Last updated: October 2024
The Palas Campus project is a real estate investment by the private company IULIUS, involving the construction of a mixed-use development with integrated green elements, including a green terrace (1–3, 5). The project spans approximately 86,000 sq.m., of which 4,500 sq.m. are dedicated to green spaces (1–3, 5). In these green spaces, 200 trees and 7,000 bushes of various species were planted (1, 2). The landscape design was created by a team of international experts, with some plant species imported from Italy (1, 5). The primary goal of the project is urban regeneration in a specific district of the city, building on similar projects previously implemented by IULIUS (1, 2, 5). The Palas Campus landscape includes relaxation spaces and pedestrian walkways (1). The buildings were designed to meet the standards for two green certifications: EDGE and LEED, both of which were awarded in 2024 (4, 6–10). The EDGE certification signifies a 20–40% reduction in energy and water use compared to standard buildings (4, 8). The LEED certification, awarded based on various sustainability criteria, saw Palas Campus achieve one of the highest scores (4, 9, 10). One key aspect of the certification was the reduction of the "heat island" effect (10). The total cost of the project reached 120 million euros, with 3.8 million euros allocated to the green spaces (1, 2, 5). The project was partially financed by a 72 million euro "green" loan from the IFC, a member of the World Bank Group, which also provided expertise to help secure the EDGE certification (6–8). The LEED certification was obtained with the support of the consulting firm BuildGreen (11).
Green Spaces in the infrastructure
https://www.palascampus.ro/post/iulius-a-inaugurat-palas-campus-ia%C5%9Fi-investi%C5%A3ie-de-peste-120-milioane-de-euro
Overview
Nature-based solution
- Nature on buildings (external)
- Green roofs
- Parks and urban forests
- Pocket parks/neighbourhood green spaces
Key challenges
- Climate action for adaptation, resilience and mitigation (SDG 13)
- Climate change adaptation
- Green space, habitats and biodiversity (SDG 15)
- Green space creation and/or management
- Regeneration, land-use and urban development
- Promote natural styles of landscape design for urban development
- Inclusive and effective governance (SDG 16)
- Inclusive governance
- Social justice, cohesion and equity (SDG 10)
- Social interaction
- Economic development and employment (SDG 8)
- Real estate development
Principal problems in Functional Urban Area (FUA)
- Climate-Related Hazards
- Heat stress & Extreme temperatures
- Health, Well-being and Social cohesion
- Inadequate access to recreational opportunities
Key priorities
Climate action (adaptation and/or mitigation)
Focus
Creation of new green areas, Creation of green roofs and walls, Creation of any other green urban spaces, Improved governance of green or blue areas, Establishment of inclusive governance mechanisms involving local communities
Project objectives
To achieve urban regeneration of a specific district in the city (1, 2, 5).
To develop real estate projects that incorporate green landscape designs (1–5).
To provide areas for socialization and interaction (1, 2).
To construct energy-efficient buildings (4, 6–11).
To create green spaces that surround the building and a green terrace located on the rooftop (1)
To reduce the urban heat island effect and mitigate climate change by constructing energy-efficient buildings
To include citizens in the decision-making process and governance mechanisms (8, 10).
Implementation activities
The Palas Campus project involved several key steps in its development. First, an international architectural competition was organized in collaboration with the Municipality of Iași and the business association Order of Architects of Iași to select the best design (15). The project was then launched for public consultation, engaging citizens, local authorities, representatives of cultural institutions, universities, and specialists to gather diverse input (15, 16).
A major aspect of the project was the creation of green spaces, including the planting of 200 trees and 7,000 bushes from various species such as lilac, dogwood, magnolia, roses, and hydrangeas. These plants were chosen for their adaptability to the local climate, covering 4,500 sq.m. of green space (1–3, 5). Additionally, a rooftop garden/terrace was created, although it is exclusively accessible to the building's workers (1–3, 5).
The design also incorporated space on the ground floor for restaurants, cafés, and other facilities, adding to the functionality of the development (2). Furthermore, Palas Campus is powered by renewable energy sources and incorporates water-saving measures as part of its sustainability efforts (9, 10).
Climate-focused activities
Climate change adaptation:
- Increase urban vegetation cover to reduce urban heat island effect
Main beneficiaries
- Private sector/Corporate/Company
- Citizens or community groups
Governance
Management set-up
- Led by non-government actors
Type of initiating organisation
- Private sector/corporate actor/company
Participatory approaches/ community involvement
- Co-planning (e.g. stakeholder workshops, focus groups, participatory mapping)
- Taskforce groups
- Consultation (e.g. workshop, surveys, community meetings, town halls)
Details on the roles of the organisations involved in the project
The real state company IULIUS initiated the project, contracting Yasgan Design for the architectural design through an international architectural contest organised with the municipality of Iasi and the business association Order of Architects of Iasi (15). A group of international experts was tasked with the green landscape design (1 to 3 & 5 & 15). The project plan was launched for public consultation and citizens, local authorities, representatives of cultural institutions and universities and specialists participated in it (15 & 16). The company was provided with a green loan and advisory resources for the obtention of the EDGE certificate from the IFC, partner of the World Bank (6 to 8). It also contracted the services of a consultory company to obtain the LEED certificate (9 to 11). Finally, it obtained from the municipality the land where the project was implemented that the company did not own, with the municipality also regulating through urban planning the construction (17).
Project implemented in response to ...
... an EU policy or strategy?
Unknown
... a national policy or strategy?
Unknown
... a local policy or strategy?
