We were appointed to deliver a preliminary BREEAM assessment in order to set up a strategy for achieving the best BREEAM rating for the development of the Forum Duisburg, a shopping centre located in the centre of Duisburg in west Germany with retail, gastronomic and service facilities spread over 57,000 square metres.
BREEAM is the world’s leading sustainability assessment method for masterplanning projects, infrastructure and buildings. The project was completed with a formal BREEAM certification and achieved a final BREEAM rating of ”Very Good.”
Throughout the project, we advised the client and design team on how to incorporate sustainability into the building design. The design of the building includes several green and sustainable features, such as land reuse, provisioning of a green roof, the use of robust materials, implementation of a natural ventilation strategy, use of energy-efficient escalators and lighting fittings, and on-site energy generation through a combined heat and power (CHP) system.
The Forum Duisburg was evaluated against the BREEAM Bespoke Criteria, which contains a list of credits that have been tailored specifically for this building and its functions. These assessments acted as a pilot project and formed the basis for the development of the current BREEAM Europe guidance. We adapted the BREEAM guidance to local regulations, standards and best practices, and provided training for the design team on BREEAM and building sustainability aspects.
This was the first BREEAM Bespoke Europe assessment to be certified in Germany. The project also received New Developments Award & Resource Recognition by the International Council of Shopping Centres (ICSC). This resource distinction is only given when the ICSC Shopping Centre Awards jury agrees that a project proved its commitment to long-term sustainable development.