"Romania's residential market is going through a phase of maturation, in which building performance is being assessed more closely by buyers, investors, and lenders alike," said Răzvan Nica, CEO and Founder of BuildGreen. "The BREEAM Excellent certification awarded to the 12 buildings in Greenfield Băneasa demonstrates that sustainability standards can be implemented consistently on a large scale and can generate tangible benefits for future residents," he added.

The full UTR3 development comprises 14 buildings and 1,167 apartments in total. The two remaining buildings, comprising 185 apartments, form Phase 4, for which a building permit application has been submitted. Construction will begin once the permit is issued. The BREEAM certification process ran from the design phase through to completion, with construction works carried out between 2021 and 2026. "The scale of the development and the extended construction timeline represented some of the most significant challenges throughout the process. Coordinating a project developed over a five-year period required constant monitoring, as well as an ongoing process of training and verification," said Răzvan Nica.

The certified buildings incorporate photovoltaic and solar thermal panels, water-efficient sanitary fixtures, consumption monitoring systems and rainwater management solutions, for which the project received the maximum score. The development also achieved maximum scores for thermal comfort, visual comfort, acoustic performance, ecological value and biodiversity. Separate above-ground parking structures free up space between buildings for green areas, pedestrian zones and leisure facilities.

BuildGreen and Impact Developer & Contractor have collaborated on multiple projects, including Greenfield Plaza, which also achieved a BREEAM Excellent rating. BuildGreen, founded in 2010 by Răzvan Nica, specialises in sustainability certifications including LEED and BREEAM, and operates offices in Bucharest and Prague.