Case Studies

The new US$150 million headquarters building in Mexico City, 'Torre HSBC', has been designed and built to benefit the local community economically and environmentally, and to reflect local heritage. The environmental initiatives applied to the new building have resulted in 55% less water usage and 40% less energy usage than comparable structures.

During construction, care was taken to avoid negative impacts on the environment, beginning with choosing a site which did not involve cutting down any trees or sacrificing any green areas. The local sewage lines were not damaged thanks to an erosion and sedimentation control system. Seventy-five percent of waste materials were recycled or reused as appropriate and the interior furniture in the building is made from recycled materials.

Reduction of carbon emissions was an important goal for the building and several supporting measures have been employed. Over 15% of the parking spaces are reserved for those who share vehicles and there are spaces for bicycles and shower and locker facilities for those who walk or cycle to work. These measures are designed to decrease travel carbon emissions as well as to encourage employees to think about their everyday impact on the environment. A green roof – the largest in Latin America – was installed to reduce heat absorption from the sun, thereby reducing carbon emissions as air conditioning requirements will be reduced.

Flat computer screens have been installed at all workstations, requiring significantly less energy than traditional monitors and producing less heat, thereby reducing the demands on the air conditioning system. There will be no use of CFCs (chlorofluorocarbons) in the air conditioning and heating systems, avoiding damage to the ozone layer and creating a healthier atmosphere for the inhabitants of the buildings. In addition, the interior atmosphere was made as healthy as possible by avoiding paints or other materials that might release harmful toxins.

Around 75% of the occupied spaces in the building have natural illumination and the light levels are closely monitored by an intelligent system that adjusts artificial lighting as appropriate to reduce energy usage. The system will reduce carbon emissions by around 200 tonnes per year.

Water is one of the most essential and highly used resources in any building, and 'Torre HSBC' has many water-saving measures. Grey water (waste water from sinks and showers) and rain water will be collected, treated locally, and then reused in the building's air conditioning system, toilets, and landscaping. The water requirements are also reduced by low consumption toilets, waterless urinals and efficient irrigation.

'Torre HSBC', new headquarters building in Mexico City, Mexico