Category: I’m a resident

Firefighter Championships at Olivia Star. We’re cheering!

Posted on by Katarzyna Halicka

On September 3, Olivia Star will once again become the arena for an exceptional firefighting competition. Ahead of us are the 4th Pomeranian Firefighters’ Stair Climb and the 9th Pomeranian Voivodeship State Fire Service Stair Climb Championships. Competitors will run up to the 34th floor of Olivia Star in full equipment. They face as many as 885 stairs!

 

The championships will be held at Olivia Star for the sixth time. Competitors will start in two-person teams. They will tackle the grueling course in full equipment used during rescue and firefighting operations. Each of them will carry approximately 20 kilograms of combat equipment. Add to that the height, pace, and the need to cooperate with a partner. Such effort is therefore not only a sporting challenge, but also a form of training useful during real operations conducted in high-rise buildings.

 

34 floors in a few minutes

The finish line is located on the 34th floor of Olivia Star, approximately 140 meters above ground. The current official championship record stands at 6 minutes and 4 seconds. It belongs to the team from KP PSP Wejherowo consisting of Józef Hiller and Tomasz Plicht. Will anyone manage to conquer the 34 floors even faster this year? We’ll find out on September 3.

Competition, but also remembrance

The Pomeranian Firefighters’ Stair Climb also has a special symbolic dimension. The event is a tribute to the 343 firefighters who died during the rescue operation at the World Trade Center on September 11, 2001. The sporting competition is therefore combined with a test of the competitors’ fitness, skills, and resilience, but also with the memory of firefighters who paid the ultimate price during their service.

 

We’re cheering for the firefighters at Olivia Star

The competition will begin on Thursday, September 3, 2026.

Opening ceremony: 9:40 AM
Start of first competitors: 10:00 AM
Location: Olivia Star, al. Grunwaldzka 472C, Gdańsk
Finish line: 34th floor of Olivia Star

We invite you to cheer for the competitors and follow the firefighting competition at Olivia Star.

 

We’re keeping our fingers crossed. Will a new record be set this year?

 

Speednet on the 31st Floor of Olivia Star

Posted on by Katarzyna Halicka

The Office in 2026? An Example Speednet demonstrates that less can mean better and more efficient. The IT company, which previously leased two floors in Olivia Star optimized its space by moving to a smaller but more prestigious office on the highest office floor north of Warsaw. The company’s new office perfectly reflects the market transformations currently taking place in the office leasing segment. Business centres such as Olivia Centre, of which Olivia Star is a part, are gaining a significantly greater mix of tenants, also building their stability and resilience to turbulence in individual sectors of the economy, while the entire office centre community creates a more diverse ecosystem and space for cooperation, which was previously impossible during the period of dominance by selected industries.

 

Speednet is a strategic technology partner for financial institutions that want to deliver digital products faster, modernize legacy environments, and develop IT systems without compromising security, regulatory compliance, and operational stability. It helps regulated organizations shorten time-to-market, fill competency gaps, solve integration and technology challenges, and responsibly and securely implement innovations and use AI in daily work.

 

The company has been operating in a hybrid model for several years, and as the way of working changed, so did its office space requirements. In spring 2026, Speednet moved its Tri-City headquarters from the 19th and 20th floors of Olivia Star to the 31st floor—to a smaller but much better-suited space for the current work model. This is an excellent example of the direction in which the office segment is currently transforming. This example shows how many possibilities that previously seemed impossible or difficult are now everyday reality. It is also an example of how many opportunities are associated with choosing a large business centre as an office location and how flexibility in approach to leasing results in a lasting and partnership-based relationship between the office space manager and the tenant.

 

About why the company decided on this change, what the role of the office looks like today in a technology organization, and what makes employees want to come to it despite the possibility of remote work, Karolina Zarusińska, Head of Employer Branding at Speednet, explains.

 

Where did the need to move to the 31st floor of Olivia Star from the 19th and 20th floors come from?

We leased our previous office from 2021, which was when the labor market—especially in the IT industry—was changing very dynamically. Over those few years, the hybrid model became firmly established with us. We learned to work effectively in distributed teams, while at the same time we began to recruit specialists more broadly from outside the Tri-City as well.

 

Today, flexibility is an important element of our organizational culture. Some people work mainly remotely, some appear in the office regularly, and some choose it depending on projects, meetings, or simply the need to work with the team.

