About the Building

Studio City Phase 2 is located in the Cotai area of Macau. It is a hotel and entertainment development with an approximate floor area of 341,000 m2. The project comprises two 5 star hotel towers, a cineplex, semi-outdoor water park and retail areas at the podium level.

The building has been designed to support the health and wellbeing of staff/employees and guests; with a focus on achieving good thermal comfort levels and excellent internal acoustic performance. The project will also provide clean, fresh drinking water to building users free of charge (a new venture for Melco).

XCO2 worked with a façade specialist to improve the thermal properties of the curtain walling system. This analysis resulted in a reduction of thermal breaks across the façade system. This is not typical practice for buildings in this region; the building therefore represents an exemplary project. Lessons learned from this process will be utilised by Melco (in combination with in-use performance data) to inform future projects.

The energy monitoring and metering strategy for the building was designed following an audit of other Melco properties. Findings from this audit were used to improve both the usability of the BMS and the quality of the data that will be generated when the building is operational. The audit of existing buildings also allowed the project team to design a metering strategy that will facilitate meaningful comparison between this development and other Melco properties.

Environmental Challenges

This was both the client and project team’s first BREEAM project/assessment and therefore represented a steep learning curve. In particular it was challenging to communicate specific BREEAM requirements to the wider team and provide the correct level of information. It was challenging to strike a good balance between providing the right level of detail without overwhelming the local project team.

Extensive communication with the client, design and contractor team was carried out to ensure all relevant BREEAM requirements are incorporated into the design and specification of the building.

Benefits of Assessing to BREEAM

BREEAM provided a good framework for incorporating sustainability measures at the development, and enhances the energy, sustainability and environmental performance of the building. The team are used to the US LEED standard and local standards (Chinese or Hong Kong Green Building Schemes), through the adoption of BREEAM they are introduced to some new concepts and ideas that are not currently adopted by both the American and local standards. It also provides good marketing opportunity for our client.

The implementation of BREEAM certification has definitely raised the awareness of environmental protection and sustainability to a wider scope across the board within the Project teams. One example was the requirement of adopting FSC certified timber which to most of the team, particularly those from the Contractor’s side, were under the impression that this was going to be an impossible mission. Their previous experience saw the supply of timber materials for formwork and joinery items were sourced from all over the world and had concerns that this restriction would likely create a series of hurdles during the sourcing process, as well as cost implications. However, once the Contractors started to make enquires in the market, they found to their surprise that FSC certified timber was not scarce in the market and could be sourced at almost no extra cost, nor would it add additional procedures in the procurement process.

-Desmond Sze, Project Director