Dijon centre wins highest-ever BREEAM International score

Toison d’Or shopping centre earns BREEAM In-Use Excellent and Outstanding awards for building asset and management

Report from – Jo Smit

Unibail-Rodamco’s Toison d’Or shopping centre in Dijon, France, has earned the highest ever score for building management under BREEAM In-Use International. It gained an Excellent rating for the building asset (part 1 of the scheme) and Outstanding for building management (part 2), where it gained the top score.The assessment followed a major project to refurbish and extend Toison d’Or to provide 72,000m² of shops, restaurants and services. The project incorporated green leases for tenants, strong co-operation with the city on travel plans, a tramway connection to the main entrance, optimised energy reduction, and maximisation of natural lighting.

Toison d’Or is one of several Unibail-Rodamco shopping centres being assessed under BREEAM In-Use International as part of the company’s sustainability policy. This targets BREEAM In-Use certification for at least 80% of the company’s managed retail portfolio by 2016, with a minimum Very Good rating for building management.

“BREEAM In-Use matches the group’s culture and management to improve the performance of our standing assets on a daily basis,” said Unibail-Rodamco group head of environmental sustainability Christophe Garot. “The BREEAM approach allows us to integrate and stimulate our tenants and maintenance suppliers to be sure that each technical device – for lighting, ventilation, heating and cooling etc – will be properly maintained and operated 365 days per year. Also, it helps us to demonstrate to investors that sustainability is embedded in the group’s processes and in all business units.”

The assessment at Toison d’Or was carried out by Bopro, a licensed assessor company based in Belgium. Bopro director Stefaan Martel said, “Unibail-Rodamco sets an inspiring example in the commercial real estate sector and has a positive impact, not only on the awareness of its clients and suppliers, but also on the millions of shoppers who visit the centres regularly.”