The Wave office building, built by Skanska in Gdansk Oliwa, has received the prestigious LEED Core&Shell Platinum certificate. This international multi-criteria building rating system confirms that Wave is sustainable, environmentally-friendly and has been designed and built to the highest standards. LEED certification concerns, among others energy savings, reduction of water consumption and carbon dioxide emissions. Wave use also electricity produced from renewable sources, primarily hydroelectric power plants.
Wave, commissioned in July 2020, has already become a part of the landscape of the rapidly developing business hub of Gdansk, which Oliwa has been for several years now. The first Skanska project in the Tri-City can boast of the highest quality office space, a high level of comfort, as well as environmentally-friendly solutions. The latter aspect has just been confirmed by Wave obtaining the LEED Core&Shell certificate at the highest level – Platinum.
Environmentally-friendly building
Thanks to the use of innovative solutions and technologies, Wave can use significantly fewer resources. With responsible management and conscious use of the facility by tenants, water savings, thanks to special fittings, can exceed 40%. The building can also use more than 30% less electricity. Wave is also 100% powered by energy produced from renewable sources. – This is extremely important in the context of the goals we have set for ourselves – reducing carbon dioxide emissions by 50% by 2030 and achieving carbon neutrality fifteen years later. At Skanska, first when planning and then constructing new buildings, we take specific steps to reduce our environmental impact as much as possible – says Adam Targowski, Environmental Director at Skanska office unit in Poland.
The issues related to sustainable construction were taken care of already at the stage of construction of the office building. Almost a quarter of the materials used to build the Wave contained recycled elements. Almost half of the products used were sourced from local companies and suppliers. – We also used products with a low content of volatile organic compounds. The wood used for the construction of the Wave was FSC-certified, setting standards for responsible forest management. And when it comes to waste recovery, it was at over 98% – adds Adam Targowski.
There is also an anti-smog pavement made of green concrete in the section from Grunwaldzka avenue. The sun's rays help reduce harmful compounds from polluted city air on its surface. This is the first such pavement in the Tri-City.
Sustainable transport and safe solutions
The Gdansk investment by Skanska also focuses on alternative means of transport and increases the mobility of Wave employees and residents of the Tri-City. Next to the office building is the first shared mobility center in the region – City Hub. Here anyone can rent electric scooters or cars. The building itself has an extensive infrastructure for lovers of two-wheelers – almost 240 parking spaces for bicycles, along with showers. There are also electric car charging stations in the underground car park. The proximity of Szybka Kolej Miejska (Fast Urban Railway), bus and tram stops makes City Hub an excellent transfer junction, which can be used by all residents of the Tri-City agglomeration.
Wave is one of eight Skanska office buildings in Central and Eastern Europe with the WELL Health-Safety Rating. It is a building rating system validated and verified by external experts, designed to enable owners and managers to take the necessary steps to prioritize the health of tenants, guests and staff. This is especially important in the context of the return of employees to the offices. The WELL Health-Safety Rating confirms that the undertaken activities help follow appropriate social distancing rules and ensure full safety of building users.
The office building is also applying for the WELL Core&Shell certificate. This demanding building rating system guarantees the highest quality of office space and ensures that it is user-friendly. Recently, Wave has also received the Building without Barriers certificate, awarded to buildings adapted to the needs of people with disabilities, seniors and families with children. Wave tenants can also use the Connected by Skanska platform, which facilitates everyday use of the office space and building management.
Wave – key facts and figures:
- Total leasable space of the first stage of the Wave building: approx. 24,800 sqm GLA, the entire complex: approx. 48,000 sqm
- Number of above-ground/underground floors: 14/2
- Certificates: LEED Core&Shell, WELL Core&Shell (applying for), WELL Health-Safety Rating, Building Without Barriers
- Additional benefits for tenants: Connected by Skanska, City Hub
- General contractor of the building: Skanska S.A.
- Author of the architectural design: medusa group Silesian studio