Wonderwoods: BREEAM-NL In-Use Outstanding for the tallest green building in the Netherlands

Located in the city center of Utrecht, Wonderwoods comprises two iconic towers where living, working, leisure and hospitality come together. The project is recognised as the tallest green building in the Netherlands and brings nature into the city on an unprecedented scale. Around 300 trees and 75,000 plants and shrubs are integrated in and on the building, inspired by the vegetation of the Utrechtse Heuvelrug National Park.

Wonderwoods demonstrates how urban densification and nature-inclusive design can go hand in hand. The building includes, among other facilities, a bicycle parking facility, car park and mobility hub, and creates a car-free area in the heart of Utrecht. The visible greenery is just one element of a broader sustainability approach that extends from design through to daily use and management.

A healthy office environment with green as a guiding principle 

The eleven office floors in the tower, designed by MVSA Architects, are based on health and wellbeing as core principles. The office spaces benefit from abundant natural daylight and are directly connected to greenery via terraces, winter gardens with openable façade elements, and atria.

The office space was acquired by a.s.r. real estate on behalf of the ASR Dutch Mobility Office Fund. In operation and management, the focus is on maintaining and further improving the building’s sustainable performance. Energy efficiency, health and wellbeing, biodiversity and circular maintenance are central themes.

From Excellent to Outstanding

The office component of the building previously achieved a BREEAM-NL New Construction and Renovation 2014 v2.0 ‘Excellent’ certificate. To also demonstrate performance in use and management, the building was subsequently assessed using the BREEAM-NL In-Use methodology.

The result is exceptional: Wonderwoods achieved the highest possible rating, ‘Outstanding’. This confirms that the sustainability ambitions have not only been realised in design and construction, but are also being delivered in the building’s daily use and management.

CFP Green Buildings as expert partner for BREEAM

Within this process, CFP Green Buildings fulfilled the role of Expert nd guided a.s.r. real estate throughout the entire BREEAM-NL In-Use certification process. CFP was responsible for the technical assessment, substantiating performance and sharpening sustainability criteria across the various BREEAM categories.

According to Pien ter Beek, BREEAM Expert at CFP Green Buildings, Wonderwoods is an exceptional project within the BREEAM In-Use framework: “This building achieves a unique score. Wonderwoods performs exceptionally well, particularly in the areas of ecology and water retention. It is a building where nature-inclusive design and sustainable management truly come together.”

Exceptional scores for ecology and water within BREEAM In-Use

The high BREEAM In-Use score achieved by Wonderwoods can be directly attributed to the way ecology and water management are structurally embedded in both the design and daily operation of the building.

Ecology

Within the Ecology category, Wonderwoods achieves an exceptionally high score because biodiversity forms an integral part of both the building and its surrounding site. Façades and balconies function as a vertical ecosystem, featuring a wide variety of planting tailored to the local ecological context. In total, Wonderwoods provides space for approximately 300 trees, 75,000 plants and shrubs, and habitats for around 30 animal species.

The long-term management and maintenance of this greenery ensures that its ecological value is preserved during the operational phase and can be demonstrably substantiated within the BREEAM In-Use assessment.

Water

Wonderwoods also scores very highly in the Water category. Beneath the building, an eco and water buffer system has been implemented to collect rainwater and, during heavy rainfall, to discharge up to 150,000 litres of water in a controlled and phased manner. This system supports water retention, reduces peak loads on the urban drainage system and enhances the climate resilience of the area.

Wonderwoods as a benchmark for future-proof real estate

With its BREEAM Outstanding certification, Wonderwoods demonstrates how nature-inclusive construction, sustainable water management and high-quality building management can reinforce one another in an urban context. As such, the project serves as a benchmark for future developments in which sustainability is not only visible, but also measurable and structurally embedded.

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