In mid-March, when COVID-19 challenged every aspect of ‘normal’, the European higher education and student housing industries entered an unpredictable time with regards to knowing how best to secure positive learning and living experiences. Given the nearly daily changes accompanying the situation, many higher education institutions and student housing operators chose to follow an active co-learning path, flexible scenario-planning and making bold decisions when necessary. During the summer, Bonard and The Class of 2020 launched a joint research project with the aim to provide as accurate and up-to-date information as possible to assist industry leaders in making further strategic decisions to create more sustainable knowledge ecosystems for global talent amidst the pandemic.

Panattoni is to build a production plant of 40,000 sqm in Kalisz, Western Poland. The tenant is a leading German producer of industrial equipment. The BTS project is to be completed in the third quarter of 2021. As a result, the tenant will increase its production capacity in Poland and double its staffing levels by eventually employing around 650 people.

CPI Property Group announced the acquisition of Concept Tower office in Warsaw, Poland. Concept Tower represents CPIPG’s 14th office property in Warsaw. The Group is now the largest owner of offices in Warsaw by GLA, with a portfolio of 314,000 square metres.

Warimpex achieved a positive operating result (EBITDA) in the first half of 2020 despite losses in the hotel segment due to the coronavirus. This can be attributed primarily to the earnings contribution from the rental of office properties – this segment saw a 15% increase in revenues compared with the prior-year period. Following the posting of property impairments and currency losses, this led to a loss of €21.7 million for the first half of 2020, including a result of minus €3.0 million for the second quarter of 2020.

The Vox Technology Park office building in Timișoara has obtained the BREEAM In-Use v6 sustainable certification with an Outstanding rating, the highest existent score accorded on a global level, thus being the first project in Romania with this ranking.

Hochtief Polska has signed a contract for the execution of the nursing home Residence Saint Jadwiga at Pulaskiego/Traugutta in Wroclaw. The project is being carried out for Orpea Polska sp. z o.o. The construction works start in the near future and will take about 19 months.

AFI Europe, the owner of among others the largest mall in Bucharest, has completed the takeover of the portfolio consisting of four office projects from NEPI Rockcastle, in the most important office transaction in Romanian history. With a value of €307 million, the transaction through which NEPI Rockcastle, advised by Colliers International, sold four office projects to AFI Europe represents a third of the real estate investment market estimated at about €1 billion in 2020. The acquisition places Romania on the map of large strategic investors and has the potential to become a catalyst for significant new transactions in the future, being an important benchmark for local market liquidity and contributing to increasing investor confidence, according to Colliers International specialists.

CTP Invest is commencing construction of a new industrial park in the Poruba district of Ostrava, named ctPark Ostrava Poruba. Groundworks began in the summer and the initial project phase should be completed within six months, with the first companies moving in at the beginning of next year. The developer plans to invest more than €57 million (CZK 1.5 billion) in the project. Four large halls with production facilities and warehousing will be built at the site, which will offer almost 90,000 sqm of lettable area. This is the fifth ctPark in the Moravian-Silesian Region, besides the ctParks at Ostrava Hrabová, Nošovice, Nový Jičín, and Karviná.

GTC has appointed Grzegorz Strutyński to the position of Country Manager Poland. He will be responsible for all activities taken by the company in Poland.

The market for flexible office space has been experiencing dynamic growth for several years. The COVID-19 pandemic has changed a lot of things about our daily lives, also in the office sector, and thus has significantly affected tenant preferences. Many tenants have made or are considering a decision to move some of their branches or even headquarters to flexible spaces. The main reasons for the growing interest in flex spaces include the possibility of enlarging or reducing the space, no long-term commitments, and no need for investment outlays, according to an analysis by experts from Mindspace, a global operator of flexible workspaces.