TELECOMMUNICATIONS GIANT Digicel is boasting that its multi-storey global headquarters being constructed near the waterfront in downtown Kingston will be the "greenest" building in the Caribbean.
Work on the building started last year with the scheduled completion date being the middle of next year, but already CEO of Digicel, Mark Linehan, is confident that the design will utilise cutting-edge, environmentally friendly features.
"This development will span a total area of 211,500 square feet and will make use of solar power, solar cooling and wind power.
"The building will feature four wind turbines on the roof of the 11-storey tower, and 15,000 square feet of solar panels and solar glass on the roofs of all three buildings," Linehan told a recent investment forum dubbed 'Redevelopment of Downtown Kingston: Investment Opportunities and Challenges', put on by the Urban Development Corporation and Scotia Investments.
According to Linehan, "The design of the building is geared towards low energy usage such as only using energy where required by continuous measurement of temperature so cooling and fresh air are only used when needed.
"Also, water use is reduced by use of low-consumption sanitary fittings and by capturing and storing rain water, which will be used in the toilets."
So far, the foundation work on the building - which started in September last year - has been completed and the reinforced concrete core, which gives the building its strength, was completed to all 11 storeys in July.
In addition, the steel frame is very close to completion, with the roof-steel installation scheduled to be done this month.
The curtain wall for the building is at an advanced stage, and the internal fit-out on the floors has started.
"Our aim is that, by the end of this year, the building will be up in its entirety, weather-proofed and fit-out work will be well advanced," Linehan said.
