Spain: Amro Salamanca has been awarded a BREEAM Outstanding certification, in addition to EPC ‘A’, Fitwel 3* and WiredScore Platinum, making it the first building in the historic Spanish city to achieve this sustainability standard.
The 170-bed student housing project, located five minutes from Plaza Mayor within walking distance of both Universidad de Salamanca and Universidad Pontificia de Salamanca, received an overall score of 89.7 per cent, despite the multiple challenges posed by the location.
Planning constraints required the historical stone façade, which dates back to the early 1900s, to be maintained, whilst visible renewable systems such as PV panels were forbidden. Located on the site of a convent dating back to the Napoleonic era, archaeological works were required to ensure the safe excavation of historic artefacts.
Amro Partners continued the use of natural material on the façade, using local stone quarried from nearby Villamayor, and focused on creating a highly efficient new building envelope behind with smart controls for heating and lighting, large windows for maximum daylight with solar controls to reduce need for cooling, and sensors to monitor air quality and comfort. A Building Energy Management system automatically and continuously controls the performance of the building. Natural materials, including fully certified sustainable timber, have been prioritised in the internal finishes and furniture.
Amro Salamanca, which opened in autumn 2024, provides a mixture of single and double en-suite rooms, studios and ‘twodios’ alongside dedicated study spaces, a canteen, terraces, library, cinema and gaming area, and gym. The property, which is on track to be fully stabilised by September 2025, is managed by Amro Estudiantes – Amro’s operating brand in Iberia – where it has a portfolio and pipeline of almost 5,000 student beds.
Ami Kotecha, co-founder and group president of Amro Partners, said: “This project presented multiple challenges from an ESG perspective due to the sensitivity of its historical location, so we are delighted to have proved it’s still possible to achieve the highest sustainability standards within strict planning constraints. I congratulate the entire Iberia team for setting a new benchmark in Salamanca, as we continue building Europe’s ESG-leading portfolio of living assets.”
