Panattoni and Accolade deliver ‘the greenest industrial asset’
The Czech Republic has the world’s greenest industrial building. Panattoni Park Cheb South, developed by Panattoni with Accolade as an investor, has received an Outstanding rating and a record score of 94.2% according to BREEAM sustainability certification, the two groups announced yesterday.
“The achieved level of certification is good not only for Panattoni, but for the whole Czech Republic,” said Pavel Sovička, managing director for the Czech Republic and Slovakia, Panattoni. “It underscores the fact that modern industrial construction in the Czech Republic truly has the highest global standards and places strong emphasis on responsibility toward the environment and local communities.”
The Cheb South facility has a total area of 40,000 sq m. Most of the building’s space is leased by Autodoc, a German online seller of automotive components, which currently operates in 27 European countries.
“In Cheb, the Czech Republic now has the world’s greenest building for modern industry, which is a source of tremendous satisfaction for us,” said Milan Kratina, CEO, Accolade. “There are not many projects with the highest Outstanding level of certification in the world, because the requirements for attaining this level according to BREEAM New Construction are very strict and only a very low percentage of buildings are able to achieve it.”
The complex, which was built on a brownfield on the site of a former engineering works complex, is composed of six buildings, two of which have the Outstanding rating. The asset leased by Autodoc as a distribution centre was built in accordance with strict environmental measures; more than 85% of the construction waste was saved from being disposed of in landfills and all building materials were selected with respect to their environmental impact throughout their life cycle.
Much attention has also been paid to energy management. Thanks to the installed water-saving sanitary equipment and the rainwater flushing system, daily consumption of potable water has been reduced by 85%.
Total consumption of primary energy has been reduced by 59.2%, resulting in a 68.6% decline in the level of CO2 emissions generated by the building. The building thus annually saves 2,474 tonnes of CO2 emissions. All interior and exterior lighting comprises highly efficient LED light fixtures. Optimum penetration of natural light is ensured by large windows that can be opened. The roof is ready for the installation of a photovoltaic power plant.
The emphasis on sustainability extends to the building’s surroundings. The landscape greenery was planted with native species with low maintenance requirements and water consumption. In addition to that, the arrangement of the greenery provides abundant space for the habitat of birds, insects and small vertebrates. The site also contains an insect hotel, a lizard habitat and nesting boxes for squirrels.
The wellness of employees has also been taken into consideration: they can use an outdoor gym, dining hall and relaxation area with seating. Environmentally friendly transport is provided by a regular bus line that operates directly in the complex, while charging stations for electric vehicles and locking bicycle stands are also available.
The Cheb facility is the sixth Outstanding building in the joint portfolio built by Panattoni in partnership with Accolade.
