Daikin’s new head office building in Vietnam conceptualized and designed by Nikken Sekkei, has achieved the world’s first three Platinum certifications for environmental and health standards
Achieving the highest rating for LEED, WELL, and LOTUS; Bringing into society architecture that integrates environmental performance and human wellbeing in response to Vietnam’s growing air quality consciousness
Nikken Sekkei Ltd announces that Daikin Air Tower, Daikin’s new head office building in Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam conceptualized and designed by Nikken Sekkei, achieved the highest Platinum rating for LEED, the global environmental certification, and WELL, the global health certification, as well as LOTUS, Vietnam’s national environmental certification. This is the world’s first building to attain Platinum across all three certification systems.
Daikin Air Tower, Daikin’s new head office building in Vietnam (Photo provided by Shimizu Corporation)
As Ho Chi Minh City undergoes rapid economic growth, awareness is rising around air quality challenges driven by particulate matter (PM) including PM2.5 generated by increasing traffic and construction projects. In such a situation, protecting the health of people working in urban areas and delivering a safe, comfortable indoor environment has become one of the most critical themes in architectural design in Vietnam.
To address these challenges, this project has achieved the goal of “responding to Vietnam’s air quality with Daikin’s technology.” Adopting Daikin’s advanced air conditioning technology throughout the building, the project achieves both enhanced indoor quality and significant energy savings, realized through purposeful architectural approaches such as heat-insulating glass facades and reuse of rainwater, as well as naturally lit workspaces and clean indoor air systems. The building also incorporates a real-time monitoring system for tracking both energy consumption and indoor environmental quality. By pursuing a sustainable and comfortable office environment through both hardware and software solutions, the project achieved the highest Platinum rating across three certifications: LEED (v4 BD+C - Building Design and Construction), an international environmental certification for buildings and cities; WELL (v2 pilot), an international certification focused on human health and wellbeing; and LOTUS (New Construction v3), an environmental certification by the Vietnam Green Building Council.
To address these challenges, this project has achieved the goal of “responding to Vietnam’s air quality with Daikin’s technology.” Adopting Daikin’s advanced air conditioning technology throughout the building, the project achieves both enhanced indoor quality and significant energy savings, realized through purposeful architectural approaches such as heat-insulating glass facades and reuse of rainwater, as well as naturally lit workspaces and clean indoor air systems. The building also incorporates a real-time monitoring system for tracking both energy consumption and indoor environmental quality. By pursuing a sustainable and comfortable office environment through both hardware and software solutions, the project achieved the highest Platinum rating across three certifications: LEED (v4 BD+C - Building Design and Construction), an international environmental certification for buildings and cities; WELL (v2 pilot), an international certification focused on human health and wellbeing; and LOTUS (New Construction v3), an environmental certification by the Vietnam Green Building Council.
Comments from the LEED / WELL / LOTUS certification body representatives
Mr. Gopalakrishnan P
Managing Director, Southeast Asia and Middle East
Green Business Certification Inc. （GBCI）
Daikin Vietnam’s LEED Platinum certification for its Headquarter Building in Ho Chi Minh City reflects a truly impactful achievement in passive, human-centric, and future-focused design. The project performs exceptionally well in water stewardship and indoor environmental quality, setting a strong benchmark for healthy, high-performance workplaces and positioning itself as an excellent candidate for LEED Zero. Congratulations to Daikin Vietnam and heartfelt thanks to Nikken Sekkei, Shimizu, Greenviet, and all the stakeholders involved. LEED on!
Mr. Jack Noonan
Senior Vice President, Head of Asia Pacific
International WELL Building Institute（IWBI）
"Daikin Vietnam has created a powerful competitive differentiator for the South East Asian region, pairing air quality transparency with biophilic design. The Daikin Air Tower, supported by Nikken Sekkei, Shimizu, and Greenviet, is a full-scale demonstration that when a company prioritizes the health of its people, the built environment becomes a cornerstone of resilience and performance. In achieving WELL Certification at the Platinum level, Daikin Vietnam reflects not only design excellence, but the company's values and its unwavering commitment to the people who work there every day. Congratulations!”
Mr. Douglas L. Snyder
Executive Director
Vietnam Green Building Council (VGBC)
Vietnam Green Building Council (VGBC), as the exclusive representative of the WorldGBC in Vietnam, applauds Daikin Vietnam for achieving the landmark LOTUS Platinum certification for the Daikin Air Tower headquarters in Ho Chi Minh City. We also congratulate the design team led by Nikken Sekkei and all contractors for their successful collaboration in realizing this project.
This achievement sends a strong message to the market, demonstrating Daikin Vietnam’s leadership in sustainability and commitment to a greener future for the country. As a flagship building that will stand for decades, we expect the Daikin Air Tower to set a lasting benchmark of excellence for HCMC and Vietnam’s wider construction market.
