º£½ÇÊÓƵ

Christie’s Hong Kong Headquarters

Hong Kong, China

º£½ÇÊÓƵ supported Christie’s to secure LEED Platinum accreditation for its iconic new Asia Pacific headquarters at The Henderson in Hong Kong.

Founded in 1766, Christie’s is a world-leading art and luxury business with a presence in 46 countries throughout the Americas, Europe, the Middle East, and Asia Pacific, and flagship international sales hubs in New York, London, Hong Kong, Paris and Geneva.

We supported the global auction house Christie’s to secure LEED Platinum accreditation for its iconic new Asia Pacific headquarters at The Henderson in Hong Kong.

56% of interior elements were reused, reducing the need for new materials and minimising embodied carbon.

The project achieved outstanding water conservation results, with a 51% reduction in indoor water use through the installation of low-flow fixtures.

We delivered input on aspects such as high-efficient lighting, low carbon MEP design, optimising energy performance and minimising water wastage.

Challenge

In September 2024, Christie’s officially unveiled its new Asia Pacific headquarters, occupying the 6th to the 9th floors of The Henderson – a landmark building in Central Hong Kong designed by Zaha Hadid Architects.

Spanning 50,000ft², Christie’s world-class space designed by Collective Studio offers state-of-the-art galleries, salerooms, dedicated client spaces, and offices, all within a centralised location. Here, Christie’s hosts a year-round calendar of art and luxury sales and experiences, serving collectors and audiences from around the world.

º£½ÇÊÓƵ’s sustainability experts were engaged to help Christie’s to achieve its ambitious target of Platinum LEED accreditation.

The methodology and process required for LEED accreditation in the region is managed by the U.S. Green Building Council (USGBC). One of the key challenges would be aligning the performance and materiality standards of the region with those of the US.

Solution

LEED (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design) accreditation for a building fit-out is a globally recognised certification that signifies a project has met stringent sustainability and environmental performance standards. LEED accreditation assesses how well the design, construction, and operational strategies align with green building principles. This includes factors like energy efficiency, water conservation, indoor air quality, use of materials, and waste reduction during construction.

As part of an initial feasibility study, we worked closely with the client to explore the merits of accreditation and advised on the best approach to take. We held engagement workshops with both the client and interior design teams to explain the LEED ID+C (interior design and construction) process and explored the core credits required for Platinum, the highest level of accreditation.

We prepared a tracker after a review of the project and assessed the possibility of the development to achieve the certification goal. We then acted as a trusted advisor on behalf of the client, registering the project with USGBC for LEED accreditation and guiding the project successfully through the process, providing professional advice on a range of sustainability design strategies, green and high-performance products and operational building systems as required.

We delivered specific technical input on aspects such as high-efficient lighting systems, low carbon MEP plant, optimised energy performance and minimised water wastage with low-flow plumbing solutions.

The project achieved outstanding water conservation results, with a 51% reduction in indoor water use through the installation of low-flow fixtures. When combined with Hong Kong’s regional seawater flushing scheme, the total water savings reached an impressive 74%. On the energy front, the building demonstrated a 18% reduction in energy consumption compared to the ASHRAE 90.1 baseline, contributing significantly to operational cost savings and carbon footprint reduction.

A strong emphasis was placed on material reuse and responsible sourcing. 56% of interior elements were reused, reducing the need for new materials and minimising embodied carbon. The project also prioritised materials with Environmental Product Declarations (EPDs), verified raw material sourcing, and ingredient transparency. Construction waste was tightly controlled, achieving a low intensity of just 6.83 kg per square meter.

To ensure a healthy and comfortable indoor environment, COâ‚‚ sensors were installed in densely occupied areas, and indoor air quality testing confirmed compliance with LEED contaminant thresholds. The project used low-emitting materials extensively: 100% of paints, coatings, adhesives, sealants, and wall panels; 98% of flooring; and 79% of furniture. Visual comfort was enhanced through glare control (UGR < 18) and high colour rendering (CRI > 90), while 100% of occupant spaces were equipped with individual lighting controls.

Additionally, 90.88% of regularly occupied areas had access to outdoor views, supporting occupant wellbeing and productivity.

Value

Achieving LEED accreditation signals a strong commitment to environmental responsibility, enhancing a company’s reputation while delivering practical benefits such as lower operational costs through energy and water efficiency, and improved occupant wellbeing from better air quality and natural lighting. By providing a structured framework for sustainable decision-making from the outset of a fit-out, LEED accreditation becomes not just a mark of distinction, but a strategic investment in long-term resilience and responsible resource use.

Through thoughtful design and strategic collaboration, we delivered a project that achieved 74% water savings, 18% energy reduction, extensive material reuse, and exceptional indoor environmental quality, reflecting our commitment to sustainability, wellbeing, and responsible innovation.

Our team of highly experienced experts guided the client and the wider design team through every step of the LEED accreditation process, playing a key role in the ultimate achievement of Platinum-level certification.