Over the last decade, industrial supply has more than tripled from 6.3 million sqm at the end of 2010 to almost 21 million sqm in 2020. However, this rapidly developing real estate sector is now showing signs of maturity. This is illustrated by new formats appearing especially in the largest agglomerations. An example of this is the urban warehouse segment analysed together by JLL and SEGRO in the first report of its kind, "Logistics Avenue: city logistics market in Poland".

pbb Deutsche Pfandbriefbank has provided an investment loan facility totalling €66.5 million for an office portfolio managed by GalCap Europe on behalf of an institutional client. The fund will utilise the proceeds for the refinancing of a mixed-use portfolio with assets in Budapest and Warsaw. pbb acted as arranger and sole lender under the facility.

Construction has started on the Pyramid of Tirana, the brutalist monument in the heart of Albania’s capital city. Rotterdam-based architectural studio MVRDV's design will see this crucial heritage building, once the showpiece of Communist dictator Enver Hoxha, dramatically renovated. The concrete structure will be reused, the atrium and its surroundings greened and opened, and a small village of cafes, studios, workshops, and classrooms – where Albanian youth will learn various technology subjects for free – will permeate the site, both inside and outside the pyramid itself. The Pyramid is thus expected to become a new hub for Tirana's cultural life and a carrier for the new generation.

Czech industrial developer Demaco obtained a planning permit for the construction of an industrial hall of 18,245 sqm of a built-up area in the DMC Kvasiny industrial park. This is the largest permitted hall ready for construction near the Škoda Auto plant in Kvasiny, where the successful Superb, Kodiaq and Karoq models are produced.

Upon completing the acquisition of a 66% stake in Wrocław-based developer Archicom, Echo Investment is set to become the largest residential developer in Poland. Nicklas Lindberg, CEO of Echo Investment talked to Property Forum about the recent acquisition, dealing with the effects of the pandemic and Echo’s plans for the nearest months.

After reaching a roof height of 230 metres, Varso Tower became the tallest building in Poland. Now, after the installation of its 73-tonne and 80-metre spire, the Warsaw skyscraper has broken another record, becoming the tallest in the entire EU.

The pandemic year turned out to be a bumper year for industrial and logistics, with total demand increasing by a staggering 72% over 2019, to nearly 784,000 sqm of leasing deals, Colliers International Romania data shows.

Czech-based development group Horizon has announced that the sale of the second stage of Rezidence Čámovka is now complete. Despite much of the sales period being accompanied by pandemic-related uncertainty, all 148 flats in Prague's Čimice have already been secured by new owners. Commissioning for the five buildings in which they are located is scheduled for October this year.

The manufacturer and distributor of household appliances continues its cooperation with MLP Group and remains a tenant at the MLP Pruszków I logistics park near Warsaw. The company will use nearly 23.5 thousand sqm of modern warehouse space.

Marera Real Estate Partners, a sister company of Marera Properties, has acquired the historical landmark of the publishing house BIGZ built in 1941. This monumental property spreads across over 40,000 sqm. With an investment of over €40 million, it will be turned into a modern business centre over an 18 month period of time. For project implementation, Marera Real Estate Partners is joining forces with Aleksandar gradnja, a company with proven expertise in residential development.