BuildGreen, one of the leading sustainability consulting firms in Central and Eastern Europe, has coordinated the LEED v4.1 O+M: Existing Buildings Platinum certification process for Banu Antonache Offices, an office building owned and managed by Adval Asset Management and located in Bucharest’s Floreasca-Dorobanți area.
The certification confirms the building’s operational performance and sustainability standards in day-to-day operations, demonstrating that existing assets can remain competitive and relevant in the market through continuous investment, careful management and ongoing performance monitoring.
“The certification of Banu Antonache Offices demonstrates that a building’s performance is not determined solely by its year of construction. Through data-driven management, continuous investment, and careful monitoring of operations, a building completed nearly two decades ago can today achieve the highest international sustainability standards”, said Răzvan Nica, CEO and Founder of BuildGreen. “The Platinum level confirms that consumption monitoring, responsible resource management and attention to occupant well-being can maintain an existing asset at standards comparable to those of the most high-performing office buildings”, added Răzvan Nica.
As ESG criteria become increasingly important for investors, lenders and tenants, the modernization and optimization of existing buildings have become a priority for real estate owners. More companies are evaluating not only the characteristics of the space they occupy, but also the building’s operational performance, its impact on costs and its ability to support their own sustainability objectives.
“We believe that a building’s value is created continuously through investment and attentive management. The LEED Platinum certification achieved by Banu Antonache Offices validates this approach and represents recognition of the efforts made by the entire team. At the same time, it reflects our commitment to our tenants, to whom we provide an efficient, healthy and sustainable workplace that meets the standards of Bucharest’s best-performing office buildings,” said Monica Constantinescu, Business Development Director at Adval Asset Management.
Completed in 2006, Banu Antonache Offices is a Class A office building with a total leasable area of 4,472 sqm, distributed across a ground floor and five upper floors, with two underground levels and 79 parking spaces. Thanks to its scale and location in the Floreasca-Dorobanți area, the building offers a more personal working environment than large office campuses and currently records an occupancy rate of 98%.
The certification was obtained through the assessment and documentation of the building’s existing operational practices and performance. The certification process lasted approximately four months and included on-site visits for indoor air quality measurements and the completion of an ASHRAE audit, as well as the documentation of energy, water and waste performance data over a period of 12 consecutive months.
The highest score was achieved in the Indoor Environmental Quality category, where the building obtained 19 out of 20 points, highlighting its strong performance in occupant comfort and indoor environmental quality. Banu Antonache Offices also achieved 13 out of 14 points in the Transportation category, due to its accessibility via sustainable transportation options and measures encouraging alternative mobility, as well as 27 out of 33 points in the Energy category, demonstrating operational efficiency and responsible energy management.
The result also reflects the investment program implemented by Adval Asset Management as part of a multi-year building modernization strategy. Investments have primarily targeted technical and security systems, enhanced operational performance monitoring and the optimization of resource management processes, with the aim of increasing energy efficiency, reducing consumption and improving the tenant experience. The investment plan will continue in the coming years.
For tenants and building users, LEED Platinum certification translates into an indoor environment focused on comfort and well-being, more efficient use of resources, including energy and water, as well as a transparent framework for assessing and monitoring building performance throughout operations. As companies place increasing emphasis on the ESG performance of the spaces they occupy, such certifications serve as internationally recognized benchmarks for building management quality and operational excellence.
Adval Asset Management aims to maintain the Platinum level through periodic recertification, including under the new LEED v5 standard, which places even greater emphasis on decarbonization and real building performance. At the same time, the company is evaluating complementary certifications such as the WELL Health-Safety Rating, which focuses on occupant health, safety, and comfort.