Fortress Real Estate Investments Limited has laid the cornerstone for its latest investment in Central and Eastern Europe – Fortress Logistics Park Zabrze in Poland. The ceremony included representatives of the local city council, project partners and the general contractor – Goldbeck CEE North. This state-of-the-art, environmentally sustainable, class A facility with a total GLA of 77,500 sqm is scheduled for completion in Q2 2024.
The cornerstone laying ceremony was attended by the Mayor of Zabrze, Małgorzata Mańka-Szulik, and representatives from the development’s first tenant, general contractor, project partners, subcontractors and commercial real estate services firms.
“This is a very important day for us as we take the next steps towards modernity and the development of a space that will serve many entities as well as provide new jobs. I am very pleased that Zabrze is changing. Today we are a city of medicine, science, modern technology, sport and culture, and are an investor-friendly city,” said the Mayor of Zabrze, Małgorzata Mańka-Szulik.
Goldbeck CEE North, recognized for constructing high-quality commercial real estate in Poland and across Europe, was selected as the general contractor.
“We make our customers’ concepts a reality all over Europe – cost-effectively, quickly and with respect for the environment. We view buildings as products that we bring to life for our clients as a one-stop provider – from design to construction. This case is no different – in line with our motto, “building excellence”, we will construct an excellent Fortress facility in Zabrze,” said Łukasz Firut, Director of Kraków Branch, Goldbeck CEE North.
The first stage of the project will feature a facility with a GLA of 23,000 sqm, scheduled for completion in Q2 2024. The building will meet the highest environmental and technical standards, with some of the features including solar PV panels, an intelligent energy monitoring system, electric vehicle charging stations and LED lighting. In addition, the building will be powered by system heat supplied by the city’s CHP plant, which will further reduce CO2 emissions. Fortress intends to obtain the BREEAM New Construction Excellent certificate for the facility.
“Our operating model ensures independence, stability and flexibility, but that’s not all. We place the same focus on the social and environmental aspects that are important to us and our tenants. Our international experience in the logistics segment guarantees delivery on time and in accordance with the highest standards,” said Artur Chmal, Development and Project Management Director at Fortress. “The Zabrze project is funded entirely by Fortress, and we take full responsibility for its delivery at every stage; this makes us a trusted partner for tenants and partners. We also flexibly adapt to customer expectations, offering tailor-made solutions,” Artur Chmal added.
The facility has already secured its first tenant, LIT Logistyka Polska, who has leased over 11,500 sqm of modern warehouse space. When considering their options, the tenant particularly valued the location, the technical and environmental solutions, as well as the options to establish long-term relationships with the landlord.
The logistics park in Zabrze is one of several Fortress investments in Europe, following a new project now underway in Głuchów near Łódź. The company already owns commercial real estate in Stargard and Bydgoszcz in Poland, as well as in Bucharest, Romania. The Zabrze project is the first in Europe where Fortress is the investor, developer, asset manager and owner.
