The Northcliffe project, located on Tudor Street in London, is a remarkable example of sustainable refurbishment and adaptive reuse. Originally built between 1925 and 1926 as the headquarters of the Daily Mail newspaper, the building had not undergone redevelopment since 2001. The developer, DWS Grundbesitz GmbH, tasked John Robertson Architects with preserving the building’s grade II listed façade while creating a contemporary office space that prioritises sustainability and serves as a flagship for the Fleet Street Business Improvement District.

The Northcliffe project aimed to achieve a BREEAM Outstanding rating, significantly exceeding the City of London's planning requirement for a BREEAM Excellent rating. The project achieved an overall BREEAM score of 86.8%, reflecting the high standards of sustainability incorporated into the refurbishment. The project team included Watkins Payne as the building services and assessor company, and ISG Ltd as the constructor, with M3 Consulting as the development manager.

Key sustainability features of The Northcliffe include the use of air source heat pumps, a heat recovery chiller with refrigerants that have lower global warming potentials, and 40m2 of solar panels. The project also boasts air quality monitoring with BMS-linked CO2 sensors on all office floors, a 64% reduction in CO2 emissions from carbon in operation compared to Part L baseline, and a 57% improvement in water consumption over BRE baseline. Additionally, three new landscaped roof terraces enhance biodiversity and provide external amenities for tenants.

The Mark e.o. HUIZEN project, developed by ASR real estate, is a distinguished residential building recognised for its sustainability and high standards in environmental performance, earning it a nomination for the BREEAM Awards 2024 in the Best BREEAM In-Use Residential Building category. This project came to fruition through a comprehensive approach to refurbishment and sustainability.

The building's journey began with a vision to transform an existing residential structure into a benchmark for sustainable living. ASR real estate undertook extensive renovations that involved upgrading the building's energy systems, enhancing water efficiency, and improving indoor environmental quality. Key to this transformation was the integration of modern, energy-efficient technologies and materials that significantly reduced the building's operational carbon footprint.

The CTP Clubhaus project, located in Bolintin-Deal, Ilfov County, Romania, is a community centre within CTPark Bucharest West, Europe's largest industrial park. Developed by CTP, the project has been nominated for the Best BREEAM In-Use non-residential building category for the BREEAM Awards 2024. The facility serves the tenants of the industrial park and nearby villages, providing a wide range of amenities including offices, a canteen, a medical centre, a retail store, meeting rooms, and an amphitheatre. The exterior features lush vegetation, barbecue facilities, fitness equipment, and electric charging stations, promoting a sustainable and community-centric environment.

The CTP Clubhaus was designed with ambitious goals for energy efficiency, low water use, and optimal health and wellbeing conditions for its users. Key features include photovoltaic panels powering air-source heat pumps, AHU units for clean indoor air, and high standards of energy and water efficiency. The building's development and its certification under BREEAM aimed to significantly enhance its sustainability profile.

BREEAM certification was pursued to elevate the project's sustainability standards, achieving an Outstanding rating with an overall score of 94.67. The project excelled in Land Use & Ecology and Resilience categories, scoring 100%, and performed strongly in Health & Wellbeing and Water categories.

The KKR project, initiated by Kohlberg Kravis Roberts & Co., involves the BREEAM certification of a diverse portfolio comprising 39 assets located across various states in the U.S., including Arizona, Florida, Georgia, Massachusetts, North Carolina, New York, Texas, Illinois, California, and Washington. These assets, which consist of both industrial and residential properties, vary significantly in size from 200,000 to 1.5 million square feet and were primarily constructed within the last decade.

This initiative emerged from KKR’s strategic focus on sustainability and resilience, driven by the need to enhance asset efficiency, improve tenant experiences, and mitigate risks. The decision to pursue BREEAM certification was rooted in the objective to align with globally recognised sustainability standards, thereby identifying key areas for improvement and reinforcing KKR’s commitment to environmental stewardship and corporate responsibility.

The BREEAM certification process, facilitated by GreenGen’s certified assessors, encompassed a thorough assessment of each asset, resulting in portfolio ratings of 8% Acceptable, 67% Pass, and 26% Good.

DuurzaamheidsCertificering BV (DC) is an assessor company based in Houten, Utrecht, The Netherlands, renowned for its clarity, overview, and engaging approach to sustainability in the built environment. Founded in 2018 by Daniël van der Flier and Pim Klinkenberg, DC emerged from over a decade of experience in various sectors of the sustainability industry, including contracting, installation, and consultancy. The founders recognised the need for a more straightforward and accessible process to achieve sustainability certification, which led to the establishment of DC with a mission to make the Dutch real estate market more sustainable.

DC operates within both the New Construction and In-Use BREEAM-NL schemes, offering a wide range of services and advice to help clients make informed decisions about sustainability. The company is actively involved in sectors such as retail, leisure, residential, offices, industrial, and hotels, handling projects from in-use and renovation to entirely new constructions. DC’s approach is characterised by its commitment to intrinsic motivation over practical knowledge, ensuring all team members are internally trained as assessors before engaging with clients.

The Auriol Drive project, situated in Greenford, London, is an industrial warehouse unit that has been meticulously refurbished by SEGRO Plc to achieve the highest standards of sustainability and energy efficiency. The project, which dates back to the early 2000s, was driven by a clear ambition to reduce both construction and operational energy usage while promoting health and wellbeing for its occupants.

The key features of the refurbished facility include a 275kWp photovoltaic array, which enables the building to be net zero in operation, achieving an A+ EPC rating and saving an estimated 46 tonnes of carbon annually. Additionally, the installation of 81kW battery storage maximises renewable energy usage. The project also boasts a 200m² external living wall, enhancing biodiversity and air quality, equivalent to planting ten mature trees. A rainwater harvesting system saves approximately 64,000 litres of water per year, reducing the strain on the local drainage network. Furthermore, the building features a highly efficient heat recovery HVAC system, new shower and changing facilities to encourage cycling, 12 electric vehicle charging bays, and intelligent building monitoring systems that track water, energy, and indoor air quality.

The Fugro New Headquarters project, located in Nootdorp, Netherlands, is a state-of-the-art office and laboratory facility designed with a strong focus on sustainability and innovation. Developed by Fugro Property I BV and designed by Architectenbureau Cepezed BV, the project was initiated to replace Fugro’s outdated head office in Leidschendam, reflecting the company’s commitment to sustainable practices and modern work environments.

The project began in 2018, but construction was delayed until early 2022 due to various factors. Once resumed, a design team was assembled, representing various disciplines essential to the project's goals of sustainability, circularity, biodiversity, and employee wellbeing. The design process involved extensive consultations, workshops, and a thorough bidding process to select firms with proven sustainability credentials.

Fugro’s New Headquarters aims for the highest standards in sustainability, achieving BREEAM Outstanding certification with a score of 93.44%, making it one of only seven buildings in the Netherlands to attain such a rating under the latest guidelines. The 19,678 m² facility features lush landscaping, roof gardens, and a separate parking garage. It is strategically located near The Hague and Rotterdam, with excellent public transport connections, encouraging sustainable commuting options.