Infopark Building E earns LEED® Silver certification awarded by the U.S. Green Building Council

Budapest, 3rd February 2011 – Infopark Building E is the first completed building in Hungary to win a LEED certification.

LEED (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design) is an independent certification system recognized worldwide that focused on environmental consciousness and sustainability with the purpose of certifying high-standard ‘green’ buildings at an international level. During certification such criteria are evaluated as environmentally sustainable location, effective water and energy management, the use of materials, and the quality of interior environment (e.g. air quality).

“It makes us proud that our development became the first completed building in Hungary to win a LEED certification” – said Kay-Uwe Blandow, Managing Director of IVG Hungary Kft, developer of Infopark (buildings B, C, D, E, I and G). “Sustainability and environmental consciousness were at the core of this project from it’s inception; from the initial dreams and sketches, all through the development of the office park.The most conspicuous evidence of which is the 50 percent green surface ratio in the office park. When designing Infopark Building E we paid extra attention to implementing environmental conscious solutions, which makes the project stand out within today’s wide choice of office buildings. The building received energy rating ‘A’, which means a specific energy consumption 30% below the permissible limit required by the Hungarian regulations in effect; thus building E adds about 130 tons less carbon dioxide to the environment at an annual level.”

IVG has handed over office building E as the last development phase of Infopark. The building offers 17,000 m2 of office space of the superior quality IVG is known for, with a wonderful view to the Danube and windows overlooking the central park. Prestigious working conditions have already drawn a number of well-known tenants, such as Lufthansa Systems and Kraft Foods, while the European Institute for Innovation and Technology (EIT), the first EU organization to operate in Hungary, is also seated in building E. Besides, IVG Hungary Kft., too, has chosen building E to accommodate its headquarters.

The American U.S. Green Building Council (USGBC) has been dealing with environmental consciousness certification of buildings since 1998. Infopark Building E, as well as the concept of Infopark Budapest, are pioneers projects here. No existing building in Hungary has been awarded the LEED certification, before. LEED certifications are awarded in several categories, among others to homes, schools, commercial properties and commercial interiors. Building E has obtained LEED v3 certification with the more stringent conditions introduced in 2009.

IVG Immobilien AG is one of the major real estate companies in Europe. The company manages assets worth € 22.1 billion and is located with approx. 600 employees in 18 selected major German and European cities. Via its network of local branches, IVG manages inter alia on-balance properties with a market value of € 4.3 billion. In northern Germany IVG constructs and operates underground storage caverns for oil and gas. In the fund segment IVG is the leading provider of tailored property funds for institutional investors. In combination with the closed-end funds for private investors, IVG manages funds and mandates amounting to a total volume of € 15.5 billion.

IVG’s Asset Management division is located with 16 branches in 9 countries. The division is currently managing some 750 properties altogether at an international level, with a total floor space of around 6 million m² and a market value of approximately € 16 billion.