HB Reavis has obtained a WELL Building Standard certificate for its flagship development in Warsaw city centre, Varso Place. The Bratislava-based developer claims it is the first in Central Europe to boast a WELL pre-certificate.
The WELL certification is an innovative way to look at buildings through the eyes of their inhabitants, and to promote solutions that have a direct impact on health and well-being. Varso has been awarded the Core & Shell pre-certificate at the highest Gold level, which will be complemented by a final WELL certificate after the handover in 2020, HB Reavis said in a press release.
'We are proud to be the first real estate developer in Central Europe to boast a WELL pre-certificate,' said Stanislav Frnka, Country CEO at HB Reavis Poland. 'This is one of those elements that will make Varso a truly unique place, together with its location, scale and architectural quality.'
There are only 35 WELL-certified locations in the world, mostly buildings and offices in the US and Canada. In Europe, there are only two such buildings in France and one in Spain. A further 30 have a WELL pre-certificate, Varso being the only European project among them.
Tallest building in Poland
Varso Place is scheduled to be completed in 2020 and the underground part is currently under construction. Designed by London-based architectural practice Foster + Partners, it will feature a 230-metre tower (310 metres including a spire) and will be the tallest building in Poland, and one of the tallest in Europe. It will comprise first class office space as well as an observation deck, which will be open to the public.
The project will also include two lower buildings designed by the Warsaw-based HRA Architects, combining office space with a ground floor covered walkway, lined with shops and restaurants. In addition to WELL, Varso is also in line for BREEAM certification at the highest Outstanding level.
The process for Varso’s WELL certification was managed by Adamas International. The developer is also planning to apply for WELL certification for its future developments in Poland. The company has already applied for a WELL certificate for three buildings in Slovakia and the Czech Republic.
WELL worldwide
WELL standards are designed to address issues well known to impact professionals spending most of their working day indoors, who as a result may suffer from headaches, poor concentration and fatigue. The WELL certification system takes into account not only workplace air, water and lighting quality, but also issues related to nutrition as well as physical and mental well-being.
As a result, the WELL certificate is often called the 'nutritional' value label for buildings, as there are as many as 100 metrics in any given building that are regularly monitored and evaluated by independent experts.