 

At a certain point, it became clear that two floors of approximately 1,000 m² each were no longer space corresponding to our real needs. We had already been subleasing one of the floors to a friendly company. At the beginning of this year, our needs, the needs of our tenant, and another company looking for larger space in Olivia Centre met at the perfect moment. As a result, a kind of triple relocation took place, and it appears that each party found a solution better suited to their current way of working.

 

We ended up on the 31st floor of Olivia Star—in a space decidedly more intimate, but at the same time very functional. And from the perspective of several months, we can say that it was a very good decision.

What is the area of the new office and how do you use it today?

The new office is approximately 480 m². We have about 40 workstations, all operating on a hot desk system. With our current hybrid model, this number corresponds very well to actual office attendance.

 

Instead of one large open space, the area has been divided into two smaller workstation zones—one intended mainly for technical teams, and the other for support departments. We also have three conference rooms, two separate rooms, a functional server room, and—decidedly the most important from the perspective of office life—a large social zone.

 

We wanted the space to be tailored not to the number of people employed in the company, but to how we actually use the office today. We no longer treat it solely as a place where you come for eight hours and sit at an assigned desk. Increasingly, it is a space for meetings, collaborative work, integration, or knowledge exchange.

 

What style prevails in the new office? What did you emphasize during its preparation?

We were somewhat fortunate because we ended up in a space that had already been very interestingly designed by Design Anatomy. Many elements from the original arrangement remained, giving the interior character—including the kitchen, green walls, planters, materials, and finishing details.

 

Of course, we adapted the layout to our needs, primarily by increasing the number of workstations, but we wanted to preserve the character of this space.

 

We also approached the relocation itself very pragmatically. We did not want to furnish the new office from scratch just because we were changing floors. We used the furniture we already had. Some of the equipment that we were unable to use in the smaller space we sold, and a considerable portion we also donated to charity.

 

New elements we decided on after the move included acoustic booths, which are simply very practical with hybrid work and a large number of online meetings.

Are there any unconventional solutions or places that are particularly worth describing?

Our social zone is definitely the heart of the new office. And we ourselves are a bit surprised at how warmly it has been received by everyone.

 

It is a combination of a kitchen, a large bar counter, seating areas, poufs, a pool table, and table football. You can have lunch together here, hold a less formal meeting, work with a laptop away from your desk, or simply meet with people you do not see every day with the hybrid work model.

 

Importantly, the space can be very easily adapted to different events. Since April, two larger events have already taken place here. The first was another edition of our company “MasterChef,” during which we prepared tartare and sushi together with the CEO. The second was kobido massage workshops organized for the women on our team. With both events, we were able to transform the everyday office space into an event venue in just a few moments.

 

The new office is also very green.

Definitely. It is much greener than our previous office.

 

We have three green walls, and the individual workstation zones are separated by large planters. Plants have also been placed in the conference rooms. Some of them are still settling in and growing, so we expect the effect will be even better over time.

 

It is actually quite an interesting contrast: on the one hand, we are on the 31st floor, with huge windows offering a panorama of the Tri-City and a view toward the Bay of Gdańsk, and on the other hand—inside we are surrounded by a lot of greenery. You could say we managed to avoid having to choose between a sea view and a view of plants.

How do the employees themselves rate the new office?

The best proof is probably their own words.

“Working in an intimate space full of greenery, filled with natural light thanks to huge windows with a view of the entire bay, is a work privilege that cannot be replaced by Fruit Thursdays. If I were to leave my job, it would only be with the awareness that I will probably never work in such a comfortable place again.”

Tymoteusz Olszewski
Head of AI

“Open space? I was skeptical. But it turns out that a well-designed space, plants that handle irrigation better than I do with mine at home, and the 31st floor did the trick. At this height, ‘working in the cloud’ takes on a completely new meaning—and it turned out that this space really rebuilt our relationships anew.”

 

Marta Nowocińska
People Performance Partner

“What I appreciate most is that the office is not one huge open space. The division into smaller parts gives a much more intimate atmosphere. In addition, the social heart zone naturally encourages meetings with people. A shared lunch at a long table, a quick game of table football, or a moment of conversation in the relaxation zone make integration happen on its own, somewhat incidentally—without the need to organize a special event.”

