Despite the still ongoing pandemic, the first half of 2021 was successful for lessees and developers operating in the Tri-City. According to a report prepared by Cresa[1], office space in the agglomeration increased by more than 6% over the year, while the volume of transactions was 85% y/y higher. In terms of the activity of lessees, the Tri-City is in third place, behind Warsaw and Kraków. According to the forecasts of analysts, this year, the local market will break through the barrier of a million square meters. This is the best confirmation of the region’s high investment potential and the growing interest of companies interested in safe, sustainable and innovative work space in leasing office space. 

Safe 

Care for employee health has become an absolute priority during the current pandemic. This is all the more important because, according to a survey commissioned by Skanska’s office company, Polish workers want to return to their offices. The home office has become a burden for many of us, which is reflected in the data – more than half of the Polish respondents expressed their willingness to come to the office every day or 3–4 times a week. In this context, office space must not only be conducive to team building and be a place for having creative ideas, but must primarily guarantee safety.

– Wave is an office building that meets the highest safety standards and therefore offers workplaces that are fully adapted to the surrounding reality. The building is equipped, among other things, with adiabatic humidifiers and modern ventilation systems providing 30% more fresh air than the norms envision for office space. The Connected by Skanska system also operates in it, facilitating contactless movement around the building – says Adam Targowski, Environmental Director at Skanska’s office company in the CEE region. – Wave was also the first in the Tri-City to receive the WELL Health-Safety Rating certificate. This is the latest standard of the International WELL Building Institute confirming that the building offers safe and healthy working conditions – adds Adam Targowski.

Wave is also the first office building on the Tri-City market to apply for the demanding WELL Core&Shell certificate. WELL places a great deal of emphasis on appropriate ventilation and filtration of the air in the premises, maintaining an appropriate level of humidity and taking care of thermal comfort.

Green and sustainable 

The time for half-measures has gone: we all have to start looking after our planet’s natural environment and hence our future here and now. Skanska is constantly working on further, environmental solutions, which it then implements in its investment projects. This is appreciated not only by the lessees and their employees, but also by the market environment. In 2021, Wave was awarded the LEED Core&Shell Platinum certificate. LEED certification applies to such matters as energy conservation, reduction of water consumption, and the carbon footprint. Wave also uses electricity produced from green sources, primarily hydroelectric power plants. The issues related to sustainable construction were taken into account as early as at the stage of construction of the office building. Almost ¼ of the materials used for building Wave were recycled elements.

– Skanska’s projects are implemented with consideration given to the well-being of their users, simultaneously taking into account our neighborhood. Therefore, we introduce solutions that contribute to increasing comfort and the establishment of relations between employees and we care for the environment together. One of the best examples of our sustainable approach to construction is the anti-smog pavement made of the so-called "green concrete" laid around the office building, which reduces harmful compounds from the polluted air – adds Adam Targowski.

Wave is an office building that puts cyclists first. Employees have as many as 442 bicycle spaces at their disposal, as well as locker rooms, lockers and showers, together with elevators for cyclists and a service station.

Furthermore, the Tri-city’s first shared mobility hub – City Hub – has been launched beside the office building. This is specially arranged space where anyone can rent electric scooters from Hop.City, scooters from the Bolt app or Traficar cars. The concept also includes a cab rank and a place for deliveries.

[1] Cresa’s 2021 report “Office Occupier: Rynek biurowy w Trójmieście” [Eng.: Office Occupier: Office Market in the Tri-City].