The company has already successfully completed a sales and audit process with Skanska on their very innovative Port7 office building project. We asked Martin Vaclavik, civil engineer and CEO of Commissioning CZ, about the importance of accessibility in his country and his experiences.

As a professional in the real estate segment, how do you view the role of accessibility in sustainable development and design?

As far as I remember, accessibility has always been a minimum requirement for building permits. In the Czech Republic, regulations mandate barrier-free access, with some provisions for contrasting signage and pictograms. In my opinion, accessibility should be an integral part of sustainable design, but only if it’s fully inclusive of all people with various needs.

When I started my career as a facility manager assistant about 15 years ago, sustainability was often perceived as energy efficient, and accessibility was not a topic apart from regulation. This perspective has evolved significantly with the ESG phenomenon which has expanded expectations beyond compliance. Today, we see a growing emphasis on inclusive design, supported by independent third-party verification such as Access4you’s certification.

What are the trends in real estate sustainability certificates in the Czech Republic?

Traditional "green" certifications have become the norm, including the national system of SBToolCZ. Nowadays, it is rare to see a newly built industrial asset without the BREEAM certificate. The Czech speculative development creates a competitive real estate market where every asset recognition may impact the project's success. I am also pleased to see growing interest in health and safety features in buildings after the COVID-19 pandemic. WELL certification provides great resources, and its latest update made it even more financially achievable for developers. Investors and tenants prioritize buildings with strong sustainability commitments, including energy and water efficiency, well-being, responsible sourcing, and accessibility. While energy performance and carbon footprint remain central themes, social aspects - such as inclusive design - are gaining a stronger focus.

How does disability inclusion - or inclusion in general - fit into these trends and the industry's future?

The real estate industry is gradually shifting from a compliance-based approach to a value-driven perspective on inclusion. Developers and asset managers now recognize that an accessible and inclusive building is not only legally compliant but also commercially and socially advantageous. With demographic changes, including the aging population, ensuring barrier-free access will become even more critical. Inclusion is no longer just an ethical or regulatory matter but a business opportunity.

Why have you decided to become an Access4you Accredited Partner?

Apart from the business opportunity, we see Access4you as a beneficial service to people with accessibility needs who search for the right information that wouldn’t be available otherwise. Another strong decision point was a mandatory third-party verification process. This might be more difficult, but it’s trustworthy rather than self-declaration. The Certification provides a clear approach to evaluating accessibility, which aligns with our expertise in building commissioning advisory, technical audits, and sustainability assessments.

What value does the distribution of Access4you Certification bring to your portfolio? How will it impact the real estate industry in the countries you operate in?

We are excited to bring this certification to multiple markets, such as Czechia and Slovakia, France or Portugal, where we operate and see strong potential for growth. Each of these markets has unique challenges and levels of awareness regarding accessibility, but the demand for inclusive, sustainable spaces is increasing across Europe. Beyond the European market, we have opened discussions with our colleagues in the Middle East and Sub-Saharan Africa, where newly built development is strong. However, the need for inclusive design is just forming.

What is the general reception of the certification from the client side in the Czech Republic?

The initial reception has been positive, especially among innovative developers and well-established asset managers integrating ESG strategy into their organisations and properties. We are very proud that we successfully completed a sales and audit process with Skanska on their Port7 office building. The company has become the first property developer in the Czech Republic to receive the Access4you Certification for an office building. This achievement underscores Skanska’s long-term commitment to inclusion and ensures that reliable and detailed accessibility information is available for all users of the development.

Clients appreciate Access4you's structured and objective assessment, which helps them identify improvement areas and communicate their efforts more effectively. And, we will continue to raise awareness about the economic and social benefits of accessibility.

How do you approach clients and convince them?

Rather than presenting accessibility as an obligation, we explain its benefits. It can attract more tenants and customers, prepare clients' assets for new regulations such as the European Accessibility Act, improve their ESG ratings, and enhance reputation. Many clients are unaware of how much accessibility influences user experience and asset value, so our role is to provide clear, objective insights that demonstrate its impact.

What are your experiences as an auditor so far?

The Commissioning CZ team’s experience has been great. Every member gained valuable knowledge by becoming an accessibility auditor or a sales person. Personally, the accreditation enriched me to be more aware of built environment barriers. Then, we’ve had the opportunity to assess various types of buildings, from public bank branches to large office buildings or shopping centres. Many accessibility barriers can be relatively easy to fix but go unnoticed until a thorough audit highlights them. The most fulfilling aspect has been helping clients implement practical improvements that make a real difference in people’s daily lives.

Are there any future plans regarding the partnership with Access4you?

Indeed, we see the partnership between Commissioning CZ and Access4you as a commitment, so we are actively discussing possible improvements. One of our key plans is to become an accredited partner for design consultancy. This would allow us to conduct plan audits, assessing a building’s accessibility based on its architectural and construction plans before the construction phase begins. By integrating accessibility considerations early in the design process, we can help developers and architects avoid costly modifications later and ensure that buildings meet high accessibility standards from day one. This complements our existing work in on-site audits, where we assess completed buildings. In the long run, we believe that combining both design and building audits will bring even more value to our clients and contribute to creating a more inclusive built environment across the markets we will operate in.