This achievement sends a strong message to the market, demonstrating Daikin Vietnam’s leadership in sustainability and commitment to a greener future for the country. As a flagship building that will stand for decades, we expect the Daikin Air Tower to set a lasting benchmark of excellence for HCMC and Vietnam’s wider construction market.
【Certifications Obtained/Date】
・LEED v4 BD+C “Platinum”: Obtained October 9, 2025
About LEED Certification: https://www.gbj.or.jp/leed/about_leed/
・LOTUS New Construction v3 “Platinum”: Obtained October 27, 2025
About LOTUS certification: https://vgbc.vn/en/rating-systems/
・WELL v2 pilot “Platinum”: Acquired January 5, 2026
About WELL certification: https://www.gbj.or.jp/well/about_well/
About LEED Certification: https://www.gbj.or.jp/leed/about_leed/
・LOTUS New Construction v3 “Platinum”: Obtained October 27, 2025
About LOTUS certification: https://vgbc.vn/en/rating-systems/
・WELL v2 pilot “Platinum”: Acquired January 5, 2026
About WELL certification: https://www.gbj.or.jp/well/about_well/
Project Overview
Name: Daikin Vietnam New Headquarters / Daikin Air Tower
Location: 10 Cong Truong Quac Te, Xuan Hoa Ward, Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam
Client: Daikin Air Conditioning (Vietnam) Joint Stock Company
Master Planning, Basic Design, Detailed Design Supervision, Construction Supervision, Certification Consulting: Nikken Sekkei
Detailed Design: Shimizu Corporation, Shimizu Vietnam
Total Floor Area: 14,234.64 m²
Structure & Scale: Reinforced Concrete (Partially Prestressed Concrete), 2 Basements, 12 Floors
Completion: May 2025
Location: 10 Cong Truong Quac Te, Xuan Hoa Ward, Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam
Client: Daikin Air Conditioning (Vietnam) Joint Stock Company
Master Planning, Basic Design, Detailed Design Supervision, Construction Supervision, Certification Consulting: Nikken Sekkei
Detailed Design: Shimizu Corporation, Shimizu Vietnam
Total Floor Area: 14,234.64 m²
Structure & Scale: Reinforced Concrete (Partially Prestressed Concrete), 2 Basements, 12 Floors
Completion: May 2025
Persons in Charge of This Initiative
Hiromasa Tanaka
General Manager, Mechanical Engineering Group, Engineering Department
Joined Nikken Sekkei in 1997, Hiromasa Tanaka is a licensed Professional Engineer (Japan) with expertise in HVAC and plumbing and environmental design. With project experience spanning GRAND FRONT OSAKA, the Daikin Technology and Innovation Center, and COOL TREE, he focuses on delivering healthy, comfortable environments while reducing environmental impact, from individual buildings to public spaces and the wider context. He is also a part-time lecturer at Osaka University and Ritsumeikan University, supporting the next generation of practitioners through education.
Yuko Murata
Associate, Global Design Group, Architectural Design Department
Dedicated Architect with over 15 years of experience, Yuko Murata specializes in specifications and LEED/WELL certification consulting. After working in the United States, she joined Nikken Sekkei in 2013 and has contributed to projects across Japan, Vietnam, India, the UAE, and Saudi Arabia. Skilled at collaborating with cross-functional teams of clients, designers, engineers, and contractors, she integrates sustainability and performance goals into design and specifications, supporting projects from early design through construction. Her work also includes quality management through the specification process, ensuring that designs reflect client requirements and meet applicable codes and standards.
Ikumi Inoue
General Director, NIKKEN SEKKEI VIETNAM
Since joining Nikken Sekkei in 1991, Ms. Ikumi Inoue has served as a Project Manager for numerous international clients across the financial, logistics, pharmaceutical, and luxury brand sectors, supporting both tenant fit-out projects and the construction of new buildings.
Having spent her formative years in New York, she excels in communicating with English-speaking clients, accurately understanding their requirements, and clearly explaining the implications of local regulations, standards, and business practices. She works very closely with architects and engineers, —both within Nikken Sekkei and at other firms—to support the successful operation of her client's businesses.
Having spent her formative years in New York, she excels in communicating with English-speaking clients, accurately understanding their requirements, and clearly explaining the implications of local regulations, standards, and business practices. She works very closely with architects and engineers, —both within Nikken Sekkei and at other firms—to support the successful operation of her client's businesses.
About Nikken Sekkei
Nikken Sekkei is a professional service firm engaged in architectural and civil engineering design and supervision, urban design, as well as related research, planning, and consulting services.
Contact
Public Relations Office, Nikken Sekkei Ltd
Tel: +81-3-5226-3030
E-mail: webmaster@nikken.jp
Tel: +81-3-5226-3030
E-mail: webmaster@nikken.jp