 

Weronika Dudko-Konopka
Employer Branding Specialist

And perhaps this last aspect is the most interesting for us. With hybrid work, the office must give people something more than just a workstation—a comfortable desk can be arranged at home as well. The value of the office becomes primarily the people, the possibility of spontaneous meetings, and a space that facilitates such meetings.

Is the new office fully ready?

Almost, although we still have a few ideas.

 

We want to recreate, among other things, a wall with photos from company events that we had in the previous office and which was one of its most beloved elements. Over the years, quite a lot of shared stories have accumulated, and we want this to be visible in our new space as well.

 

We also plan our “dinosaur wall”—of course in the best sense of the word. This is a place dedicated to people who have been at Speednet for over 10 years. We already have 40 (!) such people, so there is definitely someone to feature on it.

 

This is an important element for us because we want the new office not to be solely an impressive space on the 31st floor. It should also tell the story of the company and the people who have created it over the years.

 

And what is the biggest highlight related to the move?

Probably the very fact that we currently work in the highest-located office in northern Poland is already quite a good highlight.

 

However, what we like most is a certain paradox of this move. We moved to an office with significantly less space, and at the same time we have the feeling that we gained more space to be together.

 

And perhaps the little things that cannot be planned when designing an office show this best. Recently, for an entire week, practically every day someone brought homemade cake to work. Seemingly nothing major, but it is precisely such situations that make the space come alive and become a bit more “ours.”

 

The new office simply better corresponds to what the workplace is for us in 2026. It does not have to be a daily obligation to remain an important element of company life. It should make it so that when we do decide to meet on site, we really want to stay a bit longer—even if sometimes the additional motivation is a piece of homemade cake.

 

Value Sharing – A New Trend in Management Cadre Development

Posted on by Katarzyna Halicka

Organizations that have focused on creating shared value systems within their management cadre operate more effectively and achieve their goals more efficiently.

 

As Monika Jasińska emphasizes in her article “Quality of Teamwork in Difficult Situations,” published in the journal “Nowoczesne Systemy,” the cooperation of the management cadre is crucial for success and the so-called organizational resilience (i.e., the ability to operate effectively during various types of crises, including, for example, market turbulence). This refers to action based on clear and shared principles, psychological safety, and effective communication. To achieve a state of entrepreneurial creativity and efficiency, it is essential to operate according to uniform standards. According to the author of the study, this principle is significant for teams facing time pressure, uncertainty, and crises.

 

Research therefore shows that one of the key factors in organizational resilience and growth is developing a shared vision, values, and communication principles and ensuring that all managers operate according to the same standards—while maintaining individual style and a degree of operational flexibility. This is an important signal for companies that have relied on full autonomy for managers building their own teams: proper autonomy means respecting the individuality of each leader while simultaneously implementing unified and coherent principles across the entire enterprise.

The research findings are also confirmed by managerial practice and experiences often drawn from the spectacular rises and falls of companies. Numerous analyses have been produced on the difficult but essential cooperation of the management cadre—says Marta Moksa, Director of O4 Coworking at Olivia Centre. Essentially, every success story (e.g., Netflix) and failure (Lehman Brothers) can be reduced to building so-called “tough love in the boardroom,” which can be translated as “tough, masculine camaraderie in the boardroom.” In the book “The CEO’s Boss” by William Klepper, published by Columbia University, several analyses of director cooperation are presented—examples to emulate and cautionary tales. Companies flourish and emerge from crises when their management cadre has a functioning social contract, proper alignment, and constitutes a cohesive, effective team.

The dynamics of market changes force organizations to adapt to reality just as quickly, and the fact that certain mechanisms, standards of conduct, or team management methods worked just a few years ago does not mean they will work indefinitely. Therefore, one of the most constant truths about team management is change. At Bayer, with the implementation of a new operating model, the role of the leader has also changed, placing greater emphasis on empowerment, shared responsibility, and effective action under conditions of uncertainty and change—says Anna Switaj-Zawadka, Capability Community Lead Projects at Bayer. That is why developing leadership competencies, exchanging experiences, and building a common leadership language are so important. Cooperation, trust, and the ability to engage teams are today key factors in organizational success, and sharing best practices helps leaders effectively meet these challenges.

