This year’s first quarter on Poland’s regional office markets was marked by a high level of activity from tenants in the IT sector. The next few months may bring acceleration in activity from companies in the business services sector. JLL summarised the situation on the Polish office market at the end of Q1 2020.

The coronavirus pandemic will transform the office property market, significantly driving demand for flex workspace solutions. In the next 12-18 months, flex formats will increase to approximately 30% of total modern office spaces in Central and Eastern Europe from 3-5% before the crisis. The winners will be landlords and operators who focus on flex office hubs which offer clients not only flex and flex & core formats but an integrated work/life service concept, according to a new report by flex space operator New Work.

CPI Property Group announced the acquisition of a 50.3% stake in the Chałubinskiego 8 office building in central Warsaw. The stake has been acquired from First Property Group for €44 million. 

The Polish Commercial Real Estate Chamber (PINK) published figures on Poland’s regional office markets for Q1 2020. The data is sourced from advisory companies from the commercial real estate sector (BNP Paribas Real Estate, CBRE, Colliers International, Cresa, Cushman & Wakefield, JLL, Knight Frank, Savills) and includes information on modern office stock, new completions, take-up volumes and vacancy rates.

A dramatic shift in the terms, functionality and layout of office rental space is predicted as a direct result of the global pandemic. Organisations could begin to develop innovative strategies that prevent and tackle environmental disasters which encompass disaster recovery plans and hygiene enablers. FreeOfficeFinder.com, an online agent marketing over 2500 UK serviced office providers, has spoken with tenants and landlords to gather perspectives and predictions of how the pandemic will drive changes and considerations for selecting office space.

Section B of the Olivia Prime office project in Gdańsk has received an occupancy permit and become the third largest office building in Poland. The Olivia Business Center complex now comprises 175,000 sqm in seven buildings and has a target size of more than 200,000 sqm.

What are the impacts of the coronavirus lockdown on the Polish property market? Our experts discussed, among other things, how government measures may affect the market and how this crisis accelerates the adaptation of technology. We summarize some arguments of the online panel discussion, moderated by Seweryna Afanasjew MRICS, Board Member of RICS World Europe Board.

Penta Real estate has submitted a building permit application to the Warsaw city council for the development of a new office project in the city’s Wola district, at the intersection of Miedziana and Pańska Streets. The developer acquired the 0.63 ha site in 2015 for PLN 50 million.

Sooner or later, many companies that recommended their employees to work from home due to the COVID-19 pandemic will return to their offices. Whether this happens in a matter of two, four or six weeks, it is a good idea to start preparing for the move now. The Six Feet Office concept offers rules and aids to enable and facilitate the observance of the safe six-feet distance for increased employee safety. The companies that implement these rules will be able to accelerate the return of their employees to the offices, and thus their own return to normal.

70% of office building managers confirmed the adverse effects of the current restrictions on contract negotiations in a survey conducted by Walter Herz. The consulting company analysed how companies in Poland are coping with the current situation on the office market and what effects does home office bring.