Before the end of 2009 Katowice will have its business district, similar to those in most large cities. In June Globe Trade Centre S.A. (GTC) started its first Katowice-based office investment at Francuska 34, worth 50 millions Euro. The Francuska Office Center is to fill in the gap in the supply of A-class office spaces in the capital of Upper Silesia. Great location will make it the central point of the modern business district of the city concentrated along one of the main streets in Katowice.
- GTC is to complete the first out of two buildings of the Francuska Office Center already in 2009
- Over 21,500 sq m of A-class office space is being constructed in the emerging Katowice business district.
The modern complex of the Francuska Office Center will consist of two seven-storey A -class buildings. The office blocks comprising 11,000 and 10,500 sq m will be provided with a professional security system and an underground car park with for 400 cars. The developer is planning to complete the first building in a year.
– The demand for office spaces in Katowice is great, especially for class-A buildings. The Francuska Office Center will respond to market needs and upgrade the image of Katowice as the right place for business. What is more, it can also transform the part of the city along Francuska street – says Piotr Kroenke, GTC’s General Director.
– Katowice needs a place that would play the role of the city’s business district. Just as GTC’s investments in Warsaw’s Służewiec have transformed the factory and warehouse area into an office, retail and entertainment district, our office buildings in Francuska can change Katowice – adds Piotr Kroenke.
The Francuska Office Centre is being built in an ideal location for this type of an investment – close to the new seat of the Regional Court, public and cultural institutions as well as retail centers. Another advantage will be direct access from Francuska street, the vicinity of the Muchowiec airfield, A4 motorway, national road no. 86 connecting Warsaw and Bielsko-Biała as well as very good communication with the Kraków-Balice airport. Good transport connection with downtown Katowice, which is only 3 minutes away, will be provided by public transport.
– We want Katowice to have its business district similar to those in other cities we invest in. But to be called a business district such an area has to meet several conditions. Besides office buildings it needs to have public institutions, hotels, restaurants and retail parks. Very good communication is crucial here. In Katowice, Francuska street meets these conditions (neighbourhood of District Court, Silesian Library and building of Silesian Seym) and we hope that our investment, the two modern office blocks, will be a breakthrough – adds Piotr Kroenke.
The architectural concept prepared by the Warsaw-based APA Wojciechowski studio and Katowice-based STABIL assumes that GTC’s modern office complex will blend in with the adjacent Regional Court and be an integral part of the planned development of this part of Katowice. The Francuska Office Centre is based on a rectangular plan with some folds. The glazed facade will be completed with light stone panelling. High quality of the finishing elements will not only give the complex an attractive image but also access to natural light.
A typical floor in the A building will have 1,740 sq m, whereas in the B building – 1,600 sq m. The flexible design of the interior of each floor will allow one or more tenants to arrange the available office space either as an open space or in the form of separate rooms. Each floor will be fitted with tilt windows, air conditioning, suspended ceilings and floor carpets.
The general contractor is HOCHTIEF Polska, Kpis-Cracovia Branch, and the leasing of office space is the responsibility of international real estate market consultants: Cushman Wakefield and Knight Frank. The project is managed by Gleeds Polska Sp. z. o.o.
Katowice is one of seven Polish cities where GTC undertakes its investments. The company started its activity in the capital of Upper Silesia in 2006 with the purchase of plots of land at Francuska street, where the Francuska Office Centre is being built and at Mikołowska street, where an office and residential investment will be carried out.
Examples of GTC’s investments that have transformed their surroundings:
in Poland
Służewiec – Warsaw
A few years ago this was an industrial and warehousing district. Today, after a complete revival of this area, Służewiec is a place where the biggest property developers carry out their investments. GTC is building a complex of office buildings called Platinium Business Park.
Bronowice – Kraków
Armii Krajowej Street is getting a business image, with modern office buildings and banks emerging there. The district’s ambience is also created by GTC, with its three identical buildings – Galileo, Newton and Edison – seating such companies as IBM Business Consulting Services, Raiffeisen Bank Polska or Grupa Lotos.
Galeria Kazimierz – Kraków
In 2003 the company started construction works in the former meat processing plant. After thorough revitalisation of industrial land the developer created a unique project combining historical structures with modern architecture. In March 2005 GTC completed Krakow’s first modern retail and entertainment centre – Galeria Kazimierz. The company has started the construction of offices on an additional floor of Galeria Kazimierz, and in Q2 2009 the adjacent Kazimierz Office Center will be erected here.
in Europe:
Holesovice – Prague – Czech Republic
The Holesovice district located on the Vltava river is only a few minutes away from the centre of Prague. Thanks to the Prague Marina complex (three A-class office buildings owned by GTC), and its reputed tenants, the Holesovice area has become as important a part of the city as Downtown Prague.
Budapest – Hungary
Budapest’s Vaci Street is one of its most popular office locations. GTC, with its Center Point class-A office building, contributes to creating Vaci’s business image. The area of 41,000 sq m is leased by such reputed companies as Exxon Mobil, Raiffeissen Bank, Honeywell and Alianz Bank.
Bucharest – Romania
The areas around Piata Presei Libere in Bucharest, in the vicinity of the Sofitel hotel and the Romexpo exhibition centre are known as the most prestigious district in Romania’s capital city. GTC’s modern City Gate office complex is also located there. It is regarded as Bucharest’s business gate.