Experience shows that key to the success of enterprises is a well-cooperating team of managers who share the same set of goals and values. – According to Tuckman’s model, a team must change in accordance with successive stages of business development. And the truth is that every business has the shape of the letter S—first slow development, then dynamic growth, safe stagnation, and crisis, from which one enters the next slow development phase. There is no business in the world whose stages look different. And that is precisely why the effective functioning of the leadership cadre as a team is of such enormous importance. Examples of companies such as Procter & Gamble, Johnson & Johnson, BP, and Hewlett-Packard show that proper distribution of roles in the board, but above all shared organizational culture, common goals, and common methods enable survival of any crisis.

 

The significance of uniform values among the management cadre is also discussed by Katarzyna Laskowska, Director of the Entrepreneurship Development Department at the Pomeranian Development Agency: In small and medium-sized companies, the way leaders manage people very quickly translates into the daily work of the entire team. That is why it is worthwhile for owners, leaders, and managers to develop together, exchange experiences, and build a common approach to communication, responsibility, and decision-making. The more coherent the management approach, the fewer misunderstandings, the smoother the cooperation, and the greater the chance that the company will grow without losing a good atmosphere and people’s engagement.

 

Krzysztof Ratajczyk, Controlling Team Lead at Ergo Finance Global Business Services, speaks similarly on this topic: It is worthwhile to develop managers together, because then it is easier to establish a coherent approach to team management. Standards based on shared experiences help avoid situations in which each leader operates according to different principles. For employees, this means greater predictability, and for the organization, higher efficiency.

 

As he points out, Marta Moksa there is no single, universally effective management model, but when coherent values are shared by the management cadre, companies emerge from crises more easily: There is no single, simple way to build an effectively functioning team. The process of building a strong team consists of many elements—among them are educational experiences: joint learning of new leadership competencies, co-participation in discussions about the personal development of each member, and use of similar leadership tools. This knowledge formed the basis for developing the theme of the third edition of the LeadWell conference, which will take place this autumn at Olivia Centre in Gdańsk. It will be an excellent opportunity to discuss management effectiveness and new insights drawn from research and the concrete experiences of practitioners. The conference will provide ample opportunity to share real experiences in this area.

 

The fundamental idea that guided Marta Moksa, who together with Martyna Czarnobaj-Borowska is the creator of the conference program, was the conclusion that companies develop faster when leaders learn from one another, and the greatest value comes from knowledge about real events, successes, and failures, reported by their actual participants. In my opinion, there was a need for a space for free exchange of knowledge among leaders whose experience constitutes invaluable value for people carrying out similar tasks in their daily work. We wanted to create a field for unconstrained, valuable exchange of thoughts that would allow others to grow and avoid the pitfalls that their colleagues encountered earlier. We believe that the best solutions and conclusions come from dialogue and the opportunity to learn from one another, and that a strong community of leaders translates into business quality. I believe that with this event we are genuinely contributing to improving the working capabilities of managers and the development of companies.

The value of the conference is also discussed by Joanna Oksiucik, Site Lead in Gdańsk from the Risk Operations department at Amazon Corporate Operations, a participant in last year’s edition: Working with distributed employees, diverse team needs, and the rapid pace of change present new challenges for leaders. Trust, good communication, and the ability to build engagement regardless of where we work are becoming crucial today. LeadWell is for us a space for exchanging experiences, inspiration, and conversation about how to lead effectively today.

The third edition of the LeadWell conference will take place at Olivia Centre in Gdańsk on October 21–22, 2026.

Olivia: A Stable Business Partner

Posted on by Katarzyna Halicka

Early July brought one of the most significant sales in the Tri-City real estate market. Olivia Star, the tallest building in northern Poland, was acquired by Strabag Group. This is an important step in the development of Olivia Group, and the next will be the commissioning of the Olivia Pulse apartment building.

 

The sale of Olivia Star was immediately announced as the largest transaction of its kind this year outside Warsaw. This simultaneously strengthens the position of Poland’s largest business center, in which one of the largest investment groups in the European real estate market decided to invest. The acquisition of Olivia Star confirms the stability and success of Olivia Group, solidifying Olivia Centre’s status as a stable project developing towards a mixed-use model. The transaction proves that the largest entities in the real estate market want to be a part of it.

