AFI Europe received LEED Platinum pre-certification for the AFI TECH PARK 2 office building

AFI Tech Park 2, the second phase of the AFI Tech Park office development built up by AFI Europe Romania near the Palace of Parliament, has received LEED Platinum precertification, after successfully completing the GBCI review of early design stage documentation. The extensive certification process is coordinated by the Green & Healthy Buildings Certifications Division of Colliers Romania.

AFI Tech Park 2 has achieved LEED Platinum precertification, the highest level as “green” building, the globally recognized standard as a symbol of excellence in green building design, construction, and operation.

The LEED Platinum precertification was awarded to AFI Tech Park 2 for implementing practical and measurable strategies and solutions in areas including sustainable site development, water savings, energy efficiency, materials selection, and indoor environmental quality.

To lower its CO2 emissions during the operation, AFI Tech Park 2 will consume 35% less energy and 50% less potable water compared to a regular building, thus reducing the environmental and economic harms of excessive energy use and the burden on municipal water supply and wastewater systems. AFI Europe Romania intends to encourage the development of grid-source and renewable energy technologies, that is why it has decided to engage in at least a 2-year renewable energy contract to provide at least 70% of the building’s electricity from renewable sources. To offer occupant comfort, well-being and productivity, indoor environmental quality is addressed with several strategies, such as enhanced fresh air ventilation, construction management plan for indoor air quality, reduced indoor air contaminants from the construction materials, comfortable thermal environment, access to natural daylight and quality views.

“By achieving LEED Platinum precertification, AFI Tech Park 2 demonstrates an active engagement to the green building movement, by lowering the carbon emissions, by reducing the operating costs and by preserving natural resources. AFI Europe is the largest developer in Romania of certified office buildings and shopping centers under the LEED Core and Shell rating system, with more than 170,000 square meters of certified spaces”, says arch. Tamara Dogariu, Senior Sustainability Consultant in Colliers’ Green & Healthy Buildings Certifications division, the LEED AP of this project.

“We are constantly preoccupied to develop sustainable projects and we are targeting maintaining the operational costs to performant levels and providing the quality and efficiency required by all our tenants. Following this direction, during the last period we have installed in all our office projects the newest air purification system through bi-polar ionization which supported us also to obtain WELL Health & Safety certification, as well”, stated Emma Toma, Head of Office Division – AFI Europe Romania.

Since 2014, the year when AFI Park 1 became the first office building in Romania certified under LEED Core and Shell Rating System, AFI Europe has set several milestones on the Romanian real estate market.

AFI Europe Romania has certified LEED Gold & Platinum for Core and Shell AFI Park, AFI Tech Park 1 and AFI Park Brasov and BREEAM Excellent & Very Well AFI LAKEVIEW, AFI PARK FLOREASCA, AFI VICTORIEI PLAZA and AFI PARK TIMISOARA. Also, in 2020 AFI Europe Romania has delivered the first phase of AFI City Bucureștii Noi, its first residential development in Romania, which received Green Homes certification from RoGBC (Romanian Green Building Council), as a recognition for being an environmentally friendly residential project with sustainable, green facilities.

Colliers is the most experienced real estate consultancy firm in Romania to offer consultancy services for LEED, WELL and BREEAM Certifications. Colliers started the Green Certification consultancy in 2011 and the current track record totals now more than 120 Green Certifications projects and approximately 3.2 million square meters either finalized or in process of certification in Romania and Central and Eastern Europe. The team comprises specialists holding various accreditations such as: LEED AP BD+C, LEED AP ID+C, LEED AP O+M, LEED AP ND, WELL AP, BREEAM Assessor and BREEAM In Use Assessor.