Johnnie Walker Princes Street has been awarded one of the most prestigious international standards for the environmental sustainability of its design and construction.
It has achieved the US Green Building Council’s (USGBC) Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) v4 Interior Design and Construction (ID&C) certification – a globally recognised symbol of excellence in green design and construction.
In it‘s review process for the LEED award, it was credited for addressing carbon, energy, water, waste, transportation, materials, health, and indoor environmental quality, earning the building the highest possible recognition – Platinum certification.
The achievement was marked with a visit by Small Business, Innovation and Trade Minister, Richard Lochhead, and Chief Executive of VisitScotland, Malcolm Roughead, who unveiled a plaque that recognises the award.
Mr Lochhead said, “Scotch whisky tourism has enormous potential for Scotland and we want to see it grow in a sustainable manner, that is why it is so positive to see the Johnnie Walker Princes Street visitor attraction in Edinburgh achieve global recognition for its environmental standards.
“This award comes during Scotch whisky month, with festivals taking place from Speyside to Islay, and we are delighted to see visitors flocking to distilleries and whisky experiences across the country.”
Mr Roughead said, “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.”
Barbara Smith, Diageo’s Managing Director for Brand Homes, joined Mr Lochhead and Mr Roughead to unveil the LEED plaque. She said, “When we set out to create Johnnie Walker Princes Street, our ambition was not just to create the best whisky visitor experience in the world, but to also lead the way in environmental sustainability.
“We are delighted to have received the highest possible recognition in the global LEED programme, which is a testament to the investment we have made in restoring this famous heritage building and setting it up for a sustainable future.”
The LEED award adds to a growing trophy cabinet of accolades Johnnie Walker Princes Street has accumulated since opening in 2021, including Green Tourism Gold Award, World Visitor Attraction of the Year (Whisky Magazine Awards) and VisitScotland Five Star Attraction accreditation.