Bogota, November 2024. Pei, a leading Colombian company specializing in sustainable real estate investments, announces that CityU, an asset within its real estate portfolio, has received the LEED Gold certification for Operation and Maintenance, making it the first university residence in the country to achieve this sustainable quality seal.
CityU is not only the first university residence in the country to receive this certification, but also the first Pei-designed project to achieve certification for Operation and Maintenance. This achievement adds to the existing 12 LEED certifications for Design and Construction, as well as an EDGE certification for the real estate portfolio. In Colombia, only about 4% of LEED certifications are in the Operation and Maintenance category, further highlighting the importance of this recognition for CityU.
The LEED Gold certification for Operations and Maintenance ensures that CityU meets rigorous standards in several key areas:
- Efficient use of water and energy: The systems within the asset are optimized to minimize the consumption of these resources, resulting in a significant reduction in its carbon footprint.
- Waste generation: Implementation of effective practices for waste management and reduction.
- Comfort and environmental quality: Ventilation and climate in rooms, hallways, and commercial areas are designed to provide a healthy and comfortable environment for users.
To obtain this certification, sustainable strategies must be incorporated from the design and construction of the building, optimizing resource efficiency during its use, and ensuring that sustainable practices are maintained over the long term during the operation of the asset.
Pei is proud to be part of this pioneering project that integrates advanced energy efficiency, sustainability, and well-being practices for its population of over 1.200 students and faculty. This achievement reaffirms the company’s commitment to creating a more sustainable and resilient urban environment, setting a new standard for student housing in the country.
Furthermore, CityU achieved the carbon neutrality certification awarded by ICONTEC for its commercial component, specifically the ground-floor retail spaces. This recognition highlights the efforts to quantify, reduce, and manage its carbon footprint while complying with national and international environmental regulations.
Pei continues to work on implementing policies and action plans to extend this certification to the residential area of the property.
About Pei (PEI CB Equity)
Pei is an investment real estate alternative structured and managed by Pei Asset Management since 17 years, a pioneer in the Colombian capital markets with more than 6,200 investors. It has consolidated a portfolio of income-generating assets with high specifications, covering more than 1.13 million square meters of leasable area, with a diversified base of more than 1,400 tenants and presence in more than 30 cities and municipalities throughout the country. The portfolio is valued at over 9.7 trillion pesos and includes four asset categories: corporate, commercial, logistics, and specialized use.
To certify a LEED® property in Operations and Maintenance, sustainable design and construction strategies must be incorporated from the early stages of the building’s development, with the goal of improving its operational performance and reducing its environmental impact. This certification system focuses on optimizing resource efficiency during the asset’s use phase, ensuring that sustainable practices are maintained over time.