Airport City’s first South Area development – FedEx Express Estonia air cargo terminal has received LEED Gold certification
Airport City has taken an important step towards a more sustainable business environment – the FedEx Express Estonia air cargo terminal at Lennuradari 34 has received the internationally recognized LEED Gold certification, one of the world’s most prestigious acknowledgements of a building’s energy efficiency, environmental performance, and user comfort.
The FedEx Express Estonia air cargo terminal is a modern logistics and office building designed to support the daily operations of international courier and logistics services. The facility handles shipment sorting, processing, and distribution, while also housing office and support functions. It represents critical infrastructure that strengthens Estonia’s connectivity to the world and reinforces Airport City’s role as a creator and enabler of an international business environment.
Creating long-term value is at the core of Airport City developments. “Our goal is not only to meet today’s needs, but to create future-proof solutions that address both environmental and user expectations,” said Veiko Keerberg, Chairman of the Management Board of Airport City. The LEED certification ensures that the building meets well-defined and measurable quality and environmental standards and remains competitive on an international level.
The project’s construction partner, Maru Ehitus, carried out the entire design and construction process in accordance with LEED requirements. “Green certifications are becoming a clear competitive advantage in the construction sector and, for international partners like FedEx, also an expectation. We are pleased to have partnered with Airport City and FedEx on this project,” said Margo Dengo, Chairman of the Management Board of Maru Ehitus.
The LEED certification process was supported by consulting company Forus, which has extensive and long-standing experience in green certification in Estonia. The collaboration between all parties – developer, designers, contractor, and certification consultant – was smooth throughout the project and enabled the integration of sustainability principles at every stage of development.
The LEED Gold certification adds value to the building on multiple levels. On the one hand, it ensures more energy-efficient and resource-conscious operations, helping to keep operating costs under control. On the other hand, it creates a healthier and more comfortable working environment for employees – with more natural light, improved indoor climate conditions, and well-designed spatial solutions supporting daily wellbeing.
In addition to being a quality mark, LEED also serves as a practical tool for achieving environmental goals. The certification process encourages more informed decision-making from the earliest design stages, from material selection to energy use and water consumption. Importantly, it is not just a “label on the wall,” but a set of solutions that directly impact the building’s daily performance and reduce its environmental footprint.
For logistics buildings, where energy consumption and operational intensity are high, the impact of such solutions is particularly significant. Thoughtfully designed systems help reduce energy use and resource consumption while improving working conditions and increasing the long-term value of the property.
For Airport City, the LEED Gold certification represents an important step in developing a sustainable and internationally competitive business environment. At the same time, it reflects a broader trend where green certifications are becoming an expectation rather than an exception – especially among international companies and partners.
Background
LEED (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design) is an international green building certification system developed by the U.S. Green Building Council. It evaluates buildings based on energy efficiency, water savings, material selection, indoor environmental quality, and location. The Gold level is one of the highest ratings within the LEED system.
