Digicel on Wednesday broke ground on its new "green" global headquarters on the waterfront in downtown Kingston.

At a ceremony to mark the occasion, Digicel chairman and founder, Denis O'Brien, was joined by Digicel Group CEO Colm Delves and Digicel Jamaica CEO Mark Linehan - as well as Prime Minister Bruce Golding, Mayor of Kingston Desmond McKenzie, members of the Government and the Opposition.

The project, due for completion in mid-2012, will see Digicel bringing its 1,000-plus Digicel Group and Digicel Jamaica staff together under one roof for the first time.

211,500 square feet

Situated on the waterfront in downtown Kingston, the Digicel development will span a total area of 211,500 square feet. Specifically, Digicel is developing a 154,700-square foot 11-storey-plus basement office building - as well as a 7,050-square foot food court and an 11,000-square foot two-storey ancillary building over a basement car park.

The new Digicel global headquarters will be the most environmentally friendly major office building in the Caribbean making use of solar power, wind power and geothermal cooling systems.

The building will feature three wind turbines on the roof of the 11-storey tower, 15,000 square feet of solar panels and solar glass on the roofs of all three buildings.

Meanwhile, the geothermal cooling system will reduce power consumption and eliminate the use of both potable water and unsightly cooling towers.