Tag: well-being

Investors & Tenants Alike Demand Sustainable Buildings

21 February 2019 – Expansión

Sustainability has become an essential requirement in the search for offices. Beyond the social demand for spaces that are more respectful of the environment, sustainable buildings actually allow their owners to obtain higher rents, increase the valuation of their assets and make them more liquid.

“With the emergence of technology, changes in working habits and organisational efficiency, sustainability and well-being have become essential aspects for tenants and important factors for investment decisions”, explains Tomás Higuero, CEO of Aire Limpio, a group specialising in offering products and services for internal environmental quality, which works for hospitals and offices, above all.

Higuero says that the internal air quality of buildings is a fundamental factor that contributes to the health and well-being of workers. In this sense, the main REITS (a corporate structure similar to the Socimis in Spain) in US offices prioritise that their assets are certified or are in the process of being certified, and that they are healthy and efficient buildings from an energy perspective. This trend is also present in Spain and is being adopted by many of the large Socimis and real estate groups, such as Colonial, Merlin and GMP (…).

Original story: Expansión (by R.A.)

Translation: Carmel Drake

Capgemini Moves its Spanish HQ to the Oxxeo Building in Madrid

9 July 2018 – Efe Empresas

The building where Capgemini is going to move more than 800 of its employees has been constructed by the real estate group GMP and designed by the architect Rafael de la Hoz, according to explanations provided by the company in a statement.

The company, which provides consultancy, technology and digital transformation services, is going to be the first tenant to occupy the building which spans a surface area of 9,365 m2.

Through these new offices, the firm is seeking to encourage collaboration between its employees in an “open, multi-disciplinary and occupational well-being work environment”. This idea will be developed both through the furniture, as well as through the common area services, digital resources and the design itself.

At the same time, the new headquarters will have a co-innovation centre in such a way that clients and partners will be able to connect with universities, emerging companies and business schools to evaluate new business models and assist with digitalisation processes.

The CEO of Capgemini in Spain, Francisco Bermúdez, explained that the change of headquarters seeks to “respond to the company’s innovation strategy at the global level”, which is why “we are backing new organisational structures that prioritise models of collaboration and experimentation.

The CEO confirmed that the Oxxeo building “will provide us with the facilities and resources that we need, and will embody the company’s identity in terms of vanguard and innovation”. Most importantly, it will offer “a renovated and well-equipped workspace with more resources for the well-being of our professionals”.

Sustainable headquarters

The building chosen by the corporation stands out due to its sustainability, given that it is the first office building in Las Tablas to be awarded the Leed Platinum pre-certificate, the highest possible distinction granted by the US Green Building Council (USGBC).

It is also one of the most pioneering buildings in Europe, the first of its kind in Madrid and the second in Spain, to be included in the WELL Building Standard certification process, the leading global certification for buildings that focuses solely on human health and well-being.

Original story: Efe Empresas

Translation: Carmel Drake