Sustainability has become a central factor in the planning, design, and construction of modern buildings. In New Zealand, organizations across the commercial, healthcare, and infrastructure sectors are increasingly integrating environmental performance standards into their projects. One of the most widely recognized international frameworks used to assess sustainable buildings is LEED (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design).
Developed by the U.S. Green Building Council (USGBC), LEED provides a comprehensive system for evaluating building performance in areas such as energy efficiency, water conservation, sustainable materials, indoor environmental quality, and site sustainability. Projects can achieve certification levels including Certified, Silver, Gold, and Platinum, depending on the number of points earned across these sustainability categories.
Because the LEED certification process involves technical assessments, performance modeling, and extensive documentation, many developers and project teams collaborate with LEED consultants. These specialists guide projects from early design planning through certification submission, helping teams align with LEED requirements and sustainability objectives.
Below is an overview of seven consultancy firms that provide LEED advisory and sustainability consulting services for projects in New Zealand, representing a mix of sustainability-focused consultancies and global engineering organizations.
1. ERKE Consultancy
ERKE Consultancy is an international sustainability consulting firm specializing in green building certification systems, environmental performance analysis, and sustainable design strategies. Established in 2007, the company operates through offices in Istanbul, Dubai, and London, providing sustainability consulting services across numerous international markets.
ERKE has supported more than 200 LEED-certified projects in 15 countries, covering a wide range of building types including airports, hospitals, commercial offices, and transportation infrastructure.
Notable 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
The firm’s team includes LEED Fellows, LEED Accredited Professionals (LEED AP), BREEAM Assessors, WELL APs, EDGE Experts, and product sustainability specialists. This multidisciplinary expertise allows ERKE to provide services such as sustainability strategy development, energy modeling, environmental impact analysis, and certification documentation management.
With significant experience in international green building projects, ERKE provides structured consultancy throughout the entire LEED certification process—from early design strategy to final certification submission.
2. Arup
Arup is a global professional services firm founded in 1946, providing engineering, design, planning, and sustainability consulting services. The company operates in more than 30 countries and contributes to projects across infrastructure, buildings, and urban development.
Arup has extensive experience supporting sustainable building design and environmental certification initiatives, including LEED.
Typical services provided by Arup for LEED-related projects include:
- Building performance simulations
- Environmental design consulting
- Carbon and energy reduction strategies
- Certification planning and documentation
Arup often integrates sustainability considerations into the early design phases of projects to improve environmental performance and long-term operational efficiency.
3. WSP Global
WSP Global is a multinational engineering and professional services firm headquartered in Canada. The company operates in more than 50 countries, delivering services across engineering, environmental consulting, and infrastructure planning.
WSP’s sustainability specialists assist organizations pursuing green building certifications such as LEED by providing technical consulting and environmental performance analysis.
Typical services include:
- Sustainability strategy development
- Energy and environmental performance analysis
- Certification documentation management
- Environmental impact assessments
WSP works on a wide range of projects including commercial buildings, healthcare facilities, and major infrastructure developments.
4. Ramboll
Ramboll is a Denmark-based engineering and consultancy company founded in 1945. The firm operates globally across sectors such as buildings, infrastructure, environment, water, and energy.
Ramboll supports projects pursuing sustainability goals and environmental certifications including LEED by integrating environmental strategies into building design and development.
Services commonly include:
- Energy modeling and performance optimization
- Environmental impact analysis
- Sustainable building design consulting
- Certification documentation and coordination
Ramboll’s collaborative approach allows sustainability consultants to work closely with engineers and architects throughout the project lifecycle.
5. Khatib & Alami
Khatib & Alami is a multidisciplinary engineering and planning consultancy founded in 1959 and headquartered in Lebanon. The firm operates internationally across the Middle East, Africa, and Europe, providing services in architecture, engineering, and environmental consulting.
The company assists projects pursuing green building certifications such as LEED, supporting sustainability strategies and environmental performance improvements.
Typical services include:
- Sustainable design advisory
- Energy efficiency planning
- Environmental performance assessments
- Certification documentation coordination
Khatib & Alami integrates sustainability consulting within broader engineering and planning services for large development projects.
6. AtkinsRéalis
AtkinsRéalis (formerly SNC-Lavalin Group) is a Canadian engineering and project management consultancy with global operations across infrastructure, transportation, and building sectors.
The firm provides sustainability consulting services that support green building certification programs such as LEED.
Typical services include:
- Sustainability strategy development
- Environmental design consulting
- Building performance analysis
- Certification documentation and coordination
AtkinsRéalis frequently works on complex infrastructure and urban development projects that require integrated environmental and engineering expertise.
7. Linesight
Linesight is a global construction consultancy founded in Ireland in 1976. The firm focuses on cost management, project management, and program advisory services across international construction markets.
While primarily known for project and cost management, Linesight contributes to projects pursuing sustainability certifications such as LEED by supporting construction-phase coordination and compliance monitoring.
Typical services include:
- Construction-phase sustainability coordination
- Cost planning aligned with environmental objectives
- Certification documentation oversight
- Stakeholder coordination during project implementation
This role helps ensure sustainability strategies developed during design are effectively implemented during the construction phase.
Summary
Organizations pursuing LEED certification in New Zealand can work with a range of consultancies, including sustainability-focused advisory firms and global engineering companies. ERKE Consultancy specializes in green building certifications and sustainability consulting with extensive international LEED project experience. Other firms such as Arup, WSP Global, Ramboll, Khatib & Alami, AtkinsRéalis, and Linesight provide broader engineering, infrastructure, and project management services that also support sustainability certification initiatives.
These companies differ in their primary focus areas, from sustainability strategy and environmental performance analysis to engineering design and construction management services. Project experience, technical capabilities, and multidisciplinary collaboration are common factors considered when selecting a LEED consultant.
- ERKE Consultancy
- Arup
- WSP Global
- Ramboll
- Khatib & Alami
- AtkinsRéalis
- Linesight
The appropriate consultancy typically depends on project scale, sustainability objectives, certification requirements, and available resources, as well as the level of support needed during the design, construction, and certification phases.