Arter Quarter joins the Utilitas district cooling service
The development and construction of Arter Quarter in the centre of Tallinn is based on sustainability and environmental preservation. The buildings are designed and built according to the Excellent rating of the international BREEAM standard. A combination of energy piles and Utilitas district heating and cooling solutions ensure eco-friendly heating and cooling.
“The development and construction of Arter Quarter is all about sustainability and environmental preservation. Joining Utilitas district cooling was a logical step because district cooling is the most eco-friendly way of cooling buildings in the city and creating a comfortable and healthy indoor climate. District cooling also helps reduce the building’s carbon footprint,” says Allan Remmelkoor, Kapitel’s Project Director.
Utilitas launched its district cooling service in Tallinn in 2019 and is currently developing a district cooling network in the centre of Tallinn and the Ülemiste area. “All new developments and renovations should consider joining the district cooling service because it is eco-friendly and a much more convenient way of controlling indoor climate than onsite solutions. Also, district cooling does not require separate cooling devices, which can cause excessive noise and vibration, and take up space both inside and outside the building. Arter Quarter sets a very good example for developers looking for a modern approach,” says Tanel Kirs, Head of Utilitas District Cooling Department.
“For the main part, Utilitas district heating, produced from renewable sources, covers the heating of Arter Quarter. In addition, we have installed 275 28-metre energy piles, which provide approximately 30% of the quarter’s heating and 70% of the cooling needs. According to the Estonian Building Register, Arter Quarter is at the forefront in energy efficiency among major office projects in Tallinn thanks to these and other solutions,” Remmelkoor adds.
The nearly zero-energy buildings of Arter Quarter are designed and built to meet the Excellent rating of the international BREEAM standard, which guarantees that both environmental effects and optimal healthy indoor climate have been considered in all decisions. For certification purposes, additional requirements are applied, among other things, to the organisation of work on the construction site. General contractor Merko draws up reports on the quantities of water and energy consumed (including electricity, gas and fuel), waste (amounts, handler, place and method of management) and the transportation of materials (types of material brought to the site, application, contractor, quantities, method of transport and distance of transport). This information is necessary for calculating carbon dioxide emissions.
The BREEAM certification process pays special attention to using sustainable wood. Arter is one of the few, if not the only, construction project in Estonia, where all the wood and wood products (lumber, plywood, parquet, built-in furniture, etc.) are either FSC or PEFC certified, which ensures that the wood was harvested and handled legally.
About Arter Quarter
Located on the corner of Liivalaia Street and Juhkentali Street, Arter Quarter consists of a 28-, 15- and 9-storey building and a connecting central building with a carpark. The developer is Kapitel, the architect is Martin Aunin and the interior design is by Arhitekt11. The general contractor is Merko Ehitus Eesti.
The quarter, with a total rental area of 38,000 sq m, will have 29,000 sq m of high-quality office space, 6,000 sq m of various catering and service premises, including a sports club with a swimming pool and saunas, and 3,000 sq m of rental apartments in the lowest tower, operated by Bob W.
The quarter will have a total of 470 parking spaces, a car wash, the largest indoor bicycle parking area in Estonia for more than 100 bicycles, a bicycle wash and repair area, and changing and shower rooms. The entire project will be completed in the third quarter of 2024, including the new Veski Street and the renovated section of Imanta Street, which will ensure safe and peaceful traffic around the quarter.