Colliers Teaches the First LEED Class in Albania

Tirana, Albania, April 29, 2011 --(PR.com)-- In March, Colliers International taught the first Green Building and Leadership on Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) training class in Tirana. The activity was initiated and supported by the EBRD Business Advisory Services (BAS) program for Albania.

The training was attended by 20 participants in the field of architecture and construction and was taught by three LEED accredited Colliers representatives: Devin Saylor LEED AP, Regional Director of Sustainable Advisory Services for Southeast Europe, Stela Dhami LEED GA, Managing Director and Migena Zace LEED AP, Valuation and Market Research Consultant of Colliers Albania. During the two-day training period, Colliers’ experts provided an overview of the environmental benefits of green buildings as well as different rating systems, and adoption of the LEED rating system in particular.

“BAS will continue to put efforts in developing capacities of local consultants for the provision of related services as well as raise awareness in order to increase the demand,” said Mr. Neritan Mullaj, Manager of BAS program in Albania. Mr. Mullaj stressed the fact that this initiative has been very well accepted amongst the companies operating in the construction sector and that BAS will continue to provide further support in the future.

“The exciting part of seeing the green building movement in Albania is the opportunity to plan well,” said Devin Saylor, Regional Director of Sustainable Advisory Services, Colliers Southeast Europe. Ms. Saylor emphasized the great opportunity for Albania to plan metros, public transportation, and roads to minimize the environmental impact of cars. “Then, individual buildings that are developed “green” can take advantage of these features, score higher on rating systems and create truly sustainable areas,” stated Ms. Saylor.

“From Colliers’ perspective it was interesting to see such a high interest amongst architects and engineers who are eager to learn the latest techniques regarding the green building movement worldwide as well as learning more specifically about what it takes to certify a building according to LEED,” said Stela Dhami, Managing Director of Colliers Albania. “We hope to be able to continue in the future with more technical trainings that will further assist in the accreditations of the participants as LEED GA or LEED APs.”

At the end of the two-day training class, all participants took a short survey regarding the benefits of the class and further interest in future trainings. Participants also received a certificate of participation.

About Colliers International
Colliers International is the third largest commercial real estate services company in the world with 15,000 professionals operating out of more than 480 offices in 61 countries. Colliers focuses on accelerating their clients’ success by seamlessly providing a full range of services to real estate users, owners and investors worldwide, including corporate solutions, brokerage, property and asset management, hotel investment sales and consulting, valuation, consulting and appraisal services, mortgage banking and research. The latest annual survey by the Lipsey Company ranked Colliers International as the second most recognized commercial real estate firm in the world.

About EBRD BAS Programme
BAS Programme supports economic transition, by both achieving enterprise change in potentially viable micro, small and medium enterprises and developing sustainable infrastructures of business advisory services in the EBRD countries of operation. EBRD BAS Albania has been funded by The Netherlands, Portugal, Luxembourg and the EBRD. Since 2006, when the Programme was launched in Albania, EBRD BAS Albania has supported over two hundred Albanian SMEs and has mobilised over Euro1 million to financially support them getting involved in consultancy projects.

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