Porto's circular economy inspires Catalonia's Mayors

02/01/2025

The São Dinis building dates back to the 19th century and has served multiple purposes over the years, having previously functioned as a slaughterhouse and, later, as a kennel and municipal service facility. After an extensive renovation process, it became home to two municipal companies, GO Porto and Porto Ambiente. The renovation earned the building LEED (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design) Silver certification, attesting to its sustainability and innovative design.

The certification is awarded by the non-profit organisation U.S. Green Building Council and corresponds to the LEED v4 category for Design and Construction.

GO Porto’s management believes that this distinction ‘reflects our city’s commitment to environmentally responsible practices and strengthens our position as a benchmark in sustainable construction’.

The headquarters of the two companies was the first public building, the first rehabilitation project, and the first building with natural ventilation to receive LEED certification. This achievement was made possible by solutions such as a sophisticated natural ventilation system, which includes carefully calculated window area dimensions and a notification system for occupants when window openings are advisable (with air quality control sensors). The building also achieves 40% energy savings compared to a reference building through energy-efficient HVAC and lighting systems equipped with light sensors, natural ventilation, and photovoltaic panels. Additionally, it saves 40% of water in sanitary facilities, thanks to a water heating system using solar panels and flow- and time-controlled taps and sanitary equipment.

The facilities also feature a flat green roof and two sloped roofs covered with vegetation. In addition to providing a pleasant environment for both the building’s users and the neighbouring structures, they also contribute to temperature control and acoustic comfort. Following this certification, the building now holds the ‘Silver’ level, awarded by the U.S. Green Building Council.

It is worth noting that the sustainable architecture of the São Dinis Building had already been recognised by the ‘Prémios Verdes’ (Green Awards), organised by the magazine Visão and the Águas de Portugal group.

LEED is the world’s leading system for managing the design and performance of green buildings, providing a comprehensive framework for the design, construction, operations, and performance of environmentally sustainable buildings.