Swire Unveils Eco-Friendly Climate Ribbon

MIAMI—Swire Properties is putting an eco-friendly stamp on its billion-dollar Brickell CityCentre Project. It's called the Climate Ribbon.

Composed of steel, fabric and a continuous surface of glass, the Climate Ribbon is an elevated trellis that will span 150,000 square feet connecting all parcels of the mixed-use Brickell CityCentre. Swire is investing $20 million to create what it calls a “comfortable microclimate for shoppers through the use of passive energy devices.”

The Climate Ribbon aims to serves multiple purposes: acting as a shade for the project's walkways, shops, restaurants, escalators and terraces to protect visitors from rain and sunlight; creating air flow to optimize temperatures and collecting rainwater for reuse; and  allowing Brickell CityCentre shopping to be open air and naturally lit.

“From its initial conception, the Climate Ribbon has provided an architectural shade system to protect visitors, so it's gratifying now to see the dynamic evolution of the structure to include so many climate management features,” says Stephen Owens, president of Swire. “We feel this element will become a distinctive design emblem of Miami and will be reason alone for people to visit and experience Brickell CityCentre.”

Since the outdoor shopping area will not be air conditioned, the Climate Ribbon is designed to harness summer trade winds and Biscayne Bay breezes to keep air flowing between six to nine knots through the public spaces. And to address Miami's strong sun, sections of the Climate Ribbon will be designed at strategic angles and set at varying heights to best reflect the rays.

The Climate Ribbon deals with water management and resource conservation. The structure will be equipped with multiple cisterns that will work to collect rainwater and mechanical condensate water. It is estimated to capture 5 million gallons of water a year. That water will be stored above ground to eliminate the need for pumping and additional electrical usage when it is distributed. There is also potential for future solar energy harvesting.

Swire worked with Cardiff University of Wales's Chief of Architecture Science, as well as architects, Arquitectonica and designer, HDA | Hugh Dutton & Associés of Paris to create the Climate Ribbon. German design/build firm Gartner has been contracted to build the structure.

Brickell CityCentre is scheduled to begin vertical construction later this year, with completion scheduled for third quarter of 2015. The project has been LEED-registered for Neighborhood Development. Swire aims for LEED Gold certification for the individual elements of Brickell CityCentre.