Dubai’s Ladybird Nursery has announced that construction is now complete on its centre in Jumeriah Village Circle, which aims to be the first LEED Gold-certified early learning facility in the region.

Catering to children aged from four months to five years, the centre is an eco-friendly building that showcases energy efficiency and sustainable solutions, the CEO of Ladybird Nurseries in Dubai said.

Monica Valrani added that the structure would have air-conditioning that would switch off automatically when windows are opened, while air conditioning drain water would be recycled and reused for irrigation. Each of the 15 classrooms would also incorporate energy-efficient fans and lighting, Valrani added.

LEED, or Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design, is a green building certification programme that recognises best-in-class building strategies and practices, while also enhancing sustainability – whether it’s recycling, reducing CO2 emissions, using energy-efficient fans and lighting, or efficient water usage.

Valrani added that the decision to go for the LEED Gold rating was because “research had shown that long-term respiratory illnesses can arise as a result of ‘sick buildings’.”