BBJ: Your early career background was in architecture and graphic design. How and why did you make the switch to sustainability?

Barnabás Herényi: I aimed to understand as many aspects of architectural expertise as possible, so alongside my studies, I sought short but meaningful experiences in architectural design, construction, and graphic design. During my university years, I studied in Finland, where I took sustainability courses in urban planning and the green transition, subjects that were not then widely available in Hungary. Experiencing such an approach had a profound impact, ultimately leading me to this field.

Sustainability felt like the future of architecture and construction. Later, exposure to the Óbuda Group through a university lecture by a future colleague and personal connections led me to join the company, where I could embed sustainability across various projects.

BBJ: Óbuda Group has been a pioneer in the sustainability field. How and why did this come about?

BH: We recognized early on that sustainability would become essential for competitiveness, and Óbuda Group was among the first in Hungary to deliver international green building certifications. More than a decade ago, we established a dedicated in-house sustainability division, and today, we are considered one of the leading consultants in this field. We were also able to convey this mindset to our clients, encouraging them to understand that truly high-quality, future-proof buildings must be designed to the most advanced sustainability standards.

Today, sustainability has become a guiding approach in all of our activities. While initially we focused on providing external consultancy, our mission now is to ensure that every Óbuda project, whether we act as project managers, designers, or, in particular, carry out a project on an EPCM (Engineering Procurement Construction Management) basis, is sustainable. With our in-house expertise, we can drive this transition and offer clients a comprehensive, fully sustainable package. Our ambition goes beyond compliance: we aim to set new benchmarks for both the Hungarian and regional markets.

BBJ: Today, many market players talk up their green credentials. What makes Óbuda stand out from the crowd?

BH: We have been actively shaping the green building landscape in Hungary for more than a decade, with a proven track record of over 80 projects certified under BREEAM, LEED, and WELL across a wide range of sectors, from cultural institutions like the House of Music Hungary and the Museum of Ethnography and Visitor Center, to office complexes such as Agora Budapest, the Magyar Telekom Headquarters, HillSide Offices, buildings in Graphisoft Park and also Budapest Harbor Logistics Park.

Being consistent trendsetters in the field, we achieved several firsts in Hungary: the first certified refurbishment project (House of the Hungarian Millennium – Olof Palme House), the first urban-scale certifications for Agora and Liget Budapest, and the first to achieve BREEAM ratings at “Very Good,” “Excellent,” and even “Outstanding” levels in Hungary. For the flagship MOL Campus project, we delivered dual certifications (LEED “Platinum” and BREEAM “Excellent”), setting a new benchmark in the region.

What truly differentiates us, though, is our integrated and multidisciplinary approach. Sustainability is not treated as a separate discipline but embedded into every phase of our work, from concept design to delivery, with early involvement. Close internal dialogue between our project management and design divisions ensures that architectural, engineering, and ESG goals are fully aligned, supported by a strong in-house knowledge base. This holistic approach enables us to identify and unlock sustainability opportunities throughout the entire process.

Our commitment also goes beyond individual projects: we actively contribute to shaping industry standards as members of the Hungary Green Building Council and as part of the newly established Sustainability Section of the National Federation of Hungarian Building Contractors (Évosz).

BBJ: How do you seek to embed sustainability throughout all your processes?

BH: Early involvement is always the key; sustainability goals should be defined from the initial stage, followed by concept design and planning. Each project stakeholder contributes deep expertise in their own field, while one of the most essential roles of the sustainability consultant is to ensure that the right questions are asked, the information and knowledge are aligned, and synergies are created, resulting in combined outcomes that exceed individual inputs.

Our processes and working methods are grounded in international standards and professional consensus on sustainable construction, providing a solid and credible framework. Continuous training and knowledge-sharing keep expertise current, while measurable KPIs related to a development project, such as energy and water consumption reduction, recycled waste volumes, and embodied carbon reduction, are systematically applied. Progress is tracked through ongoing monitoring and reporting, ensuring sustainability objectives are consistently achieved.

BBJ: It is good that firms take individual actions, but the real estate industry is a major producer (40%) of CO2 emissions. What is Óbuda doing to promote an industry-wide approach?

BH: Landmark projects we have worked on, such as the Liget Budapest portfolio, set ambitious sustainability goals that had never been attempted in Hungary, serving as a model and influencing the entire industry. When the market sees the results of pioneering projects, clients and developers gain the confidence to adopt greener solutions themselves. We continually raise the bar, demonstrating that even the previous “best practice” can be improved with a commitment from the client’s side.

Our goal is to move sustainability from being a project feature to an industry-wide expectation and standard. Achieving this requires collaboration across the entire construction value chain and the adoption of a life-cycle perspective for the built environment. This is precisely the purpose of the Sustainability Section of Évosz, which we co-founded. Our recent joint initiative, the Green Minimum, seeks to make environmental considerations a baseline requirement for public and state development projects.

BBJ: What will be the next big advance in sustainability in your industry?

BH: The focus is shifting from energy efficiency to complete life-cycle carbon reduction, including embodied and operational emissions. Circular economy principles (material reuse and design for disassembly) will become standard, while digitalization and big data will enable smarter, real-time sustainability management solutions and create synergies. There will also be greater attention to occupant health and well-being through WELL and accessibility frameworks, alongside improved integration of renewable energy and its storage options. Stronger EU and national regulations will drive the industry toward climate neutrality.

BBJ: Is there anything else you would like to add?

BH: Sustainability considerations are still perceived as obstacles sometimes. While they can be challenges, if addressed from the very beginning, with proper management, sustainability aspects can be integrated most cost-effectively, allowing us to achieve the best and most efficient outcomes.

This article was first published in the Budapest Business Journal print issue of September 5, 2025.