SPEEDWELL has announced that its QUEENS District Office project in Bucharest has received a BREEAM Excellent certification for its design phase. The certification was achieved in collaboration with BuildGreen, a consultancy specialising in ESG and sustainability in real estate. The QUEENS District Office is part of the broader QUEENS District mixed-use development and includes 22,500 square meters of office space, along with 2,500 square meters of retail space on the ground floor. Located in Bucharest’s emerging Central Business District, the project has been developed as part of a long-term urban renewal strategy, with a focus on responsible design and sustainability. During the BREEAM evaluation, the project achieved high scores across several categories, including public transport accessibility (89%), energy performance (86%), pollution control (83%), and health and wellbeing (73%). The design incorporates the principles of Transit-Oriented Development, with an emphasis on walkability and access to public transport. The certification aligns with SPEEDWELL’s wider ESG framework, which includes a commitment to achieving near-zero operational emissions across its portfolio by 2025. The company integrates stakeholder consultations, community needs assessments, and a focus on health and safety into its planning and development processes. In 2024, SPEEDWELL reported full community engagement on completed projects, no work-related injuries, and the full reuse of demolition waste in several developments. The design strategy for the QUEENS District Office aims to support long-term resilience and adaptability in the built environment. According to SPEEDWELL’s Country Manager, Yannick Van de Parre, the project reflects the company’s intention to combine energy efficiency, occupant well-being, and mobility within its developments to meet both current needs and future sustainability goals. The BREEAM certification was achieved in partnership with BuildGreen, which has provided green building advisory services in Romania and across 27 EMEA countries since 2010. BuildGreen has been involved in certifying more than 500 projects, covering over 12.5 million square meters and €14 billion in investment value. BuildGreen’s Managing Director, Razvan Nica, noted that the QUEENS District Office illustrates the potential for environmental design to enhance business performance, and serves as a case study for how ESG principles are increasingly influencing real estate development in the region.