the design, construction, operations and maintenance of over 50,000 projects worldwide, comprising 9.6 billion square feet of commercial and institutional construction space, and over 130,000 additional residential units. By using less energy, LEED-certified spaces save money for families, businesses and taxpayers; reduce carbon emissions; and contribute to a healthier environment for residents, workers and the larger community. Learn more at usgbc.org/leed.

SOURCE Gale International

Related Links

http://www.galeintl.com