One Japanese company is introducing a new skyscraper prototype that could be a way for countries to reach their net-zero goals.

Nikken Sekkei, one of the world’s largest architectural, engineering and urban design firms, will introduce a new Prototype for Next-Generation Skyscrapers at Cityscape Global in Riyadh. The prototype features various workplace design innovations that potentially reduce whole life carbon by up to 40%.

Many countries, like Saudi Arabia, Japan, the United Kingdom and others, are working towards lower carbon emissions and some have even pledged to be net zero by 2050. Innovative buildings that offer sustainable solutions can help the global real estate market help world leaders reach those goals.

“Saudi Arabia and other countries around the globe are investing heavily in reducing carbon emissions to achieve Net Zero, and this prototype contains various essential ideas that can be combined and adapted to fit the conditions of each region, " says Dr. Fadi Jabri, executive officer of Nikken Sekkei. “We look forward to taking this prototype to the next level and implementing our architecture solutions across the world.”

In the new sustainable prototype, vast single-floor office spaces are replaced with multi-floor, steel-wood hybrid units that surround a central void, similar to the arrangement of leaves on a plant stem. This allows more natural light and air to permeate the space and promotes greater collaboration and efficiency by bringing employees closer together. This framework also leads to less steel and concrete usage and lower CO2 emissions.