The office building “Live Square” on Gedimino Avenue, developed by EIKA, has been awarded a BREEAM In Use “Excellent” rating. This is one of the highest ratings awarded to a building for effectively implementing sustainability solutions.
BREEAM (Building Research Establishment Environmental Assessment Method) is an international standard for sustainable buildings. The assessment procedure for new buildings seeking BREEAM certification consists of two parts – in the first stage, the design solutions of the building are assessed, and after construction is completed, an audit is performed again and the actual certificate is issued.
When awarding the BREEAM In Use certificate, auditors assess 8 areas related to the sustainability and coherence of the building. Live Square received the highest score for safety – the use of alarm systems, environmental and human impact solutions when purchasing materials, and the effective implementation of emergency management plans. Acoustic comfort, a modern air ventilation and humidification system, and the amount of natural light in workplaces were well rated. When assessing the business center, attention was also paid to its contribution to ecology – sorting construction waste, providing appropriate space for recycling materials, disseminating information about sorting, and other management procedures related to waste generation and disposal. In the new business center, the infrastructure surrounding the business center, which allows people to use alternative means of transportation, such as bicycles and electric transport, received an excellent rating. Increasing biodiversity and creating green spaces next to the business center were also evaluated. Live Square focuses on exceptionally low water consumption and the use of renewable energy sources
According to Giedrius Brūzgė, the director of property management at UAB “Eika”, in order to be competitive in today’s office rental market, buildings must comply with BREEAM or another alternative building sustainability standard. “Building certification is no longer a novelty in Lithuania and the number of business centers that receive sustainability certificates is increasing. This naturally provides opportunities for employers looking for new, high-quality built and equipped premises for their employees to demand a certificate confirming the operational efficiency from the building owner. Without this, business centers often lose potential customers. Therefore, the “BREEAM In Use” certificate and its excellent rating, in this case “Excellent”, emphasize the efficiency and sustainability of our building, provide an advantage in the market and allow us to offer a very attractive space for businesses to develop,” says G. Brūzgė.
Live Square is a space in the center of Vilnius that organically combines offices, shops, residential buildings and tourist attractions. It is a place where life and innovation pulsate, where the life and culture of modern citizens are in full swing. This space revives the sleepy part of Gediminas Avenue and opens it up for active living, work and being – here and now. Live Square brings together a dynamic and cultural community, inspiring investment in knowledge, ideas and people. This 6,400 sq m office building is home to companies such as the law firm Sorainen and the first co-working center in the Baltics, Spaces.
