Jul 6 2013
The property investment company Sponda Plc has obtained the LEED® Gold Environmental Certification for its Ruoholahden Ankkuri office building, which was completed in the spring of 2013. Talentum Plc is the main tenant of the office building located at Itämerenkatu 23 in the Ruoholahti district of Helsinki.
The LEED® Certification is one of the best-known international green building certification systems, aiming at the reduction of the environmental impact of construction and use of buildings and the development of healthier working environments.
The almost 6,000 m², four-storey, newly constructed building took the place of Kuntotalo, the former recreational facility for Alko employees. The basement levels of Kuntotalo were retained and they will house the parking facilities of the new office building.
High score for energy efficiency
The office building satisfied the criteria for the LEED® Gold Environmental Certification without question. Energy efficiency and environmentally friendly solutions were emphasised in the design and construction of the office building. The building received an especially good score for efficient use of energy.
The Are Sensus building services system, in which heating and cooling are organised with the Sensus panel based on radiation technique, is in use in the work spaces of the office building. In addition to energy efficiency, the system guarantees users of the space a pleasant indoor environmental quality for working by reducing the draught problems experienced in cooled-down
buildings.
Energy modelling was utilised in the design phase to test different solution options for saving energy. Based on the modelling, factors such as the thickness of heat insulation, air-tightness objectives, and the technical values of windows were adjusted. The building is included in the district cooling network that exploits heat that would otherwise be wasted.
The Gold Certification received by Ruoholahden Ankkuri is a fine recognition and also a solid basis for cooperation with users at the new offices. At this property too, we will continue working to preserve the environment in co-operation with our customers, the users of the space, with measures pertaining to the consumption of energy as well as to the processing of waste at the building, says Sustainability Manager Tiina Huovinen.
LEED® (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design) is an internationally recognised and widely used green building certification, awarded by the U.S. Green Building Council (USGBC). In the certification process, a building project is assessed on the basis of six criteria: Sustainable Sites, Water Efficiency, Energy and Atmosphere, Materials and Resources, Indoor
Environmental Quality and Innovation in Design. The assessment is carried out by an independent third party, the Green Building Certification Institute.