Nearly all players in the commercial real estate market share the view that the pressure is growing on corporate leaders to have an ESG-compliant stock and operation. But the majority of them stop at „E” i.eg. being more energy efficient and environmentally friendly. This was one of the takeaways of last week’s Budapest ESG Meetup, organized by Property Forum in partnership with workcloud24.

Garbe Industrial Real Estate is moving ahead with its Europe-wide expansion, benefiting from the persistently strong demand for logistics space. For the 203 assets under its management with around 5.7 million square metres of lettable area (including open space), the company achieved rent increases averaging 11.7 percent through indexation provisions and by negotiating new lease agreements. The occupancy rate of the portfolio equals 98 percent. Moreover, the company responded to demand across Europe by delivering new sustainably designed logistics properties.

Andreas Kozma, Founder & CEO of integrated real estate management system provider iREMS International, talked to Property Forum about the value of data for property companies and shared his recommendations for property owners regarding their data management processes.

The past year has brought a lot of economic turbulence, from the still-felt effects of the pandemic to the consequences of the war in Ukraine, rising commodity prices and disrupted supply chains to currency fluctuations and energy price hikes. This situation is driving the rising costs associated with building and finishing commercial real estate. At the same time, price increases are accompanied by an evolution in office design as companies increasingly opt for a hybrid work model and pay more attention to employee welfare and sustainability. Each year, Tétris takes a look at the current budget challenges associated with office fit-outs in the EMEA region, compares them with current trends, and summarizes everything in its Fit-Out Cost Guide report.

Panattoni has received an "Outstanding" rating under the BREEAM International New Construction system for Panattoni Park Szczecin III (halls A and B). This is the first such high level of certification in the industrial real estate market in Poland for a newly built investment. Its implementation was preceded by detailed life-cycle cost (LCC) and life-cycle analysis (LCA) of the facility for a period of 60 years. During construction, energy and water consumption were carefully monitored, harmful CO2 emissions were minimized, and thermal imaging was performed upon completion. The halls have been adapted to climate change and a possible change of use in the future. The project is located just 500 meters from public transportation and is accessible to people with disabilities.

The Saski Crescent office building, located in Warsaw, at the intersection of Marszłakowska and Królewska streets, will offer more than 15,000 sqm of office space after renovation. The procedure will be completed in 2024. 

Zuzanna Kurek, Investor Relations Manager and ESG Committee Member of One United Properties, spoke with Property Forum about the ESG agenda of the Romanian developer and its role in growing the value of the company. Moreover, she also discussed how sustainability is becoming a strategic element in the developer’s negotiations for funding with banks and capital market investors.

Alex Tomášková, CEO of JRD Land and JRD Development expects to see a gradual revival of demand for residential real estate at the turn of this year and next year. She believes that the energy crisis helps clients to be aware of the quality and energy efficiency of the company’s projects. Highlighting the positive in a negative situation, she talked to Property Forum about the Group’s development plans and ESG strategy.

CA Immo has concluded 45 lease agreements with a total of nearly 29,000 sqm of office space in Warsaw in the past year, 20% of which in the fourth quarter of 2022. Based on the Group's international net zero initiative, the company has also introduced a green lease initiative in 2022, governing mutual commitment of landlord and tenant to optimize sustainable building operations. Since May 2022, 23 green lease agreements have already been concluded.

The Polish branch of Cushman & Wakefield advisory agency is reorganizing and expanding its service in the field of defining, achieving and reporting ESG objectives. Its ESG Hub of experts from various business lines will be led by Katarzyna Lipka, Head of Strategic Consulting and Research, in partnership with Ilona Otoka, Senior ESG Consultant. The ESG Hub will deliver and expand its services for Cushman & Wakefield’s clients in cooperation with the firm’s global network of ESG and sustainability specialists.