The office market was one of the main protagonists of the real estate sector in Barcelona during the past 2021, leaving behind the bad results of the previous year. Large operations such as those of Glovo and Webhelp, which add up to almost 50,000 square meters, were some of the examples of this dynamism. Both projects incorporate the sustainability of the buildings that will host them as one of the fundamental axes in their development, gaining certifications such as LEED Platinum.
"Owners have sustainability in their DNA," explains the Director of Advisory, Transaction Services & Investor Leasing at CBRE in Barcelona, Lindy Garber. It has been left behind when it was just another requirement to meet and has become the main concern of developers, Garber remarks. This trend has been occurring in the last six years, after the reactivation of the construction sector following the 2012 halt, unlike what happened before the economic crisis, when it was done to comply with regulations and little else. "This new generation takes it into account and increasingly so. It is not a matter of minimums and the aim is to obtain the highest score," Garber defends.
This willingness to guarantee sustainability in ongoing projects is also understood in a broad sense. Although the construction of the building is the part of the process where sustainability can be increased the most, it is no longer just about resorting to renewable energies and less harmful ventilation systems, but also the well-being of employees and their relationship with the environment in which they are located matters. Emphasis is also placed on the use of technology to manage the building and reduce energy consumption, as well as on the materials used, favoring wood and its derivatives and opting for local suppliers.
To achieve all this, projects are characterized by including issues such as the creation of spaces where employees can interact, a need that the pandemic has increased. This has been done by the multinational ISS in its new offices located in Cornellà de Llobregat, or the technology company GFT, which has completely renovated its facilities in Sant Cugat del Vallès to foster communication among its employees.
Another trend in workspaces is to create a sense of spaciousness and distance between employees. To this end, Naturgy has established flexible, open, and connected environments in its new headquarters on Diagonal, with LEED Gold certification, allowing for staff mobility. Likewise, Doctoralia has included open spaces and high ceilings in its new offices in 22@, in addition to contemplating a kitchen that can be converted into an agora for 100 people and isolated, quiet spaces for more creative tasks.
Beyond COVID, the new office model also seeks for employees to have good habits, which is why it encourages no junk food in vending machines or that they arrive at work by bicycle or scooter, including parking for these vehicles, where charging points are also installed. This is the case of Lacer, which also inaugurated its headquarters last year, on Diagonal, with LEED Gold and WireScore certificates. The multinational has incorporated a canteen with healthy food options and encourages travel by bicycle and electric vehicle.
Fostering good habits also translates into encouraging workers to move around the building on foot or installing showers and changing rooms so they can go for a run during breaks and designing terraces and outdoor spaces to organize sports classes. Lacer has done so, also offering medical and physiotherapy services, while the Landmark building, in Fira District, will include paddle tennis courts.
All these issues matter to obtain quality seals such as LEED or WELL. The latter has already been achieved by the BcnFira District project, which has obtained the Well Health-Safety Rating. For now, the two new towers, Llevant and Ponent, have already confirmed companies such as Cellnex, BCD Travel, and Haier as tenants. As Garber emphasizes, it is no longer enough to have a LEED Gold certificate, and it is taken for granted that one must aspire to a LEED Platinum, like the future offices of Glovo located in the Mile 22@ business park, and of Webhelp, also in 22@.
Also achieved through renovations
New construction projects coexist with rehabilitation processes, as Naturgy has done in its new headquarters on Diagonal. The recently opened offices of the energy company are located in a building that has been renovated under the concept of sustainable rehabilitation, which is based on recovering a construction to reduce its environmental impact and extend the efficiency of its useful life, which has allowed it to obtain several recognitions, such as the Gold award in architecture at the Novum Design Awards. The building has used environmentally friendly materials and its thermal insulation and energy consumption have been improved. In this sense, the design of one of its facades incorporates a treatment of photovoltaic slats, which serves to protect from the sun and generate clean energy for its electricity consumption. Likewise, a large part of the building's roof is designed as a natural green space, with native plant species, which help minimize environmental impact and provide extra insulation. Another case of rehabilitation to become a sustainable office building will be the one Hines will do in Torre Sabadell, after the American real estate group bought it from the financial entity.
The sustainable offices to come
New office trends are also reflected in upcoming projects, such as the new H&M headquarters or the Entregra building, both in 22@, the fastest growing area of Barcelona, with its northern area still to be developed. The latter reduces energy consumption, with an intelligent and automatically operated natural ventilation system; the recycling of gray and rainwater; photovoltaic electricity self-production and the use of wood. Another project, the Smart building, with LEED Platinum and WELL Platinum certifications, has been designed to integrate with 22@, in an environment where La Escocesa is located. It has been conceived respecting the characteristic chromatic range of the neighborhood and mixing a more traditional material in Poblenou such as terracotta with new industrial processes and large format pieces. Also in 22@, the Diagrame office building will feature a gym and a terrace on the top floor that will serve to organize group activities, issues endorsed by its LEED Platinum and WiredScore certifications.
Beyond 22@, in Fira District, another emerging area for the real estate sector in the city, the Landmark building is a project underway that also prioritizes sustainability. With LEED Platinum and WELL Platinum certifications, it will be characterized by the presence of greenery, with gardens, a landscaped exterior, terraces, and interior patios.