Sustainable Buildings & Infrastructure

Green Building Advisory

Structured support through LEED, Mostadam or Envision, so credits are planned early, evidence is complete and submissions stay on track.

A clear route to your target rating, without documentation surprises

Selorin office building at sunset

Overview

Green building advisory is support for projects pursuing a recognised sustainability rating, such as LEED, Mostadam or Envision. It covers selecting the appropriate system and target level, analysing gaps against credit requirements, planning a credit strategy, and managing the documentation and submissions needed for review. The aim is a predictable rating process in which every claimed credit is backed by complete, consistent evidence.

Green building rating systems give owners, tenants and investors an independent, recognised way to demonstrate environmental performance. In Saudi Arabia, projects most commonly use Mostadam, the national rating system; LEED, developed by the US Green Building Council; and, for infrastructure, Envision from the Institute for Sustainable Infrastructure. Each system has its own structure, prerequisites, credit requirements and review process, and the right choice depends on the project type, the owner's objectives and the expectations of tenants, funders or the public client.

Most rating difficulties are procedural rather than technical. Credits are targeted without a clear owner, evidence is collected late or in the wrong form, design changes quietly remove compliance, and contractors are unaware of the construction-stage requirements they must document. These problems tend to appear at submission, when they are hardest to fix. A structured credit strategy, clear responsibilities and documentation that is tracked from the start reduce the risk of losing credits and shorten the review cycle.

Selorin supports project teams through the rating process. We assess the project against the chosen system, identify gaps and realistic credit opportunities, and agree a target level and credit strategy with the owner. We then coordinate responsibilities across the design team and contractors, track the status of every credit, review documentation for completeness and consistency, and coordinate submissions and responses to reviewer comments. Our design-stage sustainability work can feed directly into this process. [CONTENT REQUIRED: confirm accredited professionals on the team]

When you need this service

You may need this service when:

  • Your owner, tenant or funder requires a LEED, Mostadam or Envision rating for the project.
  • You need to choose the most suitable rating system and a realistic target level.
  • The project has registered for a rating, but credit ownership and documentation are unclear.
  • Construction is starting and contractors must collect evidence for construction-stage credits.
  • A submission has received reviewer comments that need coordinated technical responses.
  • Design changes may have affected credits that were previously considered achieved.

What we deliver

01

Rating system selection

Comparison of applicable rating systems and certification levels against your project type, objectives, budget and stakeholder expectations, with a clear recommendation.

02

Gap analysis

Review of the current design and project arrangements against prerequisites and credit requirements, showing what is achieved, achievable and unrealistic.

03

Credit strategy

A target scorecard with selected credits, responsible parties, required evidence and cost or design implications, agreed with the owner and design team.

04

Documentation management

A credit tracker and document register, with templates and guidance so design teams and contractors provide evidence in the required form.

05

Contractor requirements

Construction-stage requirements for credits such as waste, materials, indoor air quality and commissioning, translated into contractor responsibilities and records.

06

Submission coordination

Compilation and quality review of submission packages, coordination with the rating body's review process and structured responses to reviewer comments.

Our approach

  1. Confirm objectives

    We confirm why the rating is needed, which system fits and what level is realistic for the project.

  2. Analyse gaps

    We assess the design against prerequisites and credits and identify gaps, risks and opportunities.

  3. Agree strategy

    We agree a target scorecard, credit owners and evidence requirements with the owner and design team.

  4. Track evidence

    We track credit status and review documentation through design and construction, flagging risks early.

  5. Coordinate submissions

    We compile submission packages, coordinate reviews and prepare responses to reviewer comments until closure.

Deliverables

DeliverableFormatStage
Rating system and target level recommendationTechnical memo (PDF)Project start
Gap analysis reportReport with preliminary scorecard (PDF + Excel)Concept or schematic design
Credit strategy and target scorecardScorecard with credit owners and evidence list (Excel)After gap analysis
Credit tracker and document registerLive tracker (Excel or shared workspace)Maintained through design and construction
Contractor green building requirementsRequirements document and record templates (PDF + Word)Before construction starts
Submission packages and review responsesCompiled documentation and comment-response matrix (PDF)Design and construction submissions

Regulatory context

  • Mostadam, the Saudi green building rating system, used for residential and commercial buildings and communities.
  • LEED, developed by the US Green Building Council (USGBC), widely used for commercial, hospitality and mixed-use projects.
  • Envision, from the Institute for Sustainable Infrastructure (ISI), used to assess the sustainability of infrastructure projects.
  • Saudi Building Code requirements, including energy conservation provisions, which apply regardless of the rating pursued.
  • Vision 2030 and the Saudi Green Initiative (SGI), which shape owner and public-sector expectations for sustainable development.

Requirements vary by activity, location and permit conditions. We confirm the applicable requirements for your project at the start of every engagement.

Industries served

Frequently asked questions

Should we choose Mostadam, LEED or Envision?

It depends on the project type and who the rating is for. Mostadam is the Saudi national system and may be preferred or required by some owners and public clients. LEED is widely recognised by international tenants, operators and investors. Envision is designed for infrastructure rather than buildings. Some projects pursue more than one system. We compare the options against your objectives and recommend the most suitable route.

Do you certify buildings?

No. Ratings are awarded by the organisation that operates each system after its own review of the project documentation. Our role is to support the project team: planning the credit strategy, coordinating responsibilities, managing documentation and preparing submissions and responses. This independence from the rating body is normal for advisers and keeps the review process objective.

When should we start the rating process?

Ideally at concept or early schematic design, before key decisions on site, envelope, systems and materials are fixed. Many credits depend on design choices that are expensive to change later, and some require studies or commitments early in the project. Starting late is possible, but the range of achievable credits narrows and the risk of missing prerequisites increases.

What do contractors need to do?

Contractors are responsible for several construction-stage requirements, typically covering construction waste, material documentation, indoor air quality during works, erosion and dust control, and support for commissioning. They must keep records in a specific form. We translate these requirements into clear contractor obligations and templates, review their records during construction and flag gaps before they put credits at risk.

How do you handle reviewer comments?

We log each comment, identify the responsible team member, and prepare a clear response with any additional evidence or clarification required. Where a comment reveals a genuine gap, we advise on the options to resolve it or on the effect of withdrawing the credit. Coordinated, complete responses help close the review efficiently and protect the target rating level.

Related services

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Key benefit: Credible ESG disclosures backed by traceable data

Need support with this service?

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