U.S. Green Building Council (USGBC) awarded United Business Center 5 (UBC 5), a Class A office building and part of the office component of Palas Iași mixed-use project, the LEED Gold certification in line with the LEED 2009 international standard for Existing Buildings: Operations and Maintenance.
With approximately 14,000 sqm in leasable area and spanning on seven floors, UBC 5 was opened in 2016 and is fully leased by Amazon. UBC 5 was awarded the LEED Gold certification for the implementation of effective and measurable strategies geared towards improving building performance and enhancing tenants’ comfort, ranging from sustainable site development and choice of materials, all the way to water consumption savings, energy efficiency and indoor environmental quality. “The LEED certification achieved for the UBC 5 building in Palas Iași is consistent with the commitment to sustainability made by Iulius group. The extensive implementation process for sustainable operation and management practices, awareness building and CSR campaigns resulted in the following benefits: streamlined water consumption, optimized power consumption and higher quality of indoor comfort conditions”, said Roxana Isopescu, Associate with the Green Certifications Division of Colliers International, the real estate consulting company that obtained the certification.
This recent distinction reconfirms the pursuit of Iulius company to develop premium projects that are designed and built in accordance with international green building standards. This is all the more so as the certification process focused not only on the period for works performance, but also on their operating sustainability. Aside from the implemented solutions intended to ensure maximum comfort and cost optimization, UBC 5 is also fitted with bike parking facilities and a showers’ and changing rooms’ area, aiming to encourage employees to use alternative means of transportation.
Developed by USGBC, LEED (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design) is the foremost rating system designed for buildings, homes and communities that are designed, built, maintained and operated for the purpose of achieving improved performances in terms of environmental and human health.
All the projects developed by Iulius company are designed to be in line with international sustainability standards, either holding LEED certifications for operating performances and resource savings or pending such certification. The entire Palas Iași development is currently pending green building certification in line with the LEED Neighbourhood Development standard.
The Palas Iaşi mixed-use project, a €265+ million investment developed by Iulius company, is the primary business hub in the north-east region of Romania. The six United Business Center Class A office buildings add up to a total leasable area of 70,000 sqm and accommodate 50+ multinational companies with more than 8,000 employees, most of which operate in the IT and Outsourcing industries.
In addition to the workspaces, employees in the Palas project also enjoy numerous facilities: 270+ stores, food court, restaurants and cafés, the largest underground parking facility in Romania, leisure areas, park, and year-round shopping discounts based on a loyalty program specially designed for them.
