BuildGreen and SUMMA announced that five buildings in Chișinău, with a total area of approximately 90,000 sqm, have obtained LEED v4.1 Existing Buildings certifications at the Platinum level.
The certifications were awarded to Shopping Malldova (25,000 sqm GLA), Malldova Office (15,000 sq m GLA), Medpark International Hospital (25,000 sqm GFA), as well as the hotels Courtyard by Marriott (over 7,400 sqm GFA) and Radisson Blu Leogrand Hotel Chișinău (18,500 sqm GFA), all developed by SUMMA.
“The certifications achieved by the buildings in SUMMA’s portfolio in the Republic of Moldova represent a dual validation, both of the consistent, long-term implementation of the company’s ESG policies and of the positive evolution and alignment of Chișinău’s real estate segment with European standards”, said Răzvan Nica, CEO and founder of BuildGreen. “The entire assessment process took five months and showed that, beyond the certifications themselves, continuous investments in improving building efficiency deliver significant returns, both from a business perspective and in terms of the projects’ long-term relevance.”
Opened in 2008, Shopping Malldova, developed by Summa in partnership with Fiba Commercial Properties through its Eastern Europe platform Anchor Group, together with Malldova Office and Courtyard by Marriott, both operational since 2019, form Malldova Centre, a mixed-use office-retail-hospitality project. Medpark International Hospital is the first and largest private multidisciplinary hospital in the Republic of Moldova, while the two certified hotels are part of the portfolios of Marriott International and Radisson Hotel Group, respectively.
Throughout the certification process, a common strength across all five buildings was the measurable reduction in consumption compared to similar buildings. Shopping Malldova reduced its water use by installing efficient sanitary fixtures, while Malldova Office, Medpark International Hospital, Courtyard by Marriott and Radisson Blu Leogrand Hotel reduced energy consumption by optimising their technical systems.
Medpark International Hospital also stood out under the “Water Performance” category, both through reduced water consumption achieved with efficient equipment and through continuous monitoring.
Another category in which all five buildings achieved above-average results is “Indoor Environmental Quality,” due to superior indoor air quality. The measurements carried out under this indicator, and the calculation of the fresh air rate, confirmed compliance with applicable international standards and ensured a high level of comfort and health for occupants.
“Waste Management” is another criterion in which all five buildings delivered above-average results, following the implementation of efficient measures and systems for managing and monitoring selective waste collection.
The performance of the office and retail components within Malldova Centre is also reflected in their attractiveness to companies and brands from a wide range of industries. The office component has been selected by Endava, while the retail area brings together international brands such as United Colours of Benetton, Calvin Klein, Calzedonia, Cărturești, Levi’s, Lacoste, Jysk, Guess, Orange, Next, Salamander, Puma, Pandora, Yves Rocher, Tommy Hilfiger and Swarovski.
The certification process took five months and involved a rigorous on-site and documentation-based assessment, from indoor air quality measurements and an ASHRAE audit (a standardised evaluation of the building and its systems, such as HVAC, lighting and automation/BMS), to consolidating energy, water and waste data over 12 consecutive months.
In addition, feedback was collected from occupants regarding mobility and the building experience, and the technical documentation was reviewed for key criteria such as the use of low-impact refrigerants, sustainable purchasing, non-toxic substances and ensuring an adequate fresh air flow rate. The process confirms the operational performance of the five buildings and their commitment to continuous improvement.
