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“The prizes for the 2010 Prime Property Award were today presented to outstanding European real estate investment projects at the EXPO REAL commercial property show in Munich. Organised by Union Investment, the award recognises real estate projects in Europe that combine commercial success with ecological and sociocultural sustainability in exemplary fashion. A total of 142 real estate projects from 19 European countries were submitted for the 2010 Prime Property Award, which carries prize money of 30,000 euros. Fourteen projects from Germany, Denmark, Austria, Switzerland, the Netherlands and Spain were shortlisted by the competition jury.
The prize for the best sustainable real estate investment project in Europe – the Palmas Altas Technological Center in Seville – went to Bovis Lend Lease.
Built to house the headquarters of environmental technology group Abengoa, developed by Bovis Lend Lease and completed in September 2009, this is one of the biggest private-initiative technology and business parks in southern Spain. Palmas Altas combines a high-quality working environment for 2,500 employees with outstanding ecologically sustainable architecture. In the jury’s opinion, the technology park, which comprises seven buildings offering some 55,000 square metres of office space (architect: Richard Rogers & Vidal Architecture Team), is a prime example of sustainable architecture and technology: “Deploying renewable energy sources and innovative technologies in Seville has led to an unusual yet exemplary building concept in terms of energy efficiency that sets benchmarks and has already inspired others,” said jury member Garrie Renucci, partner at Gardiner & Theobald, during the awards ceremony at the Sustainable Investment Conference.
Second prize in the 2010 Prime Property Award competition was won by Swiss company Neue Brünnen AG, which planned and created Westside Leisure and Shopping Centre in Berne (architect: Studio Daniel Libeskind). “The holistic quality of the 3 Munich (EXPO REAL), 5 October 2010
141,500-square metre centre can be seen in its unique combination of sustainable architecture, nature and urbanity, together with an exceptional mix of uses, including 55 shops, a leisure pool, multiplex cinema, hotel andaccommodation for senior citizens, and an ambitious energy concept,” said jury member and town planner Prof. Joan Busquets. Business data reveals that this concept is also paying off for investors, with the centre 100% let since opening in October 2008. Westside attracted more than 3.5 million visitors in its first year alone.
Third prize in the 2010 Prime Property Award competition went to Hochtief Projektentwicklung GmbH for the new Unilever House in Hamburg (architect: Behnisch Architekten Stuttgart). Completed in September 2009 and offering around 22,800 square metres of space, this landmark building is fully let on a 15-year lease to Unilever and was acquired by RREEF Investment GmbH at the beginning of 2010. With its transparent exterior façade, this new build is an attractive and eye-catching feature of Hamburg’s HafenCity. “Given its visual and ecological quality, and in particular its communicative architecture, Unilever House provides a template for future office buildings," said jury member Dr. Frank Billand, a member of the management board of Union Investment Real Estate GmbH, explaining the jury’s decision.
In addition to the three main prizes, two special awards were presented at the Sustainable Investment Conference. The first went to Wohnungsbaugesellschaft der Stadt Augsburg GmbH for the new city library in Augsburg (architect: Schrammel Architekten). “This bold new building represents a substantial and sustainable enhancement to Augsburg city centre and has triggered further investment in the surrounding area,” said Dr. Irene Wiese-von Ofen, former President of the International Federation of Housing and Planning (IFHP). The second special prize was awarded to SMA Solar Technology AG, a leading producer of solar inverters, for its production hall in Niesetal, near Kassel (architect: HHS Planer + Architekten). “Thanks to its CO2-neutral energy and design concept, SMA AG’s building sets a new standard for manufacturing facilities,” said jury member and DGNB Executive Committee member Prof. Werner Sobek.
The 30 best-ranked entries submitted for the 2010 Prime Property Award 2010 will be featured in book form” ( CS della Società).
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