In 2024, Leviatan Group, comprising Leviatan Design, Ubitech Construcții, eConfaire Immersive Design, and Copraag Entrepreneur, achieved outstanding performances, consolidating its position at the forefront of the public construction sector in Romania. The 25% ahead-of-schedule completion of one of the most complex public projects in the country, through the expansion and modernization of the Câmpia Turzii Air Base, highlights the group of companies’ ability to deliver large-scale projects to international standards. In the first three months of 2025, the upward trajectory has continued, as several major projects have been contracted. Estimates for the current year indicate growth of up to 15% over 2024, supported by strategic investments. In 2025 and the following years, Leviatan’s specialists aim to expand investments in automation, digitalization, technologization, sustainability, and human capital development, as well as diversify the group of companies’ project portfolio.

Cătălin Podaru, CEO of Leviatan Group, provides further interesting details about the works currently in progress, as well as the development plans.

What special construction projects and public buildings do you have in progress, and at what stages of implementation are they?

Leviatan Group has several large-scale projects underway in various areas of Romania. Some of these involve consolidating buildings at seismic risk in the capital, a complex undertaking of utmost importance for the safety of Bucharest’s inhabitants. Leviatan Group specialists undertake these projects with professionalism, innovative approaches, and customized solutions for each type of building. So far, several energy audits and projects in the DALI and DTAC phases have been handed over to the beneficiary, which have been designed not only to comply with the conclusions of the technical expert reports aimed at increasing the safety of the buildings but also to increase energy efficiency and adapt them to current living requirements, by the norms and standards in force, and other similar projects will be finalized this year. Another recently contracted project aims to develop the final phase of the static infrastructure at the Headquarters of the Multinational Division South East, a strategic investment valued at over 133.4 million lei (excluding VAT).

In the field of special military projects, Leviatan Group has recently contracted for two additional projects at the 86 Borcea Air Base, involving the development of platforms and light shelters for aircraft, as well as the construction of storage facilities for specialized materials. The execution period for the first project is 24 months, and 18 months for the second. Another project contracted this year in Bucharest involves constructing an administrative pavilion, which includes utility networks as well as road and pedestrian access. The execution period is 36 months, and the administrative pavilion will have a height of D+G+4F, a floor area of approximately 8,500 square meters, and a total height of 21 meters. The building will include offices, meeting rooms, conference rooms, festive spaces, technical areas, toilets, and other facilities for day-to-day activities.

How do you see the building design and construction/public works sector evolving at the beginning of 2025, and how do you think it will develop in the short to medium term?

The beginning of 2025 has brought a context of uncertainty and multiple pressures for the public design and construction sector. After a period of accelerated growth supported by European funds and government programs, the market is now entering an adjustment phase, where rising material costs, the lack of predictability in public investment, and the impact of new fiscal measures are putting the pace of development in question. In addition, the need to align public projects with increasingly high standards of energy efficiency and sustainability is raising the stakes for all industry players. However, these challenges also create opportunities for a real professionalization of the sector and for accelerating the transition towards an integrated approach to design and delivery. There is a clear trend towards prioritizing investments of strategic value, especially in critical infrastructure—education, health, and defense—where the social and economic impact is most visible.

In the short term, it will be essential to adapt to the new market conditions by optimizing processes, investing in digitalization, and more effective collaboration between the administration and the private sector. In the medium term, we anticipate a gradual recovery, contingent upon the release of European funds and the sector’s ability to deliver viable, sustainable projects in line with current economic realities.

What will be new for architecture and design with the adoption of the latest fire safety regulations?

Updating the regulation was urgently needed as the previous version had not been revised for 26 years. In the meantime, both technologies and building materials have undergone significant evolution. The adoption of Regulation P118-1/2025 on fire safety, effective as of May 1, 2025, marks an important milestone for the fields of architecture and design in Romania. It brings new technical solutions and stricter rules in the field of fire safety, with a direct impact on the architectural design of buildings. The new regulation brings regulations adapted to the context and function of the building. At the level of internal organization, the updated regulation allows flexible solutions to achieve fire safety. For example, while the old standard compartmentalization and the number of escape routes were almost the only means of fire containment, P118-1/2025 also encourages the use of modern systems (automatic extinguishing systems, early detection, etc.) integrated into the architectural concept. Therefore, the architect has more freedom in configuring spaces (open spaces, atriums, double-height areas), provided that they incorporate fire safety technological measures and respect the new limits imposed. Overall, the plan form may be more complex or innovative in the new context, as the standard provides detailed technical schemes to solve atypical situations, which facilitates the design process.

The new standard emphasizes the harmonious integration of architectural and structural solutions to achieve both fire safety and structural efficiency. New obligations arise for architects, designers, and developers regarding the building materials used and the technical solutions chosen.

A significant change is to allow the use of wood and other alternative materials in building structures under carefully regulated conditions. Wood, for example, is now recognized as a sustainable building material; regulations lay down the conditions under which it can be safely used in larger buildings (e.g., height limitations, treatment with fire retardants, and the mandatory installation of sprinklers and detection systems in buildings with a partly timber structure). Where the old code virtually excluded wood from multi-story buildings, the new code accepts it subject to strict protection requirements.

To summarize, the compatibility between architecture and structure has been significantly improved procedurally in 2025: the architect is now responsible for choosing the configuration and materials, ensuring the structure can achieve the required fire resistance level without requiring exceptional measures. The new P118 also provides tools (clarifications, options) to make this possible in an efficient manner while allowing for modern design solutions (exposed structures, new materials) within safety limits. An important aspect is the mandatory use of non-combustible materials (Euroclass A1 or A2-s1,d0) for thermal insulation and external finishes, depending on the building’s height.

To conclude, the new regulation provides more precise and more detailed solutions in several respects: enhanced clarity in the choice of building materials, explicit solutions for complex cases, clear rules for photovoltaic panels and modern technologies, straightforward and transparent rules for design and approval, and improved integration between architecture, structure, and installations. The new regulation brings Romania in line with current European practice. It provides a more flexible yet rigorous framework for designing safe and contemporary buildings.

To what extent do you think that economic activity, as well as the construction/investment sector, will be affected by the economic imbalances generated by the prolongation of the conflict in Ukraine, the deepening of the conflict in the Middle East, and the Trump administration’s tariff policy?

The ongoing conflict in Ukraine continues to have a profound impact on the European economy and, implicitly, on Romania. High energy and raw material costs, unstable supply chains, and pressures on public budgets limit the ability to finance investment projects, including public construction. At the same time, global trade tensions, in particular the imposition of higher tariffs by the Trump administration, are raising questions about Romanian exports to the United States. Measures such as tariffs imposed on steel, aluminum, or European industrial products could affect the competitiveness of Romanian companies active in these sectors, indirectly influencing local investments by reducing foreign orders and discouraging the expansion of production capacities. However, recent years have shown that the Romanian construction sector has a real capacity to adapt and be resilient to external challenges. With better coordination between the public and private sectors, as well as by capitalizing on available European funds, there are solid premises for the construction sector to remain an engine of economic development, even in a challenging international climate.