Developed by OP Retail Center SRL, part of Crown Holding Ltd., Oradea Plaza is a mixed-use office and retail scheme located in the city centre. The project involved the refurbishment of an existing building alongside the development of a new office component directly connected to it. Although the two buildings started from different points, the measures implemented pursued the same performance objectives across both the newly built and refurbished spaces.
Lower energy use and more efficient operating costs
One of the key outcomes of the project is its energy performance. According to the energy modelling carried out for the LEED certification, annual energy consumption is estimated to be 23.31% lower than that of a baseline building, while associated energy costs are expected to be 19.15% lower. This translates into estimated savings of approximately 576,000 kWh per year, equivalent to the annual energy consumption of around 230 apartments.
A range of technical measures contributed to these results, including improved building insulation, upgraded HVAC systems, heat-recovery ventilation and LED lighting. Together, these measures help reduce energy demand while providing better control over indoor comfort conditions.
”An existing building does not start with the same advantages as a new one, but that does not mean it cannot achieve high performance standards. At Oradea Plaza, the challenge was to identify the right solutions for each component while maintaining a consistent approach across the entire scheme. I believe this is one of the key points demonstrated by the certification: upgrading existing buildings can form part of the same sustainability strategy as new developments”, says Oana Stamatin, ESG Chief Officer | Sustainability Services, Colliers Romania.
A building’s performance is also measured by the resources it does not consume
Beyond energy, the project also focused on reducing water consumption and using resources more efficiently. Through the installation of high-efficiency sanitary fittings and consumption monitoring, calculated indoor potable water demand is 45.51% lower than the LEED baseline. For irrigation of landscaped areas, potable water demand is reduced by 50%.
Considerable attention was also given to construction materials and waste management. The aim was to recover construction and demolition waste through separate collection and recycling, while material selection took into account factors including origin, recycled content and environmental impact.
Spaces designed around the people who use them
A building’s efficiency is reflected not only in its consumption levels, but also in the quality of its indoor environment. At Oradea Plaza, the ventilation systems use high-performance filters to reduce airborne particles, while finishing materials were selected partly on the basis of their low emissions of pollutants. Thermal comfort, fresh air supply and access to natural light were also considered as part of the assessment process.
”For us, the investment in the refurbishment and extension of Oradea Plaza was guided by how these buildings will perform over the long term. From the perspective of companies choosing office space, it is not only the quality of the space that matters, but also how efficiently it can be operated and the level of comfort it offers employees. The LEED Gold certification confirms the direction of our investment and gives us a common benchmark for managing the entire scheme”, say representatives of OP RETAIL CENTER SRL.
The project’s central location on Dimitrie Cantemir Boulevard, near Piața Cetății and approximately 800 metres from Piața Unirii, provides access to the public transport network, with more than ten bus and tram stops nearby. The scheme also includes bicycle facilities, as well as measures designed to reduce roof overheating during the warmer months.
Through its LEED Gold certification, Oradea Plaza provides companies considering space within the scheme with an independent assessment of building performance, from resource efficiency to indoor comfort conditions. At the same time, the project highlights the potential of upgrading existing building stock alongside the development of new, more efficient space.
Colliers Sustainability Services provides consultancy for international building sustainability, health and accessibility certifications, including LEED, BREEAM, WELL, EDGE and Access4you, through its dedicated team of specialists. In 2025, the company was involved in more than one third of all certifications awarded on the local market, in a year when certified projects totalled approximately 4.6 million square metres.
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