Presented by the U.S. Green Building Council, the Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) Gold certification positions both buildings among the most advanced worldwide in terms of sustainability. Both had to meet stringent criteria related to energy efficiency, responsible water management, the use of sustainable materials and indoor environmental quality.
“This recognition reflects our commitment to integrating sustainability into all our workspaces. The LEED Gold certification of our offices demonstrates that it is possible to combine efficiency, innovation and employee wellbeing, moving toward a more responsible, efficient and future-ready model,” said Borja Eugui, Head of Design and Build Projects at BBVA. With these two new certifications, BBVA now has 21 buildings with the LEED seal, in addition to eight certified branches and three offices in its international network. The bank has a total of more than one million square meters of certified space in countries such as Argentina, the U.S., Spain, Mexico, Peru and Türkiye.
The BBVA offices in Milan and São Paulo added innovative solutions over the past year that have enabled them to optimize resource consumption, reduce emissions and improve employees’ comfort. Some of these solutions include high-efficiency lighting and climate control systems, technologies to monitor energy in real time and spaces designed to maximize natural light and air quality.
The Milan office is located just a few steps from the Duomo, on the pedestrian-only Corso Vittorio Emanuele II, right in the Italian city’s historic district. It is home to 105 employees from BBVA’s Corporate & Investment Banking (CIB) and Digital Banking areas, as of the year-end 2025. Its location has encouraged sustainable mobility thanks to the multiple public transportation options, reducing dependence on private vehicles and helping to lower greenhouse gas emissions.
Meanwhile, the BBVA office in São Paulo is located in the Plaza Faria Lima building in the Brazilian city’s financial district, with direct access to public transportation, shops, parks and cultural attractions. As of year-end, 73 employees worked there, mostly from the CIB area. After moving to its new location in April 2025, the financial institution has made a series of improvements, such as installing low-flow faucets and fixtures, which have reduced potable water consumption by 43 percent compared to the baseline standards of the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA).