Honeywell has named the King Abdullah Petroleum Studies and Research Center (KAPSARC) as Saudi Arabia's "smartest" building in the Middle East's first-ever smart building awards during a special event today in Riyadh. [caption id="attachment_98685" align="alignright" width="277"] Mohamed Al Mousa Country president for Honeywell in Saudi Arabia [/caption] The Honeywell Smart Building Score Awards program, developed by Honeywell, a Fortune 100 global technology and Internet of Things (IoT) leader, assessed the smartness of buildings across the region based on three key indicators of smart buildings – how green, safe and productive they are. The awards recognize the region's leading smart buildings, including the smartest airport, hotel, hospital, educational and retail facilities as well as the leading high-rise office and residential buildings. The KAPSARC modular complex, designed by the world-renowned architect Zaha Hadid, achieved the highest evaluation amongst all entries from Saudi Arabia, with impressive scores across all three smart building categories. "Saudi Arabia continues to make progress toward meeting its long-term sustainability and smart cities goals, and it will continue to do so in line with Saudi Vision 2030. KAPSARC is a fantastic example of voluntary leadership and smart building excellence in the Kingdom," said Norm Gilsdorf, president for Honeywell's Middle East, Russia and Central Asia regions. "For us at Honeywell, a smart building is one that is connected, safe, energy efficient and, ultimately, helps improve the quality of life for its occupants and users. We are very pleased to recognize KAPSARC's dedication and investment in smart building solutions, and to highlight this best practice case as an example to be followed in Saudi Arabia and across the wider Middle East region." Shortlisted entries for the Honeywell Smart Building Score Awards were independently audited by global advisory firm Ernst & Young, where KAPSARC was found to have scored exceptionally well in terms of how safe and green the facility is. People spend 80 to 90 percent of their time inside buildings*, making both energy efficiency and safety issues vitally important. Built using the most advanced methods and technologies, KAPSARC achieved the first Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) for Homes Gold Certification outside of North America for the center's residential facilities. It also achieved LEED NC Platinum Certification for its research office complex, marking its leadership in sustainable stewardship in the Middle East. "KAPSARC facilities have been designed and constructed as an example of building excellence in Saudi Arabia and the region," said Mohammad Tassi, director, KAPSARC facilities management department. "Designed by the world's most respected and creative design offices, KAPSARC's buildings are not only visually fascinating, but also environmentally sustainable and functional. We are delighted to be recognized by Honeywell on the regional and international stage." Dozens of entries from across the region were received for the awards through the Honeywell website (http://smartbuildings.honeywell.com/me). On-site checks were performed by Ernst & Young on the highest scoring buildings, which assessed the effective use of 15 technology assets in a facility, including energy efficiency, fire safety and detection, data infrastructure and uninterrupted power supply. The evaluation criteria were developed as part of the Honeywell Smart Building Score, which was launched in March 2016. The research evaluated 620 buildings across seven major Middle East cities: Abu Dhabi, Dammam/ Dhahran, Doha, Dubai, Jeddah, Kuwait City and Riyadh. The event, organized by Honeywell under the theme of "Supporting the Development of Saudi Arabia's Smart Cities" featured industry experts including representatives from Home of Innovation, a SABIC growth initiative, and the KAPSARC. "Saudi Arabia's cities have experienced significant growth and innovation over the last few years, and this is set to continue in line with Saudi Vision 2030," said Mohamed Al Mousa, country president for Honeywell in Saudi Arabia and host of the event. "At Honeywell, we believe that smart buildings are the fundamental building blocks of smart cities. We are very pleased to bring together some of the Kingdom's leading industry minds and uncover new ideas and opportunities for making the country's buildings more green, safe and productive. The discussions we continue to have will help guide the way for continued success toward a better, brighter future for the country." The event follows the recent launch of Honeywell Smart Building Score (HSBS) – the first-of-its-kind universal framework designed for the comprehensive assessment of any building. The framework can play a key role in supporting Saudi Arabia's strategic development plans and "smart city" initiatives, under which the nation is looking to have its three top cities recognized among the top ranked 100 cities in the world. — SG
