Greater Chennai Corporation’s ICCC Smart Governance Centre Receives IGBC’s Platinum Certification
This award marks GCC as India’s First Government Building to receive the highest score under the platinum category of the IGBC Green New Building Rating System
Chennai, 24 November, 2023 : The Greater Chennai Corporation’s (GCC) -ICCC Smart Governance Centre today received the prestigious Platinum Certification under the Indian Green Building Council (IGBC) Green New Buil ding Rating System. With this accolade and an impressive score of 89 out of 100 points, GCC is one of the oldest corporations in the world to construct an end-to-end sustainable government building. The award and certificat ion was received by Dr. J Radhakrishnan, I.A.S, Additional Chief Secretary, Government of Tamil Nadu and Comm issioner, Greater Chennai Corporation in the presence of Mr. Gurmit Singh Arora, National Chairman, Indian Gre en Building Council, Mr. B Thiagarajan, National Vice Chairman, Indian Green Building Council, Mr. Ajit Kumar C hordia, Chairman, Indian Green Building Council, Chennai Chapter and Mr. Arun Awasthy, President and Manag ing Director, Johnson Controls India.
Receiving the award and certification at the Green Building Congress 2023 organized by CII’s IGBC, Dr. J Radh akrishnan, I.A.S, Additional Chief Secretary, Government of Tamil Nadu and Commissioner, Greater Chennai Co rporation, said “In the heart of Tamil Nadu, the Greater Chennai Corporation stands as one of the world’s oldest and m ost proactive municipal bodies, championing the cause of a greener tomorrow. Beyond the superficiality of greenery, our focus lies in cultivating environmentally friendly and healthier spaces for the citizens of Tamil Nadu. As a proud partner state of the Green Building Congress 2023, we are excited to showcase our commitment to sustainability. Our Smart Go vernance Building has been awarded the prestigious IGBC Platinum rating, standing as a testament to our dedication. L eading by example is our philosophy, and we urge all upcoming projects, both private and governmental, to embrace the IGBC rating not merely for accolades but as a commitment to a sustainable future. Let us not just speak of sustainability but embody it in our actions, conserving resources for the next generation and fostering the well-being of all. I appreciate CII – IGBC once again for hosting India’s largest Conference & Expo, Green Building Congress 2023 at Chennai and I am sure, this event will go a long way in creating awareness among the masses on sustainable living.”
Adding to this, Mr. Gurmit Singh Arora, Chairman – Indian Green Building Council “I extend my heartfelt appreci ation to the Greater Chennai Corporation for their exemplary commitment to building a truly end-to-end sustainable g reen structure.”
Mr. B Thiagarajan, National Vice Chairman, Indian Green Building Council, further stated “It is indeed a commen dable initiative from the Greater Chennai Corporation and we are truly delighted to be a part of this remarkable journey. I am confident that Greater Chennai Corporation will continue its stride of building end-to-end green buildings and cont ribute significantly to the increase in the green footprint of Tamil Nadu as well as elevating the green leadership of the s tate.
GCC’s ICCC Smart Governance Centre- Key Features
- Spanning across 51,338, sq.ft, GCC’s Smart Governance Centre was constructed this year.
- Designed to be yet another iconic landmark of Chennai, the building mirrors the the adjoining Ripon Building in design to blend traditional elegance with modern architectural ingenuity
- The building also has used several eco-friendly construction materials, remarkable green cover and biodiversity keeping in mind the wellness of its employees
- Urban Heat Island Effect Mitigation: Achieving over 95% reduction in the urban heat island effect through high SRI tiles, complemented by a 75% reduction through strategically planted shade-giving trees.
- Green Cover and Biodiversity: Over 30% of the area is dedicated to vegetation, predominantly native species, with a strong commitment to preserving all mature trees during construction.
- Water Conservation Measures: The Centre excels in water management, harvesting over 90% of peak rainfall and using low-flow water fixtures and a bio-based Sewage Treatment Plant (STP), crucial in water-scarce Chennai. Also, around 42% water savings through use of low flow/flush water fixtures
- Energy Efficiency and Savings: Incorporates energy-saving features like AAC block walls, insulated roof, shading devices, efficient VRF system, TFA systems, and occupancy and motion sensors, achieving energy cost savings of around 43% over the ASHRAE baseline case building including solar energy generation. The 131kWp installed solar PV system caters to 34% of total annual energy consumption.
