Colonial and Its Sustainability Goals
Sustainability has become one of the key pillars in shaping the future of both buildings and the cities they inhabit. In this context, real estate companies and architectural firms play a decisive role, as many are implementing a wide range of ecological measures to meet various sustainability targets. Colonial is one of these companies—one that places environmental protection at the core of its strategy. In this article, we will explore several of the goals through which this green commitment takes shape and how they translate into real-world actions.
Regenerating the Environment
Urban planning throughout the last century and the early years of this one did not give enough consideration to the protection of green spaces, native flora, and local wildlife. This is something we are actively working to reverse. Our measures range from integrating native vegetation into our developments to creating butterfly reserves, as seen at our Sant Cugat Nord building, and incorporating habitats for pollinating species and native birds. All these initiatives ensure that human presence contributes to, rather than diminishes, local biodiversity.
Bioclimatic Design
There are situations where heating, air conditioning, or artificial lighting are necessary. However, in many buildings, these systems must operate at much higher levels than needed simply because their construction did not follow a bioclimatic design approach. This method optimizes building orientation to enhance natural ventilation and maximize daylight exposure. Examples such as Visionary Building, The Window Building, and Torre Marenostrum demonstrate how bioclimatic design can significantly improve energy efficiency.
Sustainable Materials
The sustainability of a material depends on multiple factors: its toxicity level, the carbon footprint associated with its production, and how far it must travel before reaching a construction site. Certified sustainable wood meets all these criteria, making our Wittywood office building—a pioneering structure in Spain as the first to be entirely built from this eco-friendly material—a landmark in sustainable architecture. A development designed with deep respect for the world it inhabits.
Supporting the Community
One of the reasons why large cities generate such high levels of pollution is the need for long commutes. People often have to travel several kilometers each day to meet their needs, which results in energy consumption and carbon emissions in most cases. That’s why Colonial is committed to hyperconnectivity and community support.
The first is reflected in all our assets, as each is strategically located in Madrid and Barcelona’s most well-connected areas. The second is exemplified by Madnum, a mixed-use campus that brings together residential, office, and retail spaces, allowing people to access everything they need in one place.
Other Environmental Goals
Colonial pursues many other sustainability goals on a daily basis, including energy self-production, as seen in our Miguel Ángel 23 asset, and energy efficiency improvements, exemplified by buildings such as Velázquez 86d and Don Ramón de la Cruz 84, both of which hold LEED Platinum certification.
Additionally, initiatives such as promoting circular economy principles and implementing smart water management systems are present across our entire portfolio. Because if sustainability is the future of architecture, we intend to be at the forefront.