 

Olivia Star: A Star on Gdańsk’s Map

The tallest building in northern Poland was commissioned in 2018, stands 180 meters tall, and provides approximately 45,000 sq m of office space across 31 floors. Additionally, the building features an observation deck on the 32nd floor, which has been one of the Tri-City’s most popular attractions since 2019. The 33rd floor houses two prestigious restaurants, recognized with numerous international awards, including the highly renowned Michelin star. On the top 34th floor, there is an event and conference hall for 450 people, offering not only an exceptional space for all forms of cultural, business, and entertainment events, but also a breathtaking view of the entire Tri-City, the Hel Peninsula, the Tri-City Landscape Park, and Gdańsk Bay.

 

As representatives of Strabag Group emphasize, Olivia Star stands out for its high ecological and environmental responsibility parameters and aligns with the international real estate standards that the company is interested in. The property combines an excellent location, a very high occupancy rate, and strong ESG parameters, making it perfectly suited to our long-term investment strategy, says Verena Weingarten, Invest Manager, STRABAG Hold Estate. Strabag Group is a company with a long history in the real estate market and a well-established position both within and beyond Europe. With the sales agreement, Olivia Group was granted full management of the facility for at least 7 years, which confirms the high quality of services offered to residents and the desire to maintain it in the coming years. For Olivia residents, this transaction only means a strengthening of its position and potential, as well as a confirmation of the project’s stability and the willingness of a leading European group involved in the broad real estate market to participate in its development.

 

The Next Step in Olivia Centre’s Development

Olivia Centre continues to evolve, and will soon be enriched by Olivia Pulse – the first building offering 245 investment apartments, which will meet the needs of tenants wishing to live near the business heart of Gdańsk. This is another stage in the project’s development, which from the very beginning has been a source of pride for Gdańsk residents, a workplace for professionals, and a space for leisure. Thanks to Olivia Pulse, the center will reach a new level of maturity, welcoming its first permanent residents.

 

For our Group, attracting such a significant investor as STRABAG confirms the high position and standard of the entire center – says Ewa Nowicka, Sales Director and Board Member of Olivia Home, the developer responsible for the Olivia Pulse project. The transaction was preceded by thorough analysis and audits, which is a very important signal for Olivia Home and our clients, demonstrating stability and trust in our Group’s services. The fact that such a significant investor chose Olivia Group confirms the security and certainty of our investments, and now every apartment buyer within Olivia Pulse can become part of our project.

 

Since the commissioning of Olivia Star, the center has become a fully vibrant, multifunctional ecosystem, a place extending far beyond traditional office space rental. It boasts extensive service and retail facilities, including medical and educational institutions, a fitness club, and a diverse gastronomic offer, which future Olivia Pulse tenants will benefit from. All these factors make Olivia Centre one of the most unique and well-thought-out business centers in Poland, and its position continues to grow, allowing it to maintain an occupancy rate of approximately 98%. The commissioning of Olivia Pulse will be an important step towards transforming the center into a classic and complete mixed-use project. Olivia Pulse will allow residents to live near their workplace, relieving tenants of the difficulties associated with daily commutes to the office. It will also provide accommodation for those visiting Gdańsk short-term for business or tourism, naturally meeting the needs of the conference and restaurant center by complementing the comprehensive conference service. It will also offer an interesting proposition for students of the nearby University of Gdańsk campus, where nearly 20,000 people study daily.

Olivia Pulse is a seventeen-story building, in which most apartments will be designated for long-term rental, and some also for short-term rental to provide accommodation for conferences and events organized on the top floors of Olivia Star. The investor also provided buyers with full operational support, which will be handled by Olivia Rent, also part of Olivia Group. This ensures that the investment will not only offer the standard already known from Olivia Centre but also relieve buyers of the responsibility of property management. Each apartment is offered with full finishing and interior equipment in one of three selected design styles. The project is currently in its final phase of implementation, with the first handovers scheduled for this autumn, allowing Olivia Home clients to expect a profit as early as 2026.

 

A workshop? Team-building? Or perhaps yoga on the O4 Coworking terrace? Your voucher awaits!

Posted on by Katarzyna Halicka

A workshop, brainstorming session, client meeting, pre-holiday summary, or perhaps summer team-building? If you’re planning a morning yoga session for your team, creative networking, or an informal outdoor meeting in August, O4 Coworking has something extra for you! At our O4, you can bring virtually any idea to life! Especially since coworking conference spaces are now on a special offer!

