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.

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.

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.

Panattoni has begun construction work on a new distribution building in Panattoni Park Poznań IX. Rhenus Logistics S.A. – part of the Rhenus Group – is to take up 18,000 sqm. The building will be ready for use from June next year.

Trei Real Estate GmbH increased its development volume to €960 million euros during H1 2020. This implies an increase by €60 million euros since year-end 2019 (€900 million). Compared to the prior-year figure (H1 2019: €730 million), the growth actually amounted to €230 million, which equals an increase by 31 percent year on year. A breakdown of the €960 million by type of use shows €175 million in the retail segment and €785 million in the residential segment.

The first half of this year saw an absolute record-breaking result in the history of the Polish investment market in the warehouse segment. For the office sector, it was the second-best six months in history in terms of transaction value. Despite the turmoil caused by COVID-19, total transaction volume in the commercial real estate sector in Poland in the first half of this year was even higher than the excellent result from the same period in 2019, according to Walter Herz.

Panattoni is extending Panattoni Park Gdańsk Airport to meet the needs of a new tenant. Leading logistics operator PEKAES is to take up 11,500 sqm with a further 4,000 sqm secured for its future expansion. From March 2021 the tenant will have both traditional warehouse and cross-docking space at its disposal.