Kennispark Twente is the first science park to receive BREEAM certification

BREEAM-NL Area is a method for assessing the sustainability performance of an entire area and encouraging improvements. BREEAM is best known as an assessment and certification system for buildings, but Kennispark is the first science park to obtain BREEAM certification for the entire area. By focusing on both Area and Buildings in an integrated manner, buildings can obtain a BREEAM-NL certificate at building level more easily and with less investment if the area itself is already certified with “BREEAM-NL Area”. Conversely, sustainable, certified buildings contribute to obtaining a higher area certificate.

BREEAM-NL Area

By obtaining the 2-star BREEAM-NL Area certification, Kennispark has demonstrated that the (re)development process has been organised in a socially responsible manner and that as many sustainability measures as possible have been implemented in collaboration with stakeholders. Kennispark is a safe, attractive, socially cohesive, healthy and future-proof physical living environment for the established companies and their employees. Stegehuis Infra supported the area organisation and the municipality of Enschede in obtaining the area certification.

Sustainable area development

The quality mark assesses the sustainability performance of various current themes, such as heat stress, climate adaptation and health. Topics covered include improving local air quality, preventing heat stress and making smart use of each other’s energy, waste and other flows. This makes BREEAM-NL Area the benchmark for sustainable area development in the Netherlands.

The certificate assesses areas in various categories, including:

• Management
• Synergy
• Resources (energy, water, waste)
• Spatial development
• Well-being & prosperity
• Area climate

High score on well-being & prosperity

At Kennispark, we score high on well-being & prosperity, partly because we have redesigned the public space to focus on meeting, health and interaction, with seating areas, sports facilities and active plinths. The greening of streets and the construction of wadis and pocket parks also contribute to greater biodiversity and shaded places to relax, thereby enhancing the wellbeing of employees at Kennispark.

Bertyl Lankhaar, director of Kennispark: “It is a process that we have embarked on together as an area organisation, the municipality of Enschede, the University of Twente, entrepreneurs and property owners. The municipality of Enschede is commissioning new projects at Kennispark, such as the greening of the Institutenweg, in a sustainable manner. More and more property owners are making their buildings more sustainable, and the HMO is moving an entire building from Amsterdam to Kennispark Twente, while the courthouse is becoming Techbank. These initiatives are indicative of what Kennispark as a whole should become: a modern and inspiring place to live, work or study, an area where work and leisure are in balance and where buildings are constructed (or rebuilt) sustainably. An area that is healthy for people and businesses and an example for others.”

Twente Regional Deal

The project is financed by the Twente Regional Deal. Several great projects have already been realised in recent years as a result of this deal between the national government and the region: accommodation for student teams at Kennispark, redevelopment of the Institutenweg, construction of the “smart connection” between the Business & Science Park and the UT campus, installation of sports and games facilities, the addition of the possibility to hold meetings in green surroundings and the marking of the area.

The allocation of Regio Deal funds provided a huge boost to area development at Kennispark Twente. A new application has now been submitted within the Regio Deal, aimed at further sustainability towards an energy-neutral Kennispark.