SPEEDWELL Development announces a major milestone for its QUEENS District Office project: the attainment of the BREEAM Excellent certification for its design phase, in collaboration with BuildGreen. Located in Bucharest’s thriving new Central Business District, this office development represents a strategic investment in both urban transformation and responsible design.
QUEENS District Office is part of the larger QUEENS District mixed-use development and features 22,500 square meters of premium, flexible office space, which includes 2,500 square meters of vibrant ground-floor retail. The building integrates high-performing materials and systems that ensure energy efficiency and superior comfort for occupants. The QUEENS District Office is set to establish a new benchmark for sustainable office development in Bucharest, combining cutting-edge energy performance with exceptional occupant comfort. Once completed, the building will be powered by renewable electricity, with zero on-site carbon emissions, and is projected to achieve a primary energy consumption of just 51 kWh/m²/year, exceeding NZEB requirements by more than 40%.
This performance will be enabled by a robust green energy infrastructure, including air-to-air heat pumps, a high-efficiency mechanical ventilation system with heat recovery, a 36.5 kW photovoltaic array, and full LED lighting. All systems will be monitored through an advanced Building Management System (BMS), targeting up to 36% reduction in energy use. The building is designed to be rated A+ for heating, hot water, ventilation, and lighting, and B for cooling. Modern heat pump systems—especially air-to-water and air-to-air heat pumps—are designed to scale and can meet the heating and cooling demands of large commercial spaces, including office buildings, and studies such as those by Energy Systems Catapult and Good Energy show efficiencies of 2.5–4.0 times that of gas boilers.
Indoor air quality will be ensured through 100% fresh air ventilation, CO₂ and humidity monitoring, and openable windows across 20% of the façade. Carbon emissions are expected to be just 7.5 kg CO₂/m²/year, totaling 156.15 tons annually—more than 30% lower than average emissions for comparable offices in Bucharest. These efficiencies will translate into up to 40% lower utility costs for future tenants, positioning QUEENS as a truly future-ready workplace.
Beyond functionality, QUEENS District Office centers on wellbeing and user experience. Workspaces are illuminated by natural light through 3-meter-high windows and are supported by high acoustic standards, ergonomic design, and thermal comfort controls. The project encourages active, healthy, low-impact commuting with amenities like secure bike storage, EV charging stations, and showers.
“QUEENS District Office is designed for companies that value people.” said Maria Jianu, Leasing Director at SPEEDWELL. “Offices today reflect who you are as an employer—they shape how teams work, connect, and thrive. And to ensure this remains true not only today but for generations to come, sustainability is embedded from the very beginning.”
Its location enhances this experience further. Just a 10-minute walk from Aurel Vlaicu metro station and Promenada Mall, QUEENS connects effortlessly to key business, retail, and leisure destinations. The surrounding area also includes world-class fitness centers, healthcare clinics, dining spots, and shopping venues, supporting a 15-minute city concept where everything is within reach.
“The S in ESG – social impact- sits at the heart of our approach. Today’s workforce, especially Gen Z and Millennials, expects more than just a desk—they’re looking for workplaces that reflect their values. Reports show that one in two young professionals would reject a job if the company’s sustainability values don’t align with theirs,” Jianu continued. “At QUEENS District Office, we are creating a setting that fosters care, responsibility, and community, enabling companies to strengthen their employer brand.”
Designed for ESG Excellence
QUEENS scored 89% in public transport accessibility, 86% in energy performance, 83% in pollution control, and 73% in health and wellbeing during its BREEAM evaluation. The project also integrates the principles of Transit-Oriented Development, placing walkability and transit access at the forefront of its design.
This certification reflects SPEEDWELL’s broader ESG strategy, which includes delivering near-zero operational emissions by 2025, and aligning all developments with the European taxonomy for green investment. All projects incorporate Stakeholder Consultation Plans and Economic and Demographic Needs Studies, with attention to health, safety, and community well-being. In 2024 alone, SPEEDWELL reported zero work-related injuries across its sites, full community engagement on all finalized projects, and the reuse of 100% of demolition waste in several developments.
“At SPEEDWELL, we define each project with precision, care, and a deep responsibility for long-term value,” said Yannick Van de Parre, Country Manager. “The way we integrate energy performance, wellbeing, and mobility into our buildings ensures that they are resilient, adaptable, and aligned with our commitment to sustainability. We deliver spaces that serve the present while preparing for the future.”
A Model of Sustainable Collaboration
The BREEAM Excellent certification for QUEENS District Office was achieved in collaboration with BuildGreen, a leading ESG and sustainability consultancy in Central and Eastern Europe. Established in 2010 as the first company in Romania to offer advisory services for green building and sustainability certifications, BuildGreen has since certified over 500 real estate developments across 27 EMEA countries, totaling more than 12.5 million square meters and €14 billion in investment value.
Razvan Nica, Managing Director of BuildGreen, highlighted the project’s significance: “QUEENS District Office sets a powerful example of how environmental design and business performance can reinforce each other. The development reflects a holistic ESG approach that is becoming essential across the real estate sector.
BuildGreen’s expertise encompasses a wide range of services, including building certification, ESG strategy, carbon neutrality, and nZEB solutions. Their comprehensive approach ensures that projects like QUEENS District Office not only meet but exceed sustainability standards, integrating environmental responsibility into every facet of development. By partnering with BuildGreen, SPEEDWELL reinforces its commitment to creating sustainable, high-quality urban spaces that align with global best practices in environmental design and performance.
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About SPEEDWELL
This year, SPEEDWELL celebrates ten years on the Romanian market, one of the most dynamic and design-driven real estate developers in the region. SPEEDWELL has built a reputation for delivering sustainable, community-oriented, and technologically advanced projects, with a prominent presence both in Bucharest and in other regional cities such as Cluj, Timișoara, Râmnicu Vâlcea and Brașov. Since June 2024, SPEEDWELL has expanded its operations in Poland, targeting a development portfolio to match its Romanian one. With a diverse portfolio exceeding 160,000 sqm of office and retail space, over 5,500 residential units, and 23,000 sqm of industrial projects, SPEEDWELL manages a pipeline valued at approximately €2 billion.
For the next period, SPEEDWELL is preparing the launch of QUEENS District to be delivered in Q1 2027, the development of the CityZen project, currently in the permitting phase, and is advancing construction work on GLENWOOD ESTATE, a new premium villa residential ensemble in Corbeanca, and THE MEADOWS, an exclusive project located on the shore of Grivița Lake. In Bucharest, the company has completed the first two phases of the TRIAMA Residence, the first three buildings, part of Phase 1 of THE IVY residential complex, and MIRO, the Class A office building. In the western part of the country, in Timisoara, SPEEDWELL is developing PALTIM, a mixed-use urban regeneration project next to the Bega River, and preparing to launch the construction works for a new real estate development located on the former 1 IUNIE S.A. textile factory site. In the industrial & Logistics segment, the company has completed the second phase of SPACEPLUS West and started groundworks on the SPACEPLUS East development. In recent years, SPEEDWELL delivered RECORD PARK in Cluj and currently expanding to Brasov, another important regional city in Romania.
In Poland, SPEEDWELL is delivering MILESTONE MOKOTOW WARSAWA —a 575-bed purpose-built student accommodation project designed for energy efficiency and social inclusivity in Warsaw—and a +500-unit premium residential development centered on green mobility and community integration in Gdańsk.
For further information:
Răzvan Ionescu
Marketing Manager SPEEDWELL ([email protected], 0745208891)
Ioana Oprescu
Senior PR The Public Advisors ([email protected]