Visit Scotland | Alba
Article published 12/05/2023

A news release from Johnnie Walker Princes Street, a leading Scotch whisky visitor attraction, has announced that they've been awarded one of the most prestigious international standards for the environmental sustainability of their design and construction.

The eight-storey attraction in the heart of Scotland’s historic capital city has become the first location in Scotland to be awarded the US Green Building Council's (USGBC) Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) v4 Interior Design and Construction (ID&C) best-in-class Platinum certification.

LEED is a globally recognised symbol of excellence in green design and construction, carrying out rigorous assessment and ranking building projects on a number of criteria including energy use reductions, water efficiency, clean construction, and healthy material selection.

The achievement was celebrated with a visit to the building by Small Business, Innovation and Trade Minister, Richard Lochhead, and our Chief Executive, Malcolm Roughead, who unveiled a plaque to mark the award.

Find out more about Johnnie Walker's sustainability projects

Johnnie Walker Award

VisitScotland Chief Executive Malcolm Roughead with Richard Lochhead MSP, Minister for Small Business, Innovation and Trade and Barbara Smith, Managing Director, Johnnie Walker Princes Street

Responsible tourism is a priority for VisitScotland as we seek to grow our visitor economy in a sustainable way. It is great to see the leadership that Diageo and Johnnie Walker Princes Street are showing to support our efforts to make Scotland one of the most environmentally sustainable destinations in the world.

In its review process for the LEED award, Johnnie Walker Princes Street received over 80 points for adhering to prerequisites and credits that address carbon, energy, water, waste, transportation, materials, health, and indoor environmental quality, earning the building the highest possible recognition – Platinum certification.

The certification is all the more impressive for being achieved in the redevelopment of an existing historic building and the many of the challenges associated with restoring heritage and listed buildings.

Malcolm Roughead, Chief Executive, VisitScotland

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