Astoria Premium Offices Goes Platinum

The Epstein-designed Astoria Premium Offices, located between Warsaw's Old Town and the city's business district, was recently certified LEED-NC Platinum, the highest level of certification, by the US Green Building Council. This 75M EUR ($80.2M) nearly 18,000 square meter (193,000 square feet) office and retail building features a sustainable, flexible and efficient office concept. The Astoria utilizes an LED lighting system as well as building systems that help reduce water and electricity use throughout the building. In addition, the Astoria has an innovative system of Concrete Core Tempering (CCT) which contributes to electrical energy savings of around 30 per cent, lowering the operating costs for tenants. (CCT utilizes the thermal storage potential of concrete to absorb/release energy, hence stabilizing the room temperature. Pipes set within the slab will control the temperature of the concrete)

Astoria also allows its tenants optimal access to sunlight and comfort through the use of tilt windows, automatic internal and external blinds, modern DALI lighting control system and a glass facade with excellent thermal performance. All these amenities, together with the highest quality of materials used, ensure that the building reaches the highest standards of energy efficiency.

Another aspect that the USGBC noted for Astoria's excellence in sustainability was its spatial planning; especially the top floors of the building which feature spacious green terraces. Moreover, Astoria encourages ecological solutions by offering a number of amenities for cyclists, such as bike racks and washrooms. And the best pro-ecological practices, such as the recovery and recycling of 75 per cent of construction waste, were in place during the construction process.

The German developers of the Astoria, Strabag Real Estate GmbH, have called the Astoria a unique building in central Warsaw with special flair and the Epstein design as eye-catching. Constructed of glass, metal and stone, and located within sight of Warsaw's historic Palace of Culture, the Astoria, according to Strabag, fits harmoniously and seamlessly into the environment.

Astoria provides 16,800 square meters of office space and 900 square meters of retail space as well as two representative entrance halls. The flexible and efficient office space make it possible for tenants to utilize Astoria's space in different ways, i.e. as a single-room arrangement as well as combined office rooms and as open space office. Additionally, the Astoria has an underground parking garage capable of housing nearly 100 cars.

The Astoria marks the Epstein has now played a significant design, engineering and/or LEED consulting role in helping 52 buildings achieve LEED certification.