QUEENS District Office scoring high on business performance and human experience

SPEEDWELL is developing QUEENS District Office with a clear focus on mixed-use, net-zero operations, and people-centric design as part of a wider urban development scheme in northern Bucharest.

The two-wing office building, totalling 23,000 sqm, will be integrated in a district that will feature 2,500 sqm of retail and 237 apartments, creating a genuine 15-minute city ecosystem at just a short walk from Aurel Vlaicu metro and Promenada Mall.

“This positions tenants exactly where their employees want to be: close to work, services, and everyday activities, in a project that also supports their ESG and cost-efficiency agendas,” says Maria Jianu, leasing director at SPEEDWELL Development.

QUEENS District Office has been awarded BREEAM Excellent for its design phase and is conceived as one of the first zero-on-site-carbon office buildings in Romania. Powered by renewable electricity, it targets a primary energy consumption of just 51 kWh/sqm/year, 40% better than nZEB requirements, with carbon emissions of only 7.5 kg CO₂/sqm/year.

This performance is enabled by high-efficiency air-to-air heat pumps, mechanical ventilation with heat recovery, a 36.5 kW PV array, full LED lighting, and an advanced BMS expected to reduce energy use by up to 36% compared to a conventional building.

The offices will also feature 100% fresh-air ventilation with CO₂ and humidity monitoring, openable windows on 10% of the façade, excellent public transport connectivity and walkability, EV chargers, bike storage, lockers, and showers.

Jianu says that QUEENS District Office is developed by companies that understand the office is a strategic investment in talent and culture.

“Our purpose is to make sure they have a setup that supports their endeavour by carefully designing every element, from the 3-metre-high windows bringing abundant natural light to acoustic optimisation and precise thermal control all year round. Moreover, at ground level, retail and everyday services activate the streetscape and make life easier for users: they can grab lunch, run quick errands, or meet clients without wasting time in traffic,” says the leasing director.

For SPEEDWELL, the ambition of developing a true 15-minute city translates into shorter commutes and more time for health, family, and community.

Creating value for tenants and the community

The feedback received so far from both corporate tenants and the commercial real estate community has been exceptionally positive, according to Jianu. She mentions three core elements that stand out for QUEENS District Office. Firstly, the combination of BREEAM Excellent, very low energy intensity, and projected up to 40% lower utility costs has been a strong differentiator, particularly for regional HQs under pressure to decarbonize. Secondly, tenants appreciate the ability to configure floors for varying collaboration/focus ratios and to scale over time. Thirdly, HR and business leaders see clear value in being part of a mixed-use district that supports retention, wellbeing, and brand perception. “In many ways, the feedback validated the core vision behind QUEENS District Office — that a workplace should serve both business performance and human experience, equally and intelligently,” concludes Jianu.