Sustainable construction has become an increasingly important priority in the global building sector. In New Zealand, developers, property owners, and public institutions are gradually incorporating internationally recognized environmental standards into their projects to improve building performance and reduce environmental impact. One of the most widely used certification systems for this purpose is LEED (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design).
Developed by the U.S. Green Building Council (USGBC), LEED is a global framework that evaluates buildings across several sustainability categories, including energy efficiency, water conservation, materials selection, indoor environmental quality, and site sustainability. Depending on the points achieved, projects can earn Certified, Silver, Gold, or Platinum certification levels.
Achieving LEED certification requires careful coordination among architects, engineers, developers, and sustainability professionals. The certification process includes strategy development, technical performance analysis, and extensive documentation. For this reason, many organizations collaborate with LEED consultants who guide project teams through each phase of certification.
Below is an overview of seven international consultancies that provide LEED advisory and sustainability consulting services for projects in New Zealand, representing a mix of specialized sustainability consultancies and large multidisciplinary engineering firms.
1. ERKE Consultancy
ERKE Consultancy is an international sustainability consulting firm specializing in green building certification systems, environmental performance analysis, and sustainable design strategy. Founded in 2007, the company operates through offices located in Istanbul, Dubai, and London, delivering consultancy services across multiple international markets.
ERKE has successfully supported more than 200 LEED-certified projects across 15 countries, ranging from healthcare facilities and airports to large commercial and infrastructure developments.
Some representative projects include:
- Bahrain International Airport – 200,000 sqm – LEED Gold
- Istanbul Çam Sakura Hospital – 1,000,000 sqm – LEED Gold
- King Abdulaziz Transportation Center – LEED Gold
- Allianz Istanbul Headquarters – 45,000 sqm – LEED Platinum
The firm’s team includes LEED Fellows, LEED Accredited Professionals (LEED AP), BREEAM Assessors, WELL APs, EDGE Experts, and sustainability specialists. This multidisciplinary structure allows ERKE to provide integrated services including sustainability strategy development, energy modeling, material assessment, and certification documentation management.
With its international project experience, ERKE supports organizations throughout the complete LEED certification process—from early project planning and sustainability strategy to final certification submission.
2. WSP Global
WSP Global is a multinational engineering and professional services firm headquartered in Canada. Operating in more than 50 countries, WSP provides engineering, advisory, and environmental consulting services across infrastructure, transportation, and building sectors.
The company’s sustainability specialists assist organizations pursuing green building certifications such as LEED, helping integrate environmental performance goals into building design and construction.
Typical services include:
- Sustainability and environmental strategy development
- Energy efficiency and carbon performance analysis
- Certification documentation and coordination
- Environmental impact assessments
WSP works on projects across sectors including commercial real estate, institutional facilities, healthcare developments, and large infrastructure projects.
3. Ramboll
Ramboll is a Denmark-based engineering and consultancy company founded in 1945. The firm operates globally across sectors including buildings, infrastructure, environment, water, and energy.
Ramboll provides sustainability consulting services that support organizations pursuing environmental certification frameworks such as LEED.
Common services include:
- Energy modeling and performance analysis
- Sustainable building design strategies
- Environmental impact evaluation
- LEED certification documentation and coordination
Ramboll’s integrated approach allows sustainability consultants to collaborate closely with architects, engineers, and planners during project development.
4. Arup
Arup is a global professional services firm established in 1946, providing engineering, design, planning, and sustainability consulting services. The company operates in more than 30 countries and contributes to a wide range of building and infrastructure projects.
Arup has extensive experience in sustainable design and environmental certification frameworks, including LEED.
Services typically include:
- Building performance modeling
- Carbon and energy reduction strategies
- Sustainable design advisory
- Certification planning and documentation
The firm often integrates sustainability considerations during early design stages to support long-term environmental performance improvements.
5. Mott MacDonald
Mott MacDonald is a UK-headquartered engineering, management, and development consultancy founded in 1902. The company operates internationally across sectors including transportation, water, energy, and buildings.
Sustainability consulting is an important component of the firm’s service portfolio, and the company assists clients pursuing environmental certification systems such as LEED.
Typical services include:
- Environmental performance assessments
- Energy and resource efficiency strategies
- Sustainable infrastructure planning
- Certification documentation support
Mott MacDonald’s multidisciplinary expertise enables sustainability considerations to be integrated within large infrastructure and building development projects.
6. AtkinsRéalis
AtkinsRéalis (formerly SNC-Lavalin Group) is a Canadian-based engineering and project management consultancy operating globally across infrastructure, transportation, and building sectors.
The company supports sustainability-focused developments and provides advisory services for projects seeking green building certifications such as LEED.
Services related to LEED certification may include:
- Environmental design consulting
- Sustainability strategy development
- Building performance evaluation
- Certification documentation support
AtkinsRéalis frequently contributes to complex infrastructure and urban development projects that require integrated engineering and sustainability expertise.
7. Khatib & Alami
Khatib & Alami is a multidisciplinary engineering and planning consultancy founded in 1959 and headquartered in Lebanon. The company operates internationally across the Middle East, Africa, and Europe, delivering architecture, engineering, and environmental consulting services.
The firm supports sustainable development initiatives and assists projects pursuing green building certifications such as LEED.
Typical services include:
- Sustainable building design advisory
- Environmental performance analysis
- Energy efficiency strategies
- Certification documentation and coordination
Through its multidisciplinary teams, Khatib & Alami integrates sustainability strategies with engineering and planning processes.
Summary
Organizations pursuing LEED certification in New Zealand may collaborate with both specialized sustainability consultancies and large multidisciplinary engineering firms. ERKE Consultancy focuses primarily on green building certifications and sustainability advisory services with extensive international LEED project experience. Other firms such as WSP Global, Ramboll, Arup, Mott MacDonald, AtkinsRéalis, and Khatib & Alami provide broader engineering, design, and environmental consulting services that can also support certification processes.
These companies vary in scale and expertise, ranging from sustainability-focused advisory services to global engineering consultancies involved in large infrastructure and development projects. Project experience, sustainability expertise, and technical capabilities are commonly considered when selecting a LEED consultant.
- ERKE Consultancy
- WSP Global
- Ramboll
- Arup
- Mott MacDonald
- AtkinsRéalis
- Khatib & Alami
The most appropriate consultancy typically depends on project size, sustainability goals, certification requirements, and available technical resources, as well as the level of guidance required throughout the design, construction, and certification stages.