Sustainovation

AFI Europe aims to achieve zero carbon emissions for all its projects by 2025
AFI Europe aims to achieve zero carbon emissions for all its projects by 2025 420 250 ROMANIA PROPERTY CLUB

06.10.2022

AFI Europe announces a series of plans aimed at achieving ambitious sustainability targets for all its projects, a significant reduction of carbon emissions, the well-being and safety of their occupants, as well as transforming real estate projects into smart buildings with a high degree of access to technology.

According to the company’s sustainability strategy, one of the most important objectives is to obtain, by 2025, the “LEED Zero Carbon” certification for all ongoing office projects, and also for all future AFI Europe’s projects targeted to be developed in the future in Romania. Therefore, AFI Europe Romania enrolled in the process of obtaining “LEED Zero Carbon” certification, process targeted to be finalized within the next 2 years.

The company is assisted by Colliers as a consultant and shall primarily target all operational buildings in AFI Europe Romania’s portfolio. Based on an initial process of evaluation, a set of measures shall be issued and implemented such as: increasing energy efficiency (by BMS optimization, LED lighting and controls, improvement of insulation and other technical improvements), using green energy (100% electricity from renewable sources) and plan improvements to diminish carbon emissions from fossil fuels.

“AFI Europe is taking the impact of buildings on the environment to the next level, by committing to LEED Zero Carbon certification for its entire office portfolio. Obtaining carbon neutrality by 2050 is a target of European Union and AFI Europe Romania acts as a pioneer on the Romanian market by making these early improvements. We are excited that our ESG Strategic Advisory team will consult AFI during the process of LEED Zero Carbon certification. This program has a unique ability to verify this new level of milestone in sustainability by tackling climate change and encouraging enhanced progress on the triple bottom line of “people, planet and profit”, mentioned Oana Stamatin, ESG Chief Officer – CEE & Romania, Colliers.

On the long run, AFI Europe’s strategy involves a carbon-free approach for all ongoing office projects and that will be developed in Romania, and its commitment to a sustainable development anticipates and moves several years ahead of the objectives set at the European level.

7 office projects certified as sustainable projects

To date, AFI Europe has obtained LEED and BREEAM green certifications for all 7 office projects existing in its portfolio: AFI Park, AFI Tech Park, AFI Victoriei Plaza, AFI Park Floreasca, AFI Lakeview, AFI Park Timișoara and AFI Park Brașov, and also for AFI Brașov shopping center and AFI City Bucuresti Noi residential compound which received the certification “Green Homes”. AFI Cotroceni and AFI Ploiești shopping centers are under process of obtaining the green certification.

With regards to the well-being and safety measures for buildings occupants, during 2021 the company has invested in Romania approximately 1 million EUR in the latest Bi-polar ionization air purification system, which has been installed in all office buildings and shopping centers from AFI’s portfolio. To provide comfort, well-being and productivity to all projects occupants and visitors, the quality of the indoor environment is ensured by improved ventilation and increased intake of fresh air, reduction of air pollutants from building materials, adequate thermal comfort or access to natural light.

At the beginning of 2022, the company announced obtaining the Well Health & Safety certification for its entire office portfolio in Romania. This covers five key areas, including cleaning procedures, air quality management and health services. “We are constantly concerned with providing a healthy and safe working environment and community to all tenants present in our buildings, using the most modern systems available today. From our point of view, well-being and health are invariably linked to the impact we have on nature. This is also the reason why all our actions in recent years converge in the direction of sustainability, both in the building’s construction phase, by purchasing sustainable materials and reducing the carbon footprint related to the construction process, as well as in terms of operation and use of buildings. We are investing significantly in the latest solutions for reducing water and energy consumption, using renewable resources, selective waste collection, as well as encouraging sustainable transportation for the tenants by using bicycles and electric cars”, mentioned Emma Toma – Head of Office Division, AFI Europe Romania.

UNStudio’s solution won the international architecture competition organized by IULIUS for a new development in downtown Iasi
UNStudio’s solution won the international architecture competition organized by IULIUS for a new development in downtown Iasi 420 250 ROMANIA PROPERTY CLUB

01.07.2022

The architectural complex designed by UNStudio for the international competition organized in Iași by IULIUS company was selected by a specialist jury as the winning solution for an upcoming development set to become a contemporary landmark in the downtown area of the city.

