From Industry to Icon: Cluj-Napoca’s RIVUS Project Lands Record €400M Loan to Redefine Urban Living in Romania
Cluj-Napoca, Romania – In a bold stride toward transforming Romania’s urban future, the RIVUS Cluj-Napoca project has secured a record-breaking €400 million loan, the largest ever for a real-estate development in the country’s history. Backed by the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD), which is contributing €180.3 million, the funding signals strong international confidence in Romania’s growing real estate and infrastructure potential.
Spearheaded by a partnership between IULIUS Group and Atterbury Europe, the RIVUS project is being hailed as Cluj-Napoca’s most ambitious urban regeneration to date reclaiming and reinventing a 14-hectare section of the city’s industrial past.
A City Within a City: The RIVUS Vision
Located on the former Carbochim industrial platform, RIVUS will replace the aging industry with a vibrant, sustainable, and multi-functional district. Designed by the world-renowned UNStudio, the project combines 132,500 square meters of commercial and entertainment space with historical preservation, green innovation, and social connectivity.
Two of the original industrial buildings will be restored and transformed into a performing arts center and modern office spaces, creating a seamless bridge between the city’s past and its dynamic future.
Green Infrastructure as the Cornerstone
At the heart of RIVUS is a 52,000-square-meter urban garden, featuring over 700 mature trees, many of which have been salvaged from the original site, and more than 100,000 decorative plants. With green facades, a Japanese garden, and sustainable rooftops, RIVUS aims to become a living example of how architecture and ecology can thrive together.
“This is more than a development; RIVUS is a commitment to restoring urban land, elevating city life, and pushing the limits of sustainable design,” said Marius Perșenea, COO of IULIUS. “This historic financing confirms Romania’s readiness for world-class, future-forward urban projects.”
Engineering Connectivity and Access
Beyond buildings and gardens, RIVUS also delivers an ambitious suite of infrastructure upgrades. These include:
- Two pedestrian bridges and a four-lane vehicular bridge spanning the Someșul Mic River
- Two new roundabouts and a dedicated road
- Smart traffic light systems
- Rehabilitation of public squares
- Electric vehicle charging stations
- Bike lanes and green mobility corridors
In a move emblematic of public-private cooperation, a significant portion of these infrastructure upgrades will be donated to the Municipality of Cluj-Napoca, enhancing access and mobility for the entire community.
Reimagining Romanian Real Estate
The total investment in RIVUS is projected to exceed half a billion euros, setting a new benchmark for urban regeneration in Eastern Europe. The development is operated by Rivus Investments, a 50-50 joint venture between IULIUS and Atterbury Europe.
This is not the first time IULIUS has made history in Romanian finance. The company previously secured the first green loan for a Romanian firm in 2021 and the largest real estate refinancing deal in 2022. Now, with this latest milestone, the company once again positions itself at the forefront of sustainable urban development.
A New Era for Cluj-Napoca
Once an industrial hub, the Carbochim site is poised to become Cluj’s most iconic mixed-use district, a symbol of the city’s cultural and economic evolution. With its blend of cutting-edge design, environmental integrity, and community infrastructure, RIVUS isn’t just changing a city block, it’s reshaping the way Romania thinks about urban space.
As cranes rise over Cluj and construction gears up, RIVUS stands as a promise: that Romania’s future cities will be greener, smarter, and more human-centric than ever before.