Yes
(H.C.L. nr. 100 din 28 februarie 2020 (17). // Strategia Integrata de Dezvoltare Urbana(SIDU) 2015-2030 Iasi (18). )
Type of enablers
Governance innovations (such as public private partnerships), Support from transitional governance actors, Funds, subsidies or investment for GI/NBS in the city (available for the city or provided by the city)
Financing
Total cost
More than €4,000,000
Source(s) of funding
- Corporate investment
- Multilateral funds/international funding
Type of funding
- Direct funding (grants, subsidies, or self-financed projects by private entities)
- Loan
Non-financial contribution
No
Impacts and Monitoring
Environmental impacts
- Climate change
- Lowered local temperature
- Achieved lowered local temperature
- Green space and habitat
- Increased green space area
- Achieved increased green space area
- Increased number of species present
- Achieved increased number of species present
Economic impacts
- Stimulate development in deprived areas
- Expected stimulate development in deprived areas
- Attraction of business and investment
- Achieved attraction of business and investment
Socio-cultural impacts
- Social justice and cohesion
- Improved liveability
- Expected improved liveability
- Increased opportunities for social interaction
- Expected increased opportunities for social interaction
- Health and wellbeing
- Enhanced cognitive restoration, relaxation and stress relief
- Achieved enhanced cognitive restoration, relaxation and stress relief
Type of reported impacts
Presence of formal monitoring system
Yes
Presence of indicators used in reporting
Yes
Presence of monitoring/ evaluation reports
Yes
Availability of a web-based monitoring tool
No evidence in public records
Potential risks of implementation and trade-offs
Unknown
References
1.
Elena Mihat (2021). Palas Campus se plantează peste 200 de arbori, 7.000 de arbuști și grădină suspendată. APIX , Accessed on August 20, 2024, [Source link];
2.
IULIUS (2023). IULIUS a inaugurat Palas Campus Iaşi, investiţie de peste 120 milioane de euro. Accessed on August 20, 2024, [Source link];
3.
Yazgan Design Architecture (n.d.). Palas campus _ yazgandesign. Accessed on August 20, 2024, [Source link];
4.
Petre Barac (2024). Double green certification for Palas Campus Iași _ Sustainability-Today.ro. Sustainability Today , Accessed on August 20, 2024, [Source link];
5.
Revista Biz (2020). Palas Campus, investiție de 120 de milioane de euro în Iași. Accessed on August 20, 2024, [Source link];
6.
IFC (2020). Summary of Investment Information (SII) - IFC. Accessed on August 20, 2024, [Source link];
7.
IFC (2020). Environmental & Social Review Summary - IFC. Accessed on August 20, 2024, [Source link];
8.
ACTMedia (2021). IFC finances with 72 million euros construction of eco-friendly office compound at Palas Campus Iasi. Accessed on August 20, 2024, [Source link];
9.
U.S. Green Building Council (2024). Palas Campus _ U.S. Green Building Council - LEED Certification. Accessed on August 20, 2024, [Source link];
10.
U.S. Green Building Council (2024). Scorecard Palas Campus _ U.S. Green Building Council - LEED Certification. Accessed on August 20, 2024, [Source link];
11.
BuildGreen (n.d.). Palas Campus, Iași - BuildGreen - We make it happen. Sustainable. Accessed on August 20, 2024, [Source link];
12.
Primaria Iasi (n.d.). Strategia Integrata de Dezvoltare Urbana 2015-2030. p. 83 Accessed on August 21, 2024, [Source link];
13.
Primaria Iasi (2020). HCL_81_2020_privind aprobarea schimbului suprafetelor de teren in echivalenta valorica dintre. Accessed on August 21, 2024, [Source link];
14.
Google Reviews (n.d.). Google Review Palas Campus . Accessed on August 21, 2024, [Source link];
15.
Palas Iasi (2019). Palas Iasi - CLĂDIREA ÎNALTĂ PROPUSĂ DE IULIUS PENTRU ZONA SF.... . Facebook , Accessed on October 3, 2024, [Source link];
16.
Primaria Municipiului Iasi (2019). Proces Verbal dezbatere publica_palas 10- 12- 2019. Accessed on October 3, 2024, [Source link];
17.
Primaria Municipiului Iasi (2020). HCL_100_2020 privind aprobarea Planului Urbanistic Zonal IASI . Accessed on October 3, 2024, [Source link];
18.
IULIUS Company (2023). Sustenabilitate_IULIUS 2022_en web. Accessed on October 3, 2024, [Source link];
19.
World air quality index project (2024). Poluarea aerului din Strada Anastasie Panu, Iași, Romania. Accessed on October 7, 2024, [Source link];
Palas
https://apix.ro/foto-palas-campus-se-planteaza-peste-200-de-arbori-7-000-de-arbusti-si-gradina-suspendata/
Green roof in one of the buildings
https://www.palascampus.ro/post/iulius-a-inaugurat-palas-campus-ia%C5%9Fi-investi%C5%A3ie-de-peste-120-milioane-de-euro
Green Spaces in the infrastructure
https://www.palascampus.ro/post/iulius-a-inaugurat-palas-campus-ia%C5%9Fi-investi%C5%A3ie-de-peste-120-milioane-de-euro
Palas
https://apix.ro/foto-palas-campus-se-planteaza-peste-200-de-arbori-7-000-de-arbusti-si-gradina-suspendata/
Information about this nature-based solution was collected as part of the Naturescapes project funded by the European Union under Grant Agreement No 101084341.