Skanska has sold two office projects in Poland to Stena Real Estate BV, an international property company that is part of the privately-owned Swedish Stena Group. The first phase of the Centrum Południe complex in Wroclaw, consisting of two joint office buildings, and the last building of the High5ive complex in Krakow, comprises 39,400 sqm of innovative and sustainable office space. The projects are designed and built in line with ESG principles, which demonstrates Skanska’s commitment towards today’s business, environmental and social needs. It is the second transaction between the two parties in CEE since the second building from the Spark office complex in Warsaw was acquired in 2020.
The first stage of Centrum Południe offers 28,215 sqm of sustainable and modern office and retail space, which is 69.5 percent leased. It is a part of a multi-stage complex that will ultimately offer 85,000 sqm of modern office and retail space. Construction of the first phase ended in July 2020.
The final, third phase of Skanska’s High5ive office complex, which has a leasable area of 11,250 sqm and is 99 percent leased, will be the first Skanska office building in Krakow to hold a WELL certificate. This certificate is awarded to healthy and comfortable workplaces. Its construction is scheduled to be concluded in the first quarter of 2022.
“We are proud to conclude another transaction with Stena, which comprises an office portfolio of our investments in Wroclaw and Krakow. It shows that our projects continue to gain the interest of investors and that Skanska is a reliable and safe partner. Our offices represent the most innovative solutions in terms of sustainability and certification, which make them high-quality workplaces adjusted to today’s needs, from the tenant’s perspective, along with the investors,” says Arkadiusz Rudzki, Executive Vice President of Leasing & Sales at Skanska’s commercial development business unit in CEE.
“We are following our plan to grow our property portfolio in Poland with sustainable modern high-quality products and with this transaction we are now established in the three major cities Warsaw, Krakow and Wroclaw. We are looking forward to welcoming new tenants to Stena in the spring and appreciate the good relationship we have built in Poland with both Skanska and our advisors through this smooth transaction,” says Sofia Granlund, MD, Stena Real Estate BV.
“Centrum Południe and High5ive are our flagship projects on Poland’s two key city markets. This transaction confirms the perception of Wroclaw and Krakow as good destinations to allocate capital,” says Adrian Karczewicz, Head of Divestments at Skanska’s commercial development business unit in CEE. “Despite the pandemic’s impact on transactional market activity around the world, high-quality investment products are still desired and attractive among international investors. Now they are focused especially on core assets designed and built in line with ESG principles.”
In July 2020, the first phase of the complex was commissioned, and in July 2021, Skanska started work on the second phase of its largest project in Wroclaw. Centrum Południe will be the first Skanska WELL certified office building in Wroclaw, including WELL Health-Safety Rating. The certificate is awarded to office spaces with the highest safety parameters, limiting the risk of disease transmission and also allowing the creation of a healthy and friendly work environment.
Centrum Południe offers tenants many solutions to make their offices a friendlier place to work. Filters, adiabatic humidifiers and ventilation systems provide up to 30 percent more fresh air than the norms for office spaces. The buildings contain technologies that allow, among other things, the reuse of greywater and rainwater. LED lighting is used in public areas, thanks to which the complex consumes up to one-third less energy than the reference buildings. The complex is also 100 percent powered by electricity generated by wind farms. Recycled materials and those with low VOC emissions were used when the complex was constructed. The green areas around Centrum Południe are also cultivated without the use of harmful pesticides and herbicides. The first phase of Centrum Południe was recognized as the best sustainable project in the 2020 CIJ Awards Poland and received the 2021 PLGBC Green Building Award.
High5ive is a well-known complex of five office buildings in Krakow, which will ultimately deliver over 70,000 sqm of modern space to the market. The last building, which reached its target height in May 2021, will provide over 11,000 sqm for tenants. The entire office space has already been leased to Spyrosoft, Business Link and zooplus, among others.
High5ive was created in accordance with the highest standards and the most demanding environmental certificates, while making human health and needs the central focus. The third phase of the complex will be the first Skanska project in Krakow to apply for the prestigious WELL Core & Shell certificate, which verifies office space quality. All the solutions used, based on the requirements of this certification, will help users in their daily duties, as well as ensure their safety and physical and mental comfort.
