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Galataport Istanbul is LEED Platinum certified

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Attention was paid to the environmental impact at Galataport Istanbul due to the site’s location adjacent to the Bosphorus strait
Galataport Istanbul, opened last year, has been awarded the Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) Platinum Certification, surpassing its Gold target and becoming the largest such certified project in Turkey, as well as the second largest in Europe. 

Featuring an underground cruise terminal, a 1.2 km. long boardwalk by the Bosphorus that can be hydraulically lifted when cruise ships dock, as well as a mix of dining, retail and office space in a multitude of unique building designs, Galataport Istanbul is an $1.7bn urban renewal megaproject that has transformed the existing port area located in the historical Beyoglu district of Istanbul into a new public attraction, making the shore accessible to all for the first time since the late 19th century.

Galataport Istanbul’s predominant planning approach has enabled the continuation of the existing urban fabric through adequately sized low-rise buildings that open onto views to the Bosphorus and its surroundings, with appropriate floor area ratios and maximized shading through the buildings to ensure comfortable conditions.

Surpassing Gold target

Galataport Istanbul passed its Gold certification target and received the LEED Platinum rating after taking into consideration a multitude of sustainability measures such as a highly efficient HVAC design with seawater hydrothermal cooling, exceeding international sustainability standards for indoor air quality, energy efficiency and water efficiency as well as environmentally conscious construction practices. 

Attention was paid to the environmental impact due to the site’s location adjacent to the Bosphorus strait, a prominent seaway and a habitat to marine life. Sedimentation control, spill control and measure to mitigate unwanted pollution with a specialized marine team available around the clock are some of the strictly adhered to measures that Galataport Istanbul enforced. 

Ottoman buildings

With the same careful consideration, dust pollution and noise pollution were also strictly controlled through vibration mitigation measures, as the site is adjacent to historical buildings such as the Tophane Fountain, the Nusretiye clock tower, the Nusretiye Mosque and the Kilic Ali Pasa Mosque, all important structures from the Ottoman period. 

Sustainability consultant on the project was Mimta EcoYapi, whose managing partner Ömer Moltay said: 'We have been contributing to the realization of this project with guidance in sustainability, energy efficiency and LEED certification since 2013. There are not many LEED Platinum certified projects of this scale anywhere in the world and we are proud to have been involved in this project.'

Cruise terminals build to LEED standards

Several cruise terminals in Norh America have either received LEED certification or are being build for LEED certification. Most recently NCL's Terminal B at PortMiami received LEED v4 Gold certification and in Italy, Royal Caribbean Group is building a new terminal to be ready by 2024 which is planned for LEED standards.