Warsaw’s office stock topped 5 million sqm in 2016. High growth dynamics and changing market conditions have led to inter- and intrazone tenant migration in the past two years. Building age is still central to the choice of a suitable location. Cushman & Wakefield presented its findings in a report on the future of the Warsaw office market.

On 1 December 2016, international real estate developer HB Reavis and Savills Investment Management on behalf of a Global Pension Fund client, concluded the sale agreement of two of buildings within Gdanski Business Centre in Warsaw. In one of the largest transactions of the year in Poland and also in the CEE region amounting to €186 million, Savills Investment Management has acquired buildings A and B of the Gdanski Business Center, totalling 48,000 sqm.

Rockcastle Global Real Estate has acquired a retail portfolio totalling 62,000 sqm from Aviva Investors, worth €160 million. Cushman & Wakefield, Hogan Lovells, Arcadis and PwC represented the purchaser, JLL, Dentons and Deloitte advised the seller in the transaction. The portfolio comprises two shopping centres: Focus Mall Zielona Góra and Focus Mall Piotrków Trybunalski. Providing respectively 26,800 sqm and 35,200 sqm, they are the largest shopping galleries in Zielona Góra and Piotrków Trybunalski. 

Danfoss Power Solutions, a manufacturer and provider of hydraulics solutions, has renewed its lease for more than 20,000 sqm of industrial, office and social space at Hillwood Wrocław I. The tenant was represented in the negotiations by Cushman & Wakefield.

Mentor Graphics Corporation, a manufacturer of design software and electronic equipment, has signed a lease agreement on 4 417 sqm in building B of Silesia Star in Katowice. The client was represented by Cushman & Wakefield in lease negotiations and the coordination and supervision of fit-out works in the new office.

Cushman & Wakefield was appointed manager of Galeria Orkana in Lublin. The shopping centre is owned by real estate group CPI Property Group. Galeria Orkana is a two-level shopping centre located in Lublin at the junction of Władysława Orkana and Zwycięska streets. It offers building area of 17,000 sqm of floor space for about 50 retail stores, restaurants and service outlets of top brands. It also provides 220 underground and surface parking spaces. Constructed in 2006, Galeria Orkana has been managed by Cushman & Wakefield since August 2016.

As of November 1 2016, Cushman & Wakefield has been appointed to undertake property management and leasing services at Mammut Shopping and Entertainment Centre in Budapest. The over 104 000 sqm, Mammut Shopping and Entertainment Centre,comprising two phases, is the largest shopping centre in Buda, with over 350 units and parking premises. The first phase, Mammut I. was handed over in 1998, the second phase, Mammut II. was delivered in 2001. 

A new luxury destination is taking shape in the Polish retail market with the opening of Europejski Hotel. The capital is to see the completion of the renovation and redevelopment of one of Warsaw’s most recognized buildings with 160 years of history. The 2,700 sqm of ground floor retail area will feature boutique units. Cushman & Wakefield is responsible for commercialisation of the scheme.

Cushman & Wakefield has been appointed by BPi Polska an exclusive agent for the mixed-use project Bulwary Książęce in Wrocław. Bulwary Książęce is located in the centre of Wrocław on Księcia Witolda Street on Kępa Mieszczańska island near Pomorski Bridge, in close proximity to the Old Town. It will contribute towards reviving the Odra Boulevard in this part of the city. The complex, which will be developed over two phases, comprises a retail and services part as well as 347 residential units, including premium flats and apartments.

According to Cushman & Wakefield, commercial real estate investment activity in the core Central European markets of Poland, the Czech Republic, Slovakia, Hungary and Romania reached €6.05 billion in the first three quarters of 2016, a 37% increase y-o-y, albeit with reduced activity during the third quarter. Investment in the CE region slipped back following a strong second quarter. The volume of assets traded totalled €1.4bn in Q3 2016, down over 20% a year ago and half Q2 volumes.