PHOTOS: Siemens’ LEED Platinum Headquarters at Masdar City Nears Completion

Today Inhabitat got a sneak peek at <a href="http://inhabitat.com/photos-hundreds-attend-masdar-citys-first-eco-street-fair/">Masdar City's terracotta clean tech hub</a> as part of an exclusive <a href="http://inhabitat.com/hwkn-and-wendy-make-their-debut-splash-abroad-in-abu-dhabi-photos/">VIP media tour</a> - and one of the city's most impressive new buildings is Siemens' regional headquarters, which is <a href="http://inhabitat.com/siemens-headquarters-to-be-the-first-leed-platinum-office-building-in-the-middle-east/">expected to achieve LEED Platinum</a> and three Pearls from the <a href="http://www.estidama.org/">Estidama</a> sustainability rating system. The <a href="http://www.sheppardrobson.com/">Sheppard Robson</a>-designed building will use roughly half as much energy and water as similar structures of its size. We caught a glimpse of the new headquarters, which is currently under construction - read on for a first look!

Inhabitat toured Masdar City as part of a Masdar-sponsored VIP media team

The Siemens Regional Headquarters is nearing completion

Designed for optimum energy efficiency and daylighting, this state of the art building is expected to achieve LEED Platinum

Siemens received recognition at the Zayed Future Energy Prize ceremony for its holistic commitment to sustainability. CEO Peter Löscher received the award from the President of Iceland Ólafur Ragnar Grímsson and General Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan - the Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi, Deputy Supreme Commander of the UAE Armed Forces and Chairman of the Abu Dhabi Executive Council.

President of Iceland, Ólafur Ragnar Grímsson talked about the importance of fast-tracking renewable energy generation and conservation in order to reduce the effects of climate change

$4 million was divvied up among individuals, firms, non governmental organizations and schools that are promoting sustainability from all reaches of the planet.