The King Abdullah Financial District (KAFD) in Riyadh has secured the WiredScore and SmartScore building certification from global property consultancy Knight Frank.
Backing the debut WiredScore and SmartScore building certification for KAFD, Knight Frank said this follows on from its achievement in the certification process of the first Platinum SmartScore building in the Middle East in Dubai last November, when Brookfield Properties’ ICD Brookfield Place in the Dubai International Financial Centre (DIFC) was awarded the accolade.
Knight Frank pointed out that digital connectivity was an element of the built environment that isn’t necessarily visible but plays a considerable role in unlocking the true potential of a workspace as well as having a direct impact on the wellbeing of its occupants.
WiredScore or SmartScore certifications do not yet feature overtly in the equation for determining rents, or indeed the value of commercial real estate.
However, with the technology sector a significant source of office requirements globally and with serviced office space increasing in popularity around the world, digital connectivity looks set to play a bigger role in commercial real estate valuations in the future, according to Knight Frank.
Wiredscore’s Middle East Lead John Hilliard said: “SmartScore Platinum certification is a clear indication to the real estate industry that a landlord is committed to creating long-lasting, resilient assets that will be relevant for their tenants in the years to come.”
“At a time when ‘smart’ is at the top of the national agenda, the ability to translate the technological enablement of real estate is more important than ever, and smart buildings will play a key role in creating more attractive, efficient and sustainable workplaces that allow individual productivity to flourish,” he added.
