This new landmark commercial scheme in the centre of Athens is now fully occupied. Comprising two eight-storey buildings, the first achieved LEED Platinum, through close collaboration between the developer, new owner, and professional team. Platinum exceeds the project’s target of Gold and is the highest possible LEED certification for sustainable buildings internationally. Designed by Divercity Architects and Bennetts Associates for developer DIMAND S.A., the 15.600 m2 office complex sets a new benchmark for workplace in Athens and Greece, with its high-quality, sustainable and people-centric design. To deliver this world-class project, Bennetts Associates took an approach that balances expression of modernity with a celebration of the city’s rich history, climate and stunning light to create a design that is appropriately rooted.
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The prominent corner site is located on one of Athens’ key thoroughfares, Leoforos Syggrou, which links the city centre with the sea. The scheme enjoys stunning views to the Acropolis, Mount Lycabettus, the mountains, the city centre, and the sea.
It also complements other significant architecture in the area, including the Onassis Stegi Cultural Centre and the Hellenic General Insurance HQ, helping to further cement the district as a major commercial and cultural destination for the city. At the heart of the architectural vision is a modern reinterpretation of classical design through elements such as the ‘stoa’ (a colonnade that grounds and connects both buildings to the context) and the ‘peristyle’ (a framed entrance shared by both buildings with a new garden at its heart).
Striking sculpted rooflines deliberately draw the eye of those passing by on Leoforos Syggrou, while elegant facades of locally sourced white marble fins capture the best of the city’s natural light while providing ample shade, driving energy efficiency and targeting lower embodied carbon. Aiming to maximise passive design, the design strategy focuses on working with rather than against the local climate. Measures include limiting the amount of glass to 40% of the façade, full shading to all areas, an innovative low-energy air conditioning system and green roofs measuring 1.100 m2 in total. A full Life Cycle Assessment was undertaken to evaluate and lower the scheme’s embodied carbon and overall environmental footprint. In addition to the green roofs, biophilia plays a strong role elsewhere to further enhance biodiversity and support occupier health and wellbeing. The complex incorporates two planted terraces and a c.650 sqm lush green garden that references traditional Greek courtyards and creates an oasis of calm and comfort for employees.
DIMAND S.A., comments: “As DIMAND, we take immense pride in the successful completion of the Syggrou project in the heart of Athens. Achieving this milestone, we are not only thrilled by the LEED certifications which establish new sustainability benchmarks, but also by the way this project seamlessly marries modern design with the vibrant essence of Athens. Our development in collaboration with Bennetts Associates and Divercity Architects reflects our commitment to enhancing our city’s architectural and environmental landscape, and we look forward to contributing further to Athens’ growth as a major commercial and cultural destination.” Julian Lipscombe, Director at Bennetts Associates, said: “It has been both a privilege and a career highlight to design this landmark scheme in one of the world’s most iconic cities.
What a joy to work with the breathtaking vistas and the exhilarating Athenian light. We aimed to blend a contemporary expression with classical influences to create a bold, high-end, and sustainable scheme as our contribution to the city’s extraordinary architectural legacy. It’s been incredible to hear positive reactions locally, with many saying the scheme is “quintessentially Athenian” – the highest accolade possible!
It is a proud moment to see both buildings finished and awarded the highest environmental accreditations. This is testament to the expertise and pioneering approach of the team. The Syggrou project is the first of what we hope will be many more in Greece”.
The wider project team comprised contractor Ballian Techniki, structural engineer Pagonis Polychronopoulos-Kinatos, landscape designer H. Pangalou & Associates and sustainability consultant D-Carbon. Gain insights into the design and construction process, and learn about the unique features that make this project a remarkable addition to the Athenian landscape here:
Syggrou Office Complex – Bennetts Associates from Bennetts Associates on Vimeo.
About Bennetts Associates
Bennetts Associates creates sustainable and enduring architecture. The practice has completed a diverse portfolio of cultural, workplace and education projects in both the public and private sector, ranging from masterplans to small historic buildings. As one of the UK’s leading practices, its work has been celebrated with more than 200 awards over 34 years and has recently won three RIBA National awards. Bennetts Associates is an employee-owned trust with studios in London, Edinburgh, and Manchester. Bennetts Associates is responsible for many prominent projects, including the Royal College of Pathologists and the London Borough of Camden headquarters in London, Storyhouse in Chester, the Bayes Centre for the University of Edinburgh, and Jaguar Land Rover in Warwickshire. The practice has recently completed Meta’s UK HQ in King’s Cross and the University of Edinburgh’s Futures Institute is on site. It is also working on high profile projects in Greece and India that are targeting sustainability. Bennetts Associates is a leading pioneer of sustainability – in April 2019 they became the world’s first architects to secure Science Based Target approval and commit to the UN’s Climate Neutral Now campaign. The practice is a founding member of the UK Green Building Council and the first architecture practice in the world to report company impacts using the GRI Guidelines. Bennetts Associates is one of 11 certified B-Corp architecture and design practices in the UK.
About DIMAND S.A.
DIMAND S.A. is one of the leading real estate development companies in Greece, listed on the Athens Stock Exchange (ATHEX). Since its inception in 2005, it has incorporated the philosophy of sustainability into the core of its business, creating a new market in Real Estate which has now become a global model. Its business activity focuses on the implementation of large-scale urban renovations, modern bioclimatic office buildings, complex mixed-use projects, as well as private sports facilities. The company has developed 44% of the ‘green’ buildings in Greece, which are certified with LEED BD + C (Leadership in Energy & Environmental Design). Dimand is included in the leadership team of “The Most Sustainable Companies in Greece”, the highest distinction for sustainable development by the Quality Net Foundation and was awarded the LEED® Proven Provider ™ distinction by the Green Building Certification Institute of which it is also a silver member. Moreover, It is a member of GRESB, but also Credentialed Project Developer and Credentialed Quality Assurance Provider of the Investor Confidence Project (ICP) Europe.
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Facts & Credits
Project title Syggrou Office Complex
Project type Office Building
Architecture Divercity Architects & Bennetts Associates
Developer DIMAND S.A.
Location Athens, Greece
Photography Yorgis Yerolymbos
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