Nearly 600 LEED-certified projects in Hong Kong; AI growth puts data centers at the forefront of green building development
HONG KONG, Sept. 10, 2026 /PRNewswire/ — Entries are now open for the second edition of "The Beauty of Green Buildings" Photography Exhibition. Hosted by the U.S. Green Building Council (USGBC) in partnership with the Hong Kong Green Building Council (HKGBC), the campaign invites architects, designers, photographers and members of the public to capture the design aesthetics, cultural essence and stories of sustainable urban living associated with LEED- and BEAM Plus-certified projects across the Greater Bay Area (GBA). Selected and winning works will be exhibited publicly this November at One IGC, a new commercial landmark in West Kowloon.
A highlight of Hong Kong Green Week 2026, "The Beauty of Green Buildings: Seeing Better Cities" Exhibition is on view at the International Commerce Centre (ICC) until 13 September. It features award-winning and selected works from the inaugural showcase. Presented at ICC, Asia’s first and the world’s largest LEED v5-certified project, the exhibition shows the practical value of green buildings and inspires the public to share their vision for the future of green cities through imagery.
Hong Kong’s LEED Market Continues to Expand as Focus Shifts to Existing Buildings
Hong Kong has ranked among the Top 10 LEED markets globally for two consecutive years since 2024, rising to sixth globally and fourth in Asia in 2025. As of June 2026, nearly 600 projects in Hong Kong had achieved LEED certification, with a total certified floor area of more than 136 million square feet — equivalent to around 49 ICCs — and a five-year compound annual growth rate of 32.7%. These figures reflect sustained demand for low-carbon, high-efficiency and healthy buildings.
With Hong Kong’s large stock of existing buildings, improving energy efficiency and green performance is critical to achieving the city’s carbon neutrality goals. Industry attention is shifting from new construction design to operation, management and continuous optimization of existing buildings, improving environmental performance throughout their entire lifecycle.
LEED for Operations and Maintenance (O+M) certifications rose from 4.3% of Hong Kong’s overall LEED certifications in 2021 to 21% in 2026, making it the leading certification category in Hong Kong. Recertifications account for approximately 10% of overall LEED certifications, including One and Two IFC and Sun Hung Kai Centre. This reflects the growing importance that building owners and corporations place on ongoing building performance monitoring and transparent disclosure, while integrating sustainability into long-term operations and management strategies. This trend also aligns with LEED v5’s strengthened approach to lifecycle management.
AI Growth Accelerates Green Transformation of Data Centers
Rapid growth in artificial intelligence (AI), cloud computing and the digital economy is bringing data centers to the forefront of green buildings. Data centers have intensive requirements for energy, cooling, water and reliable operations. In response, LEED has established specific criteria within its Building Design and Construction (BD+C) and O+M rating systems. Currently, data centers account for approximately 5% of Hong Kong’s LEED-certified projects.
Jing Wang, USGBC Vice President for North Asia, said: "Hong Kong’s mature real estate market and green finance ecosystem make it an important market for LEED implementation and innovation. Sustainability is increasingly being integrated into existing building upgrades, the green transformation of data centers and long-term strategies across all building types. Building on the success of the inaugural edition, this year’s photography exhibition extends its reach across the GBA. Through imagery, it connects cities across the region and shows a wider audience how green buildings can enhance urban living and quality of life while shaping a sustainable future."
"The Beauty of Green Buildings: Seeing Better Cities" Exhibition Details
Date: 7–13 September 2026
Venue: 8/F, International Commerce Centre, 1 Austin Road West, West Kowloon, Hong Kong
Opening Hours: 24 hours daily
Admission: Free and open to public; no registration required.
Call for Entries for the Second Edition of "The Beauty of Green Buildings" Photography Exhibition
Eligibility: to public, including architects, designers, photographers and members of all sectors of the community.
Submission Deadline: 12 October 2026
Awards Announcement: 16 November 2026
Date: 16 November–15 December 2026
Venue: One IGC, 1 Wui Man Road, West Kowloon, Hong Kong
For details and registration, please visit: www.beautyofgb.com
About the Second Edition of "The Beauty of Green Buildings" Photography Exhibition
This exhibition is organized by the U.S. Green Building Council (USGBC) North Asia in partnership with the Hong Kong Green Building Council (HKGBC). Supporting organizations include the American Institute of Architects Hong Kong Chapter, the Greater Bay Area Carbon Neutrality Association (GBACNA), the International Facility Management Association (IFMA) Hong Kong Chapter, and the Royal Institute of British Architects (RIBA) Hong Kong Chapter. Sun Hung Kai Properties, International Commerce Centre (ICC) Hong Kong, and International Gateway Centre (IGC) Hong Kong serve as venue partners. The exhibition is curated by Jeff Tung, with a jury comprising representatives from the above organizations.
All exhibited photos showcase LEED- or BEAM Plus-certified projects within the Greater Bay Area, featuring entries from both the Architect and Public groups, highlighting the convergence of professional and community perspectives.
About LEED
LEED is a globally recognized green building and city certification system, applied to more than 220,000 commercial projects across over 196 countries and regions. Developed and owned by the U.S. Green Building Council (USGBC), LEED aims to reduce environmental impact and promote sustainability worldwide. China is a leader in green building, represents the largest market for LEED certification outside the United States.
About USGBC
The U.S. Green Building Council (USGBC) is committed to transforming how buildings and communities are designed, built and operated to create thriving, healthy, equitable and resilient places that advance human and environmental wellbeing. USGBC leads market transformation through its LEED green building program, robust educational offerings, an international network of local community leaders, the annual Greenbuild International Conference & Expo, the Center for Green Schools, and advocacy in support of public policy that encourages and enables green buildings and communities.
For more information, visit usgbc.org and connect on X (formerly Twitter), Instagram, Facebook, and LinkedIn.
Official Website: https://www.usgbc.org/
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