BR Interview | Vastint Romania’s ESG strategy built on a foundation of environmental sustainability

The technology sector continues to drive leasing activity, with IT and software companies expanding to attract top talent and foster innovation. Additionally, growth in the healthcare and pharmaceutical sectors, fuelled by increased investments, has led to a demand for sophisticated office facilities. Antoniu Panait , Managing Director at @Vastint Romania, updates BR on the development of the company's first fossil fuel-free office building in Romania and the benefits an ESG-oriented property portfolio brings to tenants and the wider community.

By Ovidiu Posirca?

How has the office demand for your Bucharest-based projects been over the past year?

Over the last 12 months, we have experienced a dynamic and robust demand for office spaces in our Bucharest-based projects Timpuri Noi Square and Business Garden. The post-pandemic recovery and a renewed focus on flexible and modern workspaces have significantly boosted this demand.

A major factor driving office demand is the strategic locations of Timpuri Noi Square and Business Garden Bucharest. These areas provide excellent connectivity, accessibility, and a vibrant surrounding community, enhancing their overall appeal.

The technology sector continues to drive leasing activity, with IT and software companies expanding to attract top talent and foster innovation. Additionally, growth in the healthcare and pharmaceutical sectors, fuelled by increased investments, has led to a demand for sophisticated office facilities.

What are the core elements of the Community initiative in your office projects?

Sustainability is at the heart of our Community initiative. We integrate green building practices, energy-efficient systems, and ample green spaces, such as gardens and terraces, to create a healthy and eco-friendly environment. Business Garden, for example, is designed with extensive landscaping to provide a relaxing and refreshing atmosphere.

We prioritise the well-being of our tenants by offering amenities such as fitness centres, wellness programmes, and on-site health services.

Our office spaces are designed to be flexible and scalable, accommodating the evolving needs of businesses and ensuring that companies can grow and change without disruption.

Our tenants value the collaborative and well-designed workspaces, which have boosted productivity, and the diverse amenities and green spaces.

What are the technical solutions you’ve selected for completely eliminating the reliance on fossil fuels for the development of the second phase of Timpuri Noi Square?

The second phase of Timpuri Noi Square will be an absolute premiere, being the first office building project under construction to completely eliminate the use of fossil fuels, designed and set to be executed according to the latest nZEB and LEED standards. Renewable sources will be used to heat the buildings, such as 1,700 sqm of photovoltaic panels and 2 heat pump systems, some of which are air-to-water systems to be installed on terraces, while others are ground-source systems that will utilise 200 geothermal wells at a depth of one hundred metres. We’re therefore entirely eliminating the utilisation of gas. We aim to achieve the highest green certification for this project—LEED Platinum—in line with Vastint Romania’s sustainability vision for all projects.

These efforts not only contribute to environmental preservation but also create a more attractive and financially efficient property for further tenants. We are excited about the progress and look forward to welcoming tenants into this vibrant and modern office community in Q4 2026.

What are the building blocks of Vastint Romania’s ESG strategy and what is the role your tenants play in meeting your goals?

Vastint Romania’s ESG strategy is built on a foundation of environmental sustainability with sustainable construction practices. Another important ESG pillar is social responsibility. We are fostering strong relationships with our communities and providing amenities and services that support the health and well-being of our tenants.