- Natural Daylight Utilization: 75% of workspaces receive natural daylight, enhanced by light shelves, promoting a healthy and productive work environment.
- Sustainable and Eco-Friendly Materials: Utilizes Green-Pro rated materials, Low-E Glass, recycled content, locally sourced materials, eco-friendly refrigerants, and low-emitting materials, emphasizing environmental responsibility. Provision of OWC for 100% of organic waste generation.
- Smart Building Features for Enhanced Experience: Features a comprehensive Building Management System (BMS), CO2 sensors, EV charging stations, and drip irrigation systems, alongside organic waste composting and waste segregation facilities.
- Focus on Occupant Health and Comfort: The Centre is designed with occupant well-being in mind, including amenities like dust reduction mats, Indoor Gym, Green education posters and other facilities to ensure a healthy, comfortable, and productive environment.
- Symbol of Hope and Resilience: Recognized with a Platinum certification by the Indian Green Building Council, showcasing leadership in green building practices, the ICCC Smart governance Centre stands as a beacon of hope, resilience, and a healthier future.
As part of the evening IGBC also announced the winners of its presti gious IGBC LEadership Awards 2023. In rec ognition of projects, org anizations and individuals who have contributed immensely to the G reen Building Move ment were felicitated under three award catego ries like ‘IGBC Green Champions Awards’ , ‘IGBC Performance C hall enge Award’, and ‘IGBC Fellow and Senior Fellow Awards’. Organi za tions like Telangana State Industrial Infr astructure Corporation (TS IIC), Government of Telangana, Chennai Metro Rail Limited, LOD H A, My Home Con structions Pvt Ltd., Lulu Group India, Torrent Pow er Limited, NTT Global Data Centers & Cloud Infrastructure I ndia Pr ivate Limited, Brookfield Properties, Mahindra Lifespace Developers Limited, RVS Padmavathy School of Archit ecture, Genesis Planners Pvt Ltd,Parekh Integrated Services Pvt. Ltd, CapitaLand India and JCB India Limited w ere recognized during the event under various categories for their contribution at the national level.
In response to national priorities, the Indian Green Building Council (IGBC) has introduced the IGBC Green New Buildings rating system, a comprehensive tool designed to address environmental concerns in new construct io ns. This rating program serves as a practical guide for designers, facilitating the application of green concepts a nd the reduction of measurable environmental impacts. Accommodating diverse climatic zones and evolving lif estyles, the program has been developed by the Green New Buildings Core Committee, led by Ar. Ragh ave ndr an. Comprising key stakeholders such as architects, builders, consultants, developers, owners, institutions, man ufacturers, and industry representatives, the committee’s diverse expertise has enriched both the content and process of the rating system.
Categorized under Sustainable Architecture and Design, Water Conservation, Energy Efficiency, Building Mat erials and Resources, Indoor Environmental Quality, and Innovation and Development, the IGBC Green New B uildings rating system promotes a holistic approach. The guidelines, covering mandatory requirements and cr edits, empower the design and construction of buildings of various sizes and types. Green building certification levels are awarded based on earned credits, emphasizing the non-negotiable nature of certain mandatory req uirements for every green new building.
About the Indian Green Building Council: IGBC was established by the Confederation of Indian Industry (CII) in 2001 to actively promote the Green Building concept in India. The council is represented by all stakeholders of the construction industry comprising corporate, government, and nodal agencies, architects, product manufac turers, institutions, and more. The council also closely works with governments, the World Green Building Cou ncil, and bilateral and multilateral agencies in promoting green building concepts in India. With a Green Building footprint of 10.42 billion sq ft, and with over 11,586+ projects adopting IGBC’s 34 rating systems, the Green Bu ilding movement in India has been advancing at a rapid pace and transforming India, into one of the global lead ers in green built environment. IGBC’s current stakeholder ecosystem consists of 29 Local Chapters across the nation, 6880+ Accredited Professionals (IGBC APs), and 360+ student chapters. Tamil Nadu Green building stat istics: 742 registered green building projects, equivalent to 465 million Sq ft of green building footprint.
