DGNB Diamond is an add-on distinction used in connection with a DGNB certification but not as part of the certification itself. The evaluation which determines if a building can earn a DGNB Diamond always takes the completed building into consideration and is only obtainable if the building has already achieved a good DGNB rating.
It is not a beauty award, but rather a recognition of the fundamental virtues that all architects are trained in, Christine Lemaitre explains:
– For the DGNB Diamond, we use a mechanism similar to a competition. A panel of least three professional architects evaluate the building based on considerations that are part of good architecture. They look at factors like functionality, choice of materials, proportions, and context with the surroundings. Based on the combined evaluation, the panel recommends whether to award the DGNB Diamond or not.