Described by the members of the jury as “the most complete and balanced answer to the complete set of criteria in the competition theme,” the project proposed by UNStudio provided a highly creative and innovative solution to all the challenges generated by the specific features of this valuable and dominant historic and cultural heritage-laden site.

After two days of deliberations, the jury comprised of architects Șerban Țigănaș, Augustin Ioan, Dragoș Ciolacu, Mihai Corneliu Drișcu, and Matei Bogoescu, and historian Cătălin Turliuc, specialized in terms of heritage, urban planning, contemporary architecture and public realm enhancement, named the winner of the international architecture competition that challenged contenders to propose a contemporary architectural complex that would complete the current urban landscape of downtown Iași, that is defined by iconic landmarks of various architectural ages.

The four solutions submitted by the reputable architecture firms that were invited have equally demonstrated remarkable depth of research and knowledge of the complex and particular context of the construction site for the upcoming development. The strategies for addressing this context have been different, none of them failing to pay attention to the quality of public spaces, to the essential views toward historical monuments, to nature and the social component, and to highlighting recent archaeological discoveries in the area.

“Bridging Time, Bridging Communities”

The project was created by UNStudio from Amsterdam architects and was developed following the “develop around the theme of City Horizon” principle. In its reasoning, the jury concludes that “the volume is flat and the lowest of all the proposals. The horizon of the city is in fact an extension of the plateau of the Palace of Culture Square, which lends itself to a 360 degrees panoramic view of Iasi and its urban scape. The spatial connection between upper and lower levels of the site is mediated by the planted parcourse, a real oasis.”

IULIUS Company has organized this competition, wanting to develop a project based on the city residents’ vision, the expectations of a community and the aspirations of a generation.

IULIUS is launching a new investment in Cluj-Napoca – the largest urban regeneration project in Romania
IULIUS is launching a new investment in Cluj-Napoca – the largest urban regeneration project in Romania 420 250 ROMANIA PROPERTY CLUB

04.04.2022

With more than a decade’s worth of expertise in developing and operating mixed-use urban regeneration complexes in Romania, the only projects of this kind in the country, IULIUS Group is now launching a new project in Cluj-Napoca.

The investment upwards of half a billion Euro focuses on the Carbochim platform, set to become the largest urban reconversion project on the Romanian market. This urban development endeavor will transform the industrial area into a vibrant space in Cluj and will be integrated as part of the city. The Carbochim factory will be relocated this year and upgraded, without any periods of business interruption. The new project includes:

  • the largest retail area in the country (115,000 sqm)
  • a center dedicated to performing arts
  • conservation of two industrial heritage buildings and reintroduction thereof into the public circuit
  • a model of integrated approach to green spaces, connecting the urban garden spanning on 4-plus hectares with the adjacent parks, and a complete reconfiguration of the road and pedestrian infrastructure
  • a new bridge and a pedestrian walkway over Someș River
  • an eco-neighborhood integrated in a mixed-use project
  • bicycle and pedestrian infrastructure along the Someș River waterfront
  • consolidating a new business hub
  • the largest underground parking lot in the country, with 6,000-plus parking spaces.

After 15 years of presence in Cluj-Napoca, IULIUS is launching the largest urban reconversion project in the country. Using a massive investment, estimated upwards of half a billion euro, the Carbochim industrial platform will be converted into a destination of the city, a unique meeting place for the community. As far as magnitude of investment, urban development impact, and diversity of the uses integrated therein go, this will be the most prominent project in Transylvania, after the Cluj-Napoca metro line project.

Carbochim is the largest manufacturer of professional abrasives in Romania. The industrial platform spans on approximately 14 hectares, with less than 30% of the area currently utilized for manufacturing purposes, while the rest is either underused or residual. The factory will be relocated this year in the industrial area of the city, in the former industrial facilities of Tricotaje Someșul on Muncii Boulevard. More than € 5 million will be invested in relocating, modernizing and upgrading the production unit, without interruptions to its activity.

“We want to give to the city a piece of itself by transforming the Carbochim platform into a space for the entire community. The urban reconversion investment will be a large-scale one, in line with the general urban development strategy of Cluj. This project is designed for the present, but also for the generations to come. It expresses our vision of gratitude for the past by continuing the industrial activity, while also creating the future via a sustainable and resilient project,” said Iulian Dascălu, President of IULIUS Company.

© Romania Property Club, 2024 — All rights reserved.

Start Typing