The competitive advantages and strengths of the CEE region are well known to investors. But new factors have emerged that may play a central role in the medium and long-term. For example, there is a marked shift from cost efficiency to quality and knowledge-based operations across all sectors of the CEE economy. How is the tenant structure in CEE changing? Does growth in the BSS sector show any signs of slowing down? How do the legal and fiscal structures in CEE countries compare to those in Western Europe? All the answers to these and other important questions can be found in this year’s CEE Investment Report 2018: New Frontiers of Growth by Skanska, CBRE, Dentons and PwC.

Skanska has sold the first phase of the Spark office complex in Warsaw to a real estate fund of KGAL Investment Management GmbH & Co. KG, a leading German independent investment and asset manager. This is not only the buyer's first acquisition with Skanska, it is also the fund's first investment in the Polish office market.

Skanska is investing about €29 million in the third phase of Nordic Light office complex, located in the 13th district of Budapest with a total leasable area of 14,000 sqm. Nordic Light Trio is designed to meet the WELL Building Standard.

Skanska is commencing the construction of its Parkview office building, designed by architectural studio Richard Meier & Partners. The nine-storey building, that will offer nearly 16,000 sqm of office space is scheduled for completion in Q1 2020.

Skanska has opened its fifth office building in Wroclaw. The 18,000 sqm Green2Day complex’s tenants include KPMG, Ultimo, Tieto, Natek and Enel-Med. The Business Link, a coworking network, is also establishing a branch in the building.

One of the most active developers of Prague’s office market is ready to embrace the digital transformation and is actively looking at new projects and new locations. Alexandra Tomášková, Managing Director of Skanska Property Czech Republic talked to Property Forum about changing tenant needs, digitisation and market expectations.

Skanska has sold Mill Park, a two-building office project in Budapest, to the real estate fund of Erste Alapkezelő Zrt., one of the subsidiaries of Erste Asset Management GmbH, for €100 million. This is the second acquisition from Skanska in Budapest that the purchaser has made following the Nordic Light transaction in 2016.

Skanska has acquired the 61-meter Waterworks office building in Budapest. The developer is demolishing the 26,000 sqm office building which dates from 1981. Later on, Skanska plans to develop a modern, visionary office complex in the same location.

Office developers have for years been struggling with the speed of new technologies. While the innovation cycle in high tech lasts for around 18 months, the development process for office buildings still takes around five years. To ensure tenants and users have easy access to new solutions, Skanska has created an all-in-one operating system for office buildings and workplaces, which can be upgraded over time just like a smartphone.

Skanska has invested €52 million in the first phase of an office development in Wrocław, Poland. The first phase with a total leasable area of around 26,000 square meters will consist of two buildings, 15 and six stories high, with a shared two-level underground parking lot.