The Neocleous Tower aims to host world-class businesses that prioritize environmental sustainability
Neocleous Tower is a modern, environmentally sustainable, high-quality office building with state-of-the-art construction features, set to open its doors to house leading businesses and companies. Innately designed for sustainability, Neocleous Tower is poised to redefine the current standards of office buildings.
This introduction has evoked admiration and pride within the tightknit Cyprus community. This ambitious undertaking, led by a company outside of the construction industry, seeks to achieve numerous of the 17 United Nations Sustainable Development Goals by 2030, while also ushering in global building manufacturing trends to Cyprus. In an exclusive interview with Forbes, a spokesperson of the owning company shed light on this visionary project.
Give us a few words about this project, how the idea of investing in the construction of such a
‘green’ building was born and who the actors are involved in its realisation. This is indeed a pioneering project for the Cyprus market.
Neocleous Tower is a pioneering and iconic project for the Cypriot market. This is largely due to its sustainable design, use of cutting-edge construction technologies, and the steps taken to conserve energy and reduce emissions, making it a model for future projects in the region. Our idea to develop a ‘green’ sustainable building originates from a deep awareness of the growing concerns about global climate change and the depletion of our natural resources. Furthermore, the global trend of developing sustainable buildings with green standards has amplified the demand for similar constructions in Cyprus too. The project’s contributors are companies that have always been pioneers in their field. The architect of the project is G. Stamatiou Architects LLC while A.S.D Hyperstatic Engineering Design in cooperation with the British multinational company ARUP serve as the engineers. LEED certification consultants are Ambiens ESG, with Side to Side lending their expertise as interior designers. P. J. Karayiannis Civil Engineers LLC oversee project management, ZEMCO CONSTUCTIONS LTD is responsible for construction, and ATKINS are the concept architects.
Could you give an overview of the characteristics of the sustainable building, its location, and its size?
The building boasts several key features. These include high energy efficiency achieved through the use of top quality insulation materials, heating and cooling systems, and reliance on renewable energy sources. Furthermore, improved air quality is made possible thanks to advanced ventilation systems that enhance indoor air quality. This is enhanced by the building’s bioclimatic design and its orientation based on sun and wind conditions. Lastly, sustainable materials with low carbon footprints have also been integrated into the building’s construction. The tower’s strategic location is pivotal to its sustainability and aligns with the objectives of the Sustainable Urban Mobility Plan (SUMP) due to its close proximity to transportation, infrastructure and services, reducing the need for frequent car use and thereby diminishing emissions. Finally, in terms of size, the sustainability of the building was a guiding principle. It has been designed to ensure that all spaces are purposeful and beneficial to the users.
Time is counting down for the completion of the project, which is a candidate for LEED international sustainability certification.
Perusing the Neocleous Tower website we noted that the building is a candidate for LEED certification. What is the significance of this certification for the building’s occupants?
LEED certification is an internationally recognised standard for assessing and certifying the sustainability of buildings. The significance of LEED certification for building users is multifaceted. Firstly, LEED certification underscores the importance of improved indoor air quality, reduction of chemical emissions and creating healthy and comfortable spaces for building occupants. These factors directly and positively impact the health and well-being of the individuals working in the building. In addition, the certification ensures that the building is energy efficient and uses less water, thus reducing energy and water costs. It is also worth highlighting that although the LEED Environmental Rating System isn’t directly linked to the European Union, it can contribute significantly to advancing the sustainability goals established by the EU. In several developed countries such as the USA, United Kingdom, Japan, and others, certification systems like LEED have become necessary prerequisites for building occupancy and I can say with certainty that a similar framework will soon be adopted in the EU as well.
Which companies do you think will find Neocleous Tower an ideal choice and what criteria do you believe they will use in their selection process?
Neocleous Tower aims to attract globally renowned companies that prioritize environmental sustainability and understand their social responsibility, with a core focus on creating a people-centric “best workplace”. In my view, the criteria for companies choosing the Neocleous Tower will be the building’s high energy efficiency, its prime location and its internationally recognised LEED certification. Moreover, the building’s array of amenities, such as a luxurious and secure reception area, ultra modern meeting rooms, a panoramic cafeteria on the 5th floor spanning approximately 800 sqm, eco-friendly public spaces, covered parking facilities, and a luxury fully-equipped modern gym on the 18th floor, will all play a key role in companies choosing Neocleous Tower.
When is the completion of the building expected and how do you think this project will affect our city?
The project is estimated to be completed at the start of 2025. I can confidently say that Neocleous Tower, being a sustainable building in line for LEED certification, will serves as a positive benchmark for the Cyprus market. It will not only raise awareness regarding the construction of sustainable ‘green’ buildings, but also provide many companies with top-tier office spaces, making them more appealing to prospective employees and partners.