GSAS Overview
About GSAS
The Global Sustainability Assessment System (GSAS) is the first integrated and performance-based system in the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) region, designed for assessing and rating buildings and infrastructure for their sustainability impacts. The unique green building framework has been developed by the Gulf Organisation for Research & Development (GORD) in collaboration with TC Chan Centre at the University of Pennsylvania, and School of Architecture at the Georgia Institute of Technology, USA and other reputed houses of expertise.
Representing green building regulations within Qatar Construction Specifications, GSAS is aimed at improving the design, construction and operations of buildings while also identifying sustainability challenges specific to MENA’s built environment.
GSAS framework draws best practices adopted from 40 different rating systems known regionally and internationally.
Over the years, GSAS has made a visible difference in the way buildings are designed, constructed and operated in the region. Thanks to its comprehensive framework and contextuality, GSAS has been endorsed by mega projects such as FIFA 2022 World Cup, Lusail City and all government projects within Qatar. Without a doubt, GSAS has shaped a true breakthrough for MENA’s built environment.
Objectives
The core philosophy behind GSAS is simple – creating a sustainable built environment that minimizes ecological impact while addressing the specific social and cultural needs and environment of the MENA region. To this end, GSAS’ key objective is to create and promote sustainable built environment through a three-pronged approach that focuses on protecting the environment, conserving earthly resources and improving human wellbeing, all the while addressing the needs and concerns unique to the MENA region.
Delivering these sustainability promises, however, is far from simple. Fulfilling GSAS sustainability promises, involves creating a better living environment, minimizing resource depletion and consumption and reducing environmental degradation due to the rapid pace of urbanization. Developed after years of intensive research, GSAS framework can meet the sustainability demands of the modern world by providing tangible solutions for projects to achieve sustainability excellence.
creating a sustainable built environment that minimizes ecological impact while addressing the specific social and cultural needs and environment of the MENA region.