 

A summer voucher for Olivia Residents is waiting!

 

A special offer awaits Olivia Centre Residents. A summer voucher worth 200 PLN is now available, which can be used for renting:

  • The Green Terrace at Olivia Star,
  • rooms in the Conference Center on the ground floor of Olivia Four (Jupiter, Mars, Venus rooms).

 

The voucher is valid for bookings of spaces for a minimum of three hours and can be used until the end of August.

 

This summer, we particularly recommend the Green Terrace on the second floor of Olivia Star. Grass, flowers, sun, deckchairs, and a less formal atmosphere provide ideal conditions for team-building, networking, creative outdoor meetings, or rejuvenating breaks between project discussion segments. The terrace can also become a venue for a company breakfast, a joint yoga session, a well-being meeting, or another intimate event. This proposal is for companies that wish to combine substantive work with relaxation and more informal conversation.

 

 

Space is just the beginning

 

O4 also provides the facilities needed for efficient meeting organization. The rooms are equipped with screens or projectors, high-speed fiber optic internet access, and air conditioning. Depending on the chosen space, sound systems, microphones, and technical support are also available.

 

On-site, you can order coffee breaks, snacks, lunch, or catering, including vegetarian, vegan, gluten-free, and lactose-free options. The O4 team helps select the space, equipment, and room layout to match the nature of your event.

 

 

See available rooms and spaces

 

Contact O4 Coworking

 

Let’s explore the city together! Oliwa and the Women of Gdańsk Shipyard

Posted on by Katarzyna Halicka

Summer is a great time to explore the city and discover Gdańsk from a less obvious perspective. Last year, in addition to yoga, sailing, volleyball, and running, we invited you for walks around Oliwa, Zaspa, Nowy Port, and Aniołki. This year, together with the Urban Culture Institute and Local Guides, we are discovering new districts. We start after work, at 5:30 PM!

 

In August, we will delve into the secrets of Oliwa, and we will also visit the Gdańsk Shipyard, following in the footsteps of the shipyard women, as part of the Metropolitanka project.

 

Three walks and a wealth of history await us, easily overlooked when traversing Gdańsk by well-trodden paths. We invite you!

 

 



OLIWA | AUGUST 12 | 5:30 PM

The Culture Town Hall and a now-defunct building, where we will begin our story. The secrets of Polanki Street, the building of the 5th High School, and the Cistercian church, where an unprepared tourist often gets lost. What was it like with the Oliwa district and why is there nothing to boast about, meaning the history of the current post office building? Who was Kanapariusz? Oliwa Park, where we will learn the extraordinary history of the Abbots’ Palace and discover something that cannot be seen anywhere else in the world.


Buy a ticket

 

 

 


FOLLOWING IN THE FOOTSTEPS OF THE WOMEN OF GDAŃSK SHIPYARD | AUGUST 25 | 5:30 PM

Why did the shipyard need women, and women need the shipyard? Join us for a walk along the path of Gdańsk women by choice. Where did the shipyard workers come from? How were women encouraged to take up work there? What was daily life like at the shipyard? Under what conditions did welders, crane operators, and insulators work? What did they eat during work? All this against the backdrop of Polish months, namely December ’70 and August ’80.


Buy a ticket

 

 

 

 


Lokalni Przewodnicy i Przewodniczki

These are daily walks off the beaten path, during which residents of Gdańsk, with passion, knowledge, and commitment, guide us through the lesser-known corners of Gdańsk. The list of routes, expanded over the years, now includes nine districts: Oliwa, Orunia, Dolne Miasto, Nowy Port, Biskupia Górka, Wyspa Sobieszewska, Zaspa, Aniołki, and Siedlce.

