Meet The Public’s Favourite Green Building of 2017

AN EXTENSION to the headquarters of the European Union Intellectual Property Organisation (EUIPO) in Alicante - which received a BREEAM “Outstanding” rating pre-completion - has won the public vote at 2017's BREEAM awards.

Called "AA3", the building is the third section of the EUIPO’s expanding campus in the Spanish coastal city.

The stand-alone 14,000 square metre building features a connecting footbridge and a number of external, ground-level routes connecting it to the rest of the complex.

Above: EUIPO's latest extension won the public vote at the 2017 BREEAM awards. Below: The building, called AA3, the building is connected to the other EUIPO offices by external footpaths and even a footbridge (images courtesy of EUIPO).

The building aims to reduce energy use by 67%, water consumption by 28% and CO2 emissions by 71% as compared to a conventional office.

According to the pre-certification, the facility is already the most sustainable building in Spain and one of the most sustainable buildings in Europe.

Above: EUIPO's campus in Alicante currently comprises three distinct parts, AA3 is in the foreground (image courtesy of EUIPO).

To achieve these high levels of sustainability a number of different measures were implemented - including a grey water recycling system, the use of natural light, rainwater collection, and the integration of a geothermal facility for heating and cooling.

Above: Sustainability was just as important throughout the design, building and fit-out process (image courtesy of EUIPO).

Low emission equipment and materials were carefully selected and 95% of the construction and demolition waste was recycled or re-used. Recycled aggregate was also used during the build.

Above: EUIPO's AA2 wing (left) was awarded a BREEAM Outstanding rating in 2015, setting a precedent for the later addition (image courtesy of EUIPO). 

As a client, EUIPO has had previous experience in commissioning a highly sustainable quarters. In 2015, its original extension, the AA2 building, received a BREAAM Outstanding rating.