About the Building

The Real Digital building located in the Panattoni Park Cheb South comprises a distribution warehouse and an office facility. The total area of the asset is 27 145 m2. The building located off the busy D6 highway near the Czech-German border is situated in an old industrial area that was previously occupied by a steel factory. This area was classified as a brownfield with low ecological value and renewed by the developer to become a modern and green distribution hub for the Czech Republic and Central Europe.

The project aimed to turn an old brownfield into a sustainable, employee-friendly, energy and water-efficient industrial building. Therefore, the Real Digital hall was built following the highest standards, paying special attention to the local environment and well-being of future employees, providing job opportunities in the area and offering storage space rentals.

It was a challenge to achieve a rating of Outstanding. There are many sustainable features incorporated in the building that are rather unique for industrial projects. Notable features include the rainwater toilet flushing system, safe access for pedestrians and cyclists – a feature quite uncommon for an industrial building, outdoor resting space, a gym, and a canteen for employees. Furthermore,  the use of materials, finishes, and fittings with low levels of TVOC and formaldehyde emissions, excellent acoustics with low noise levels, large openable windows in office areas, and thermal comfort features were implemented to create a healthy working space. As for the external areas, vast parts are used for growing various local plant species and for installation of habitat – a beetle loggery.

Environmental Challenges and Green Strategy

Panattoni and Accolade aimed to create a green and sustainable building and achieved this aim thanks to  BREEAM certification and measurable targets. One of the biggest environmental challenges was the implementation of the rainwater toilet flushing system, which was successfully implemented despite complications connected with the installation of the tank in the local area. Another challenge was reuse of demolition materials which was carried out thanks to a detailed pre-demolition audit required by BREEAM. In general, the project team tried to implement features to enable low-emission transport to each building, which is sometimes a challenging task, and this project was no exception. Yet, following the BREEAM requirements, it was decided to extend the city’s cycle path and connect it with the whole industrial complex.

Providing comprehensive guidance with clear and measurable targets, BREEAM certification served a critical role in developing strategic goals for the project and facilitated discussions about different environmental categories in all phases of the project. Without measurable outputs and targets, it would be very difficult to track and implement all project team’s ideas. Clear instructions and guidance the BREEAM certification provide significantly contributed to achieving both the environmental and social objectives of the project.

To overcome the challenges the project team decided to involve specialists, engineers and designers who helped to implement new technologies and procedures as well as to create healthy environment for employees. The demolition waste (concrete and bricks) was sorted and crushed to the required parameters directly on the construction site by using special crushers. The experienced company then tested materials and most of the demolition waste could become a building material again. The installed system for rainwater reuse within the toilet flushing system was designed in cooperation with experienced designers and engineers to overcome problems with tank installation in this area. In collaboration with an expert in physiotherapy for office as well as warehouse workers, equipment for an outdoor gym was installed.

Thanks to Panattoni’s global campaign focused on the importance of BREEAM certification, customers are already beginning to ask about the possibilities of building certification at the time of planning future construction. The BREEAM-certified buildings are sought-after by customers which is why Panattoni expects consistent certification of all buildings in the future.

–Pavel Sovička, Managing director, Panattoni Czech Republic Development s. r. o.