Each walk is conducted according to the guide’s original script. During the walk, you can learn about the local nature and architecture, discover the history of the district, and peek into its secret places usually known only to residents. The guides talk about literary inspirations or artistic themes related to a given place, and their narratives are often seasoned with personal touches. The walks allow you to experience the city from a different perspective. Sometimes, the stories told by the guide surprise even the oldest residents of the district. Tourists, in turn, appreciate the “insider” knowledge of the guides, which reveals the atmosphere of the place and allows them to delve deeper into the city’s specifics. More about Local Guides…

 

Metropolitanka

Metropolitanka is a herstory project (from English her story), which restores the voice to women omitted in traditional narratives. Together, we discover the history of the Tri-City through the prism of the experiences of female workers, activists, artists, and residents of the Metropolis. During the walks of the Metropolitanka project, organizers and guides weave stories, restoring memory and voice to women overlooked in official narratives. Join us and discover the history of Gdańsk through the experiences of female activists, laborers, employees, and residents.

Walking, you will learn why the shipyard was called a mother and what Kone cranes have in common with wives. We will tell you about the daily lives of women – nurses, crane operators, welders, cleaners, office workers, and cooks. We will answer questions: was working at the Shipyard associated with prestige? What support could female employees expect? What role did women play in strike activities? We will debunk myths and share true stories. metropolitanka.ikm.gda.pl

 

Project Organizer

Instytut Kultury Miejskiej (Urban Culture Institute) – a self-governing cultural institution that creates events for and with the participation of residents. Its goal is to increase the role of culture in city life and develop local identity. For more events, please visit www.ikm.gda.pl.

 

 

Strategic Patron: Stary Ziomek i Morze
Media Patrons: Radio Gdańsk, Prestiż Magazyn Trójmiejski, Trojmiasto.pl
Partners: Plama GAK, Stowarzyszenie Biskupia Górka, Opowiadacze Historii Dolnego Miasta w Gdańsku, Od Wyzwolenia do Wolności, Stacja Orunia GAK, Fundacja Wspólnota Gdańska, Wyspa Skarbów GAK, Rada Dzielnicy Aniołki.

Join us for O!WACJE. A Positive End-of-Summer Concert!

Posted on by Katarzyna Halicka

Get ready for “O!WACJE. A Positive End-of-Summer Concert.” You know “Między ciszą a ciszą” (Between Silence and Silence), don’t you? Of course! So you can imagine it will be amazing! Why? Because once again, we will show ourselves and others that singing together in hundreds of voices works wonders and helps maintain peace of mind. It’s worth adding that this is NOT THE ONLY well-known, cheerful, yet also slightly reflective piece you will hear that day… After all, it’s an end-of-summer concert. Positive, energizing, though already pre-autumnal.

 

This time, the Olivia Centre Choir, along with five other Tricity choirs, will perform Grzegorz Turnau’s “Między ciszą a ciszą.” And it will be in a beautiful arrangement prepared especially for this occasion by Beata Wróblewska from the Academy of Music in Gdańsk. What does Master Turnau think of such a unique endeavor? He considers it an excellent idea and gladly endorses it. Get ready! Because there will also be a moment when we all sing this song together. You can start preparing now.

 

And you certainly remember last September. Nearly 200 people, one voice, and a lot of emotion. “Sobie i Wam” (To Ourselves and To You) sung together by hundreds of people who do completely different things in life, but for a moment stood side by side to feel truly together. It was so good that we are simply doing it again! So it can’t be any other way. You must be here. O!WACJE on September 11th at the Olivia patio!

 

 

Performers:

 

Olivia Centre Choir

Fahrenheit Universities Alumni Choir “Non Serio”

Oliwa Neighborhood House Choir “Po Sąsiadach”

SANS Mundus Cantat Festival Choir

Medical University of Gdańsk Choir

Incontro Choir

 

 

 

Why do we want to be and sing together?

Because life can be too intense and loud. A lot happens, and we chase after everything so quickly. The concert’s theme song – “Między ciszą a ciszą” – is a bit like a deep breath in the middle of a busy day. A reminder that it’s worth stopping, taking care of yourself, your mind, and the people around us. It seems like nothing groundbreaking, yet we still forget about it. And that’s why we will sing and feel the music together. Amateurs alongside professionals, students alongside working people, younger and older, ladies and gentlemen. Because from this mix of passion and love for music comes all the energy of this event.


Join us for the Positive End-of-Summer Concert

O!WACJE on September 11th at 5:00 PM.

 

 

 

See what it was like last year!

 

Listen to “Sobie i Wam” with 200 voices

 

 

Discover the story behind it… We invite you to watch a short film about why it’s so important for us to be able to “Afford Peace of Mind”

 

 

Who is organizing this?

