Bankinter becomes the first Spanish bank to achieve a LEED platinum eco-efficient certification

Bankinter’s policies and commitment regarding sustainability have been recognised upon its receiving the highest platinum category in the reputable LEED certification for its building located at Avenida de Bruselas, 14 in Alcobendas, Madrid. It is the first eco-efficient building in the Spanish banking system to receive the platinum LEED certification. The building stands at the forefront of collaborative work environments, sustainability and new technology.

This ‘eco-headquarters’ of Bankinter achieved the highest ranking within the ‘Commercial Interiors’ category of the LEED certification, which assesses both a building’s sustainability and interior spaces. Aside from Bankinter, only one non-US entity has also been categorised as platinum, but only for its interior spaces. Furthermore, the offices of only two other Spanish companies are platinum-certified.

The building has a total surface area of 6,400 square metres. It can fit over 400 professionals, for whom Bankinter has designed a new workspace that consists mainly in collaborative areas with open access. With this building, Bankinter aims to foster teamwork, a multidisciplinary work approach and increased interconnectedness between its various departments.

One of its distinguishing features is that it does not have isolated departments, but rather collaborative spaces, where work areas are distributed in what Bankinter calls ‘neighbourhoods’, within a structure that groups together various departments with similar functions. The building design aims to provide employees with a more comfortable and flexible workplace.

The renovation project and interior design for this Bankinter head office were carried out by the architecture division of Savills Aguirre Newman, which maximised the building’s potential through a contemporary layout that combined functionality, sustainability and innovation. The project aimed to transform the two Bankinter buildings into a single head office by renovating the structure at Avenida de Bruselas, 14 and connecting it via walkways to the already existing head office in the adjacent building at Avenida de Bruselas, 12, thus creating an emblematic building. Its interior patio was designed to provide plenty of natural light and visual transparency. Furthermore, its furniture was designed and built to provide employees with an open, wide and well-lit workspace.

Almost a fourth of all equipment and furniture are made from recycled materials.

Thanks to implemented measures, the building saves more than 47% of drinkable water whilst reducing more than 50% of electricity for lighting. Furthermore, almost all the workspaces overlook the exterior and have natural light. To reduce the building’s environmental impact, 24% of all its equipment and furniture were manufactured with recycled materials. Moreover, 77% of the site waste has been recycled at specific treatment plants.

Bankinter’s sustainability policy is based on three dimensions, which are economic, social and environmental in nature and are implemented through its so-called ‘Three in a Row Plan’. This plan’s environmental dimension led to the bank’s decision to construct an eco-efficient and sustainable building that highlights its renowned technological innovation as well as its distinctive quality.