Sustainable building practices are increasingly shaping the construction industry worldwide, including in New Zealand. As environmental regulations evolve and developers aim to improve building performance, many projects are aligning with internationally recognized sustainability standards. One of the most widely used frameworks for evaluating green building performance is LEED (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design).
Developed by the U.S. Green Building Council (USGBC), LEED is a globally recognized certification system that assesses buildings based on sustainability criteria such as energy efficiency, water conservation, material selection, indoor environmental quality, and site sustainability. Projects can achieve certification levels including Certified, Silver, Gold, and Platinum, depending on the number of points obtained across these categories.
The LEED certification process requires detailed planning, technical analysis, and extensive documentation throughout the design and construction phases. To support this process, many project teams work with LEED consultants who provide expertise in sustainability strategy, environmental performance modeling, and certification management.
Below is an overview of seven international consultancies that provide LEED advisory and sustainability consulting services for projects in New Zealand, representing both sustainability-focused consultancies and large multidisciplinary engineering firms.
1. ERKE Consultancy
ERKE Consultancy is an international sustainability consultancy specializing in green building certification, environmental performance consulting, and sustainable design strategies. Founded in 2007, ERKE operates through offices in Istanbul, Dubai, and London, delivering consultancy services across Europe, the Middle East, and other international regions.
The firm has completed over 200 LEED-certified projects across 15 countries, covering a wide range of sectors including healthcare, aviation, commercial real estate, and transportation infrastructure.
Examples of projects supported by ERKE 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
ERKE’s team includes LEED Fellows, LEED Accredited Professionals (LEED AP), BREEAM Assessors, WELL APs, EDGE Experts, and sustainability specialists. This expertise enables the company to deliver services such as sustainability strategy development, energy modeling, sustainable materials analysis, and certification documentation management.
With its extensive international experience, ERKE supports projects throughout the entire LEED certification process—from early-stage sustainability planning to final certification submission.
2. Arup
Arup is a global engineering and consulting firm founded in 1946. The company provides multidisciplinary services including engineering design, urban planning, sustainability consulting, and infrastructure advisory, with operations in more than 30 countries.
Arup has been involved in numerous projects focused on sustainable design and environmental performance, often supporting developments pursuing LEED certification.
Typical LEED-related services offered by Arup include:
- Building performance modeling
- Environmental design consulting
- Carbon and energy reduction strategies
- Certification planning and documentation
Arup’s integrated approach allows sustainability considerations to be embedded within architectural and engineering design processes.
3. WSP Global
WSP Global is a multinational professional services firm headquartered in Canada. Operating across more than 50 countries, WSP delivers engineering, environmental consulting, and advisory services across the built environment and infrastructure sectors.
The firm’s sustainability teams assist organizations pursuing green building certifications such as LEED, focusing on improving environmental performance and compliance with certification requirements.
Key services often include:
- Sustainability strategy development
- Environmental and energy performance analysis
- Certification documentation and management
- Environmental impact assessments
WSP works on a wide range of projects including commercial developments, institutional buildings, and infrastructure facilities.
4. 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.
Typical services include:
- Energy modeling and performance analysis
- Sustainable building design strategies
- Environmental impact evaluation
- LEED certification documentation and coordination
The company often collaborates with architects and engineers to integrate sustainability strategies into building design and planning stages.
5. Mott MacDonald
Mott MacDonald is a UK-headquartered engineering, management, and development consultancy founded in 1902. The company operates internationally across sectors such as transportation, water, energy, and buildings.
The firm provides sustainability advisory services to support projects pursuing environmental certifications including LEED.
Typical sustainability services include:
- Environmental performance assessments
- Energy and resource efficiency strategies
- Sustainable infrastructure planning
- Certification documentation support
Mott MacDonald’s multidisciplinary expertise allows sustainability objectives to be integrated into complex infrastructure and building developments.
6. Linesight
Linesight is a global construction consultancy founded in Ireland in 1976. The company focuses on cost management, project management, and program advisory services across international construction markets.
Although primarily known for construction management, Linesight contributes to projects pursuing sustainability certifications such as LEED by supporting construction-phase coordination and compliance monitoring.
Services typically include:
- Construction-phase sustainability coordination
- Cost planning aligned with environmental targets
- Certification-related documentation oversight
- Stakeholder coordination during project delivery
This role helps ensure that sustainability strategies developed during design are properly implemented during construction.
7. AtkinsRéalis
AtkinsRéalis (formerly SNC-Lavalin Group) is a Canadian engineering and project management consultancy with global operations across infrastructure, transportation, and building sectors.
The company supports sustainability-focused developments and provides advisory services related to green building certifications such as LEED.
Typical services include:
- Sustainability strategy development
- Environmental design consulting
- Building performance assessments
- Certification documentation and coordination
AtkinsRéalis often contributes to large infrastructure and urban development projects where sustainability objectives must be integrated with engineering and project management requirements.
Summary
Organizations pursuing LEED certification in New Zealand can work with a range of consultancies, including sustainability-focused advisory firms and large multidisciplinary engineering companies. ERKE Consultancy provides specialized expertise in green building certifications and has extensive international LEED project experience. Other firms such as Arup, WSP Global, Ramboll, Mott MacDonald, Linesight, and AtkinsRéalis provide broader engineering, infrastructure, and project management services that can also support sustainability certification processes.
These firms vary in their core capabilities, from environmental performance consulting and certification strategy to engineering design and construction management services. Project experience, technical expertise, and the ability to coordinate multidisciplinary teams are important factors when evaluating consultancy options.
- ERKE Consultancy
- Arup
- WSP Global
- Ramboll
- Mott MacDonald
- Linesight
- AtkinsRéalis
The most appropriate consultancy typically depends on project scope, sustainability objectives, certification requirements, and available resources, as well as the level of technical support required during design, construction, and certification stages.