The event is organized by Olivia Centre and the Olivia Centre Choir, a team that has been singing together for almost 10 years, under the guidance of the excellent conductor Wiktoria Pagieła. The choir includes people from several dozen companies and organizations, and sometimes their families, friends, and acquaintances, because why not.

 


Join us!
Come to the Olivia Centre patio on September 11th,
if you want to feel positive vibes!

 

 

Summer promotion at O4 Coworking! A workshop? Team-building? Or perhaps yoga on the terrace? Find out more!

Posted on by Katarzyna Halicka

A workshop, brainstorming session, client meeting, pre-holiday summary, or perhaps summer team-building? If in August you’re planning a morning yoga session for your team, creative networking, or an informal outdoor meeting, O4 Coworking has something special for you! At our O4, you can bring virtually any idea to life! Especially since coworking conference spaces are now on special offer!

 

For you: Buy 3, get 1 free!

 

As part of our summer promotion, you can rent O4 Coworking space for three hours and get the fourth hour free! The offer includes:

  • meeting rooms and workshop spaces in the Conference Center,
  • the Green Terrace at Olivia Star.

 

An additional hour provides more flexibility when organizing a meeting. It can be used for networking, workshop summaries, Q&A sessions, a shared lunch, or an informal team-building part.

 

And there’s plenty to choose from! The coworking portfolio includes, among others, small rooms for individual meetings and project discussions, workshop spaces, training rooms, and larger conference rooms that can be combined. Intimate, more formal, and completely informal spaces. An intensive workshop, a client presentation, or a quiet strategic discussion among a small group each require a different setting.


Check the full offer

 

 

Green Terrace: meetings in a summer setting

 

This summer, we particularly recommend the Green Terrace on the second floor of Olivia Star. Grass, flowers, sun, deckchairs, and a less formal atmosphere provide ideal conditions for team-building, networking, creative outdoor meetings, or rejuvenating breaks between project discussion segments. The terrace can also become a venue for a company breakfast, a shared yoga session, a well-being meeting, or another intimate event. This proposal is for companies that want to combine substantive work with relaxation and more casual conversation.

 

 

Summer voucher for Olivia Centre Residents

 

A special offer awaits Olivia Centre Residents. A summer voucher worth 200 PLN is now available, which can be used when renting:

  • the Green Terrace at Olivia Star,
  • rooms in the Conference Center on the ground floor of Olivia Four (Jupiter, Mars, Venus rooms).

 

The voucher is valid for reservations of space for a minimum of three hours and can be used until the end of August.

 

 

Space is just the beginning

 

O4 also provides the facilities needed for efficient meeting organization. The rooms have screens or projectors, access to fast fiber optic internet, and air conditioning. Depending on the chosen space, you can also use sound systems, microphones, and technical support.

 

On-site, you can order a coffee break, snacks, lunch, or catering, including vegetarian, vegan, gluten-free, and lactose-free options. The O4 team helps select the space, equipment, and room layout to match the nature of your event.

 

 

See available rooms and spaces

 

Contact O4 Coworking

 

Football League 2025/2026 concluded! Join us for the grand finale!

Posted on by Katarzyna Halicka

A record number of goals and a tight race for the championship. That’s how the 2025/2026 Olivia Football League season can be summarized in brief. Excitement, sporting rivalry, and positive energy once again came together on the pitch. 13 teams participated in the competition, representing over 200 players from companies at Olivia Centre. All matches were officiated by professional referees from the Pomeranian Football Association. This was one of the most thrilling seasons in the league’s history. 62 matches played, as many as 510 goals scored, and a final that kept everyone on edge until the last action.

 

 


On July 31 at 12:00 PM, our patio will host the ceremonial awards presentation for the Football League teams. All as part of Active Day! It will be a special moment! Come celebrate the champions, thank all the teams for their efforts, and join us in celebrating the conclusion of these exciting competitions!

 

 

 

The season in dry statistics. The numbers speak for themselves

  • 510 goals scored
  • 375 assists recorded
  • 62 matches played
  • 24 yellow cards and only 2 red cards
  • an average of 8.22 goals per match

This average shows that this season featured plenty of offensive, spectacular football on the pitch, and team discipline remained at a very high level, as evidenced by the minimal number of red cards.

 

Undisