Skanska, one of the leading development and construction companies in Europe, has sold the second building from the Spark office complex in Warsaw to Stena Fastigheter AB, one of Sweden’s largest private real estate companies and part of the privately-owned Stena Group. For the Swedish investor, it is the first property acquisition in Central and Eastern Europe. The transaction proves that the quality office properties designed and developed with a special focus on people’s health and well-being, as well as the environment are especially attractive assets in these uncertain times. It is the second office building in the Polish capital sold by Skanska this year.
“In these uncertain times, trust and partnerships are important capital. We are very glad that Stena is entering the CEE market and is doing so with a longstanding partner like Skanska. Our continuous goal is to deliver safe, healthy, green and innovative, future-proof workplaces, and the Spark office complex is one of them. This is the second office building in Warsaw we have sold this year. After the divestment of Generation Park Z in March, we have been offering our other assets while observing the growing interest in core offices on the market in the latter part of the year. I believe that nowadays quality and safety is key from the tenants’ and investors’ perspectives. Skanska provides both,” says Arkadiusz Rudzki, Executive Vice President of Leasing & Sales at Skanska commercial development business unit in CEE.
“We are excited to acquire the Spark B building – a smart and sustainable office building situated in the fastest growing business and office districts in Warsaw. We´ve been looking to enter Poland and Warsaw for some time and the Spark B building fits the perfect picture, it´s modern, future-proofed and certified by LEED Platinum and built to comply with WELL Gold,” says Cecilia Fasth, CEO at Stena Fastigheter AB.
The Spark office complex is located in Warsaw City Center West, the most desirable and dynamically growing business area in Warsaw. The sold building has a total leasable area of approx. 19,000 sqm and 144 underground parking places. The property has international, as well as domestic tenants including UPC Polska, PCF Group, PKO Faktoring, and INC Research (Syneos).
In the current epidemiological situation, it is extremely important to guarantee safety and health protection in the workplaces. Skanska has established several rules and adapted workplaces in Central and Eastern Europe to support its tenants who returned to the offices, to create a healthy work environment. The “Care for Life Office Concept” consists of space planning consultation and requirements to ensure proper physical distancing, touch-free solutions through the Connected by Skanska application, facility management sanitizing and disinfection plans, and office air quality management. The second building of the Spark office complex offers many of them, e.g. a virtual reception using QR codes to enter the building, alongside other developments like the constant supply of fresh air and the use of high-quality air filters inside the building.
The second building from the Spark office complex is also one of Skanska’s nine office buildings in the CEE region applying for the WELL Health-Safety Rating for Facility Operations and Management, granted by the International WELL Building Institute (IWBI). It is an evidence-based, third-party verified rating for all new and existing building and facility types focusing on operational policies, maintenance protocols, stakeholder engagement, and emergency plans, designed to empower owners and operators to take the necessary steps in order to prioritize the health and safety of their tenants, visitors and other stakeholders. The second phase of the Spark office complex is expected to be one of the first Skanska properties to receive the rating in the following months.
The entire Spark complex is designed in line with LEED and WELL requirements. The first office building in Central and Eastern Europe to receive the WELL Core and Shell certificate was the first building delivered within the Spark investment. Moreover, the second building from the complex is prepared to be certified with the WELL Gold Core & Shell certification by the International WELL Building Institute and has already received the LEED Platinum, as well as the “Building without Barriers” certifications. The latter proves that the building is friendly and adapted to people with specific needs, including the disabled, or parents with small kids.
