Colliers Eastern European Green Building Certification Team – led by Michael Smithing - has secured the first LEED Platinum Certification in Eastern Europe on behalf of Citibank in Budapest, Hungary. Citibank’s Global Shared Service Center at Arena Corner in Budapest has become the first Citi Office facility...
Employing LEED criteria to the site selection process ensured the project has access to a variety of useful services and has exceptional public transportation access. The location adjacent to major tram, Metro and bus stations and the provision of bicycle storage, showers and changing facilities significantly reduced the number of car journeys made by Citi staff to and from work. “LEED Platinum certification required the full integration of LEED criteria into the design process. The entire project team, including Colliers, the building design team, Citi’s fit-out design team and the contractor worked together to ensure the implementation of a sustainable and innovative design achieving significant energy and water savings.” – said Team leader Michael Smithing MRICS, Director of Green Building Certification at Colliers International Eastern-Europe.
Notably, the connected lighting power installed was 55% less than other office spaces in the same building. The lighting system integrates state of the art LED lighting fixtures with occupancy sensors and daylight response, which automatically dims the lights to assure a constant level of illumination across the entire office.
To conserve resources, 56% of the project furniture was relocated from other Citi facilities. In addition, over 20% of the total materials used on the project were recycled and 25% were manufactured within 800 km of the building, supporting the local economy. Over 50% of construction waste generated on-site was diverted from Landfill for recycling.
Throughout the construction process, the contractor employed best-in-class indoor air quality practices to assure a healthy environment for both Citi staff working in the building during the construction period and those occupying the new facility. Employee health and wellbeing was further enhanced by the particular emphasis placed on the specification of low emitting adhesives, paints and carpets used in the facility.
“Citi’s commitment to employee health and wellbeing was further strengthened by the adoption of a Green Cleaning Program for the facility and the space plan was developed to maximize daylight, ensuring almost 95% of the regularly occupied areas have direct views to the outside.” – added Michael Smithing.
Source: Colliers International
