Torre Espacio, Spain’s first BREEAM sustainability certified office building to be rated Excellent

Torre Espacio has become Spain’s first office building to secure the “BREEAM® ES In Use” certificate rated “Excellent” in the section that assesses aspects of the building’s construction and facilities.

For Torre Espacio, built among a four-skyscraper complex at the end of Madrid’s Paseo de la Castellana, this certification recognizes the building as an international benchmark for a sustainable work environment and was obtained on conclusion of a nine-category assessment process: Energy, Health & Wellbeing, Water, Materials, Pollution, Land Use & Ecology, Waste, Transport and Management.

“The rating of Excellent in the BREEAM In Use sustainability certificate conferred to Torre Espacio is the fruit of the vision and daily efforts of the entire building management team who, since the building opened in 2007, has strived to optimize available resources while providing the highest levels of comfort, which reinforces our pledge to proactive management alongside end users”, expressed Eduardo Corral Pazos de Provens, Managing Director of Torre Espacio.

To secure this certification, Torre Espacio received technical support from consultants at Exeleria (Grupo Everis) through a certified BREEAM assessor and the Architecture department at Aguirre Newman.

BREEAM® ES In Use is a method that can be applied to non-domestic buildings of all sorts and uses that have been operating for at least two years. The method enables a reduction in running costs while improving the environmental performance of existing buildings by providing a clear and credible route map to help building administrators and managers improve sustainability. Main sustainability characteristics of Torre Espacio

ENERGY. Torre Espacio has a Class A energy rating, supported by an elevated number of active façades on its glass curtain wall, over 60% made of which comprises quadruple pane windows with air circulating through the inner chamber. Other singular characteristics include ideal cooling distribution through the cold roof in occupied spaces; the additional efficiency rendered by the hydraulic free-cooling system when outside air conditions are conducive; and the tracking and monitoring of energy consumption through over 300 network analyzers.

WATER. The water-cooled cold beam system for occupied rooms entails a significant amount of fluid constantly circulating through the roof, and each floor is equipped with a leak detection system to respond to any incident. Meters installed in the primary common rooms of the building ensure and enable user control. All bathrooms are equipped with low consumption facilities and fixtures. Water efficiency is also enhanced by a water recycling system from the carwash.

MATERIALS. The metabolism of a building of this stature is rather complex given its size (constructed surface of over 74,000 m²) and various uses (offices, embassies, restaurants, cafeterias). With this in mind, the building has been equipped to fully separate and appropriately manage each waste fraction, with underground access for inbound and outbound freight and goods, thus leaving surface level space for pedestrian access.

TRANSPORTATION. Building end users have excellent mass transit options nearby the building, parking for bicycles, electric vehicle charging stations and a carpool service through the building intranet.

HEALTH AND WELL-BEING. Indoor air quality is guaranteed by a vast air renovation capacity and end users can control main heating and lighting comfort parameters at their workstations, and even the inside window protective elements to keep out direct sunlight and glare. Permanent visibility to the outside or access to break rooms are other influential factors for end user comfort and health.