About the Asset

Kings Place is an iconic prime mixed-use building located on the Regents Canal in London, and is in close proximity to the international transport hub King’s Cross St Pancreas.

Developed by Peter Millican and completed in 2008, Kings Place was architecturally designed by Dixon Jones to provide seamless physical interaction between its public and private uses. Kings Place was acquired in 2012 by WestInvest InterSelect, an open-ended European real estate fund which is managed by Deka Immobilien GmbH. Deka Immobilien GmbH have appointed Savills (UK) Ltd as property managers.

Why did this building undergo BREEAM In-Use Certification?

“RPS has been working closely with Savills to ensure high sustainability standards on new and operational buildings. The BREEAM In-Use assessment at Kings Place helped support this program, by incorporating a targeted program of incremental improvements within the property’s operations and activities. Kings Place success in management and operation relies on a proactive and passionate Building Management team and an excellent relationship between the building management, building users and building owner” Thomas Vazakas, BREEAM Assessor, RPS Group Plc.

Deka’s capital management companies make use of sustainability certificates as proof of compliance with sustainability criteria. Certification by an independent accreditation body, such as the Building Research Establishment, allows investors and tenants to consider environmental and social elements when choosing properties, in addition to economic concerns. For many commercial tenants, certification of their rental property is also a condition of signing a lease agreement. In addition, occupying a suitably certified property helps the lessee organisation achieve its own sustainability objectives. At the end of 2015, around 60% of the entire property assets held in Deka funds have achieved sustainability certification.

Savills recognises BREEAM In-Use as a highly effective tool in benchmarking operational sustainability performance of buildings.  Savills is increasingly deploying certifications across portfolios to assist owners in the development of sustainability strategy.

“BREEAM In-Use assessment and certification scheme takes a holistic approach to review a wide range of environmental social impacts and provides means of determining areas of improvement. We were keen to take this route at Kings Place not only as a challenge but to improve our sustainability performance, drive our services towards a outstanding level and develop our practices beyond the industry standards” Sylvain Thouzeau, Assistant Building Manager, Savills (UK) Ltd.

Green Strategy and Environmental Features

Deka Group is committed to a business approach that adds value, addresses the needs of its end customer and society as a whole, and preserves the natural environment. Deka Immobilien GmbH, the Real Estate business division, has converted the Group’s principles on sustainable corporate governance into a sustainability strategy specific to its own business activities. It is committed to reducing greenhouse gas emissions, increased inclusion of ‘green’ clauses in property, facility and rental contracts, the reduction of incidental expenses through sustainable management and renovations aimed at reducing energy consumption, and firmly embedding ESG components in processes related to property and fund management. Savills is committed to supporting Deka in achieving its sustainability objectives