In 2016, the Warsaw office market grew by 407,000 sqm of new space in 21 projects. The vacancy rate has grown by 1.9 pp on a yearly basis to 14.2 of total stock with central locations having lower occupancy rates than non-central locations. The Polish Office Research Forum has published its data on the Warsaw office market for Q4 2016. 

Cushman & Wakefield has been responsible for the audit of the Sienna Center office complex and obtaining a BREEAM IN-USE International 2015 certificate for the scheme. The office complex received a “Very Good” rating in Asset Performance and an “Excellent” rating in Building Management. The scheme is owned by CA Immo.

Panattoni Europe will build another BTS facility for H&M. The distribution centre spanning over 30,000 sqm will be built in Grodzisk Mazowiecki – construction works are set to start in February 2017. The investment will be certified under the LEED system, aiming for the Silver rating level.

HB Reavis announced that construction has commenced on Varso Place, its flagship development in Warsaw’s city centre. Plans for the 140,000 sqm mixed-use scheme include one of Europe’s tallest towers and two mid-rise buildings. Completion is scheduled for 2020.

Located at 111 Marszałkowska Street in Warsaw, the Saski Point office building has received the BREEAM In-Use International certificate with a “Very Good” rating in Building Management and Asset Performance. Cushman & Wakefield property manages the facility on behalf of CA IMMO. 

Skanska has sold Westin Warsaw, a five star hotel in Warsaw, Poland, to Al Sraiya Holding Group. The value of the transaction is €56 million and the sale was recorded by Skanska Commercial Development Europe in the fourth quarter of 2016. The transaction is expected to be closed in the first quarter of 2017.

Echo Polska Properties (EPP) and Echo Investment concluded final agreements concerning a joint purchase and development of a mixed-use project at 22 Towarowa Street in Warsaw. The property with an area of 6.5-ha is located in a rapidly developing part of the capital city and it is the largest commercial plot in the city centre.

Panattoni Europe is developing a warehouse facility for DSV Solutions. The investment spanning nearly 25,000 sqm is being built at Panattoni Park Janki II and will be delivered to the tenant as early as the beginning of August 2017. The lease was mediated by JLL. 

The sale of Q22 skyscraper located on al. Jana Pawła II in Warsaw has been completed and Invesco Real Estate has become the new owner of the building. Echo Investment expects that the value of the transaction based on fully let NOI and an agreed yield, after all adjustments and additional payments, shall amount to €273 million. The acquisition of Q22 is the largest investment transactions in the office market in Poland and one of the biggest in Central and Eastern Europe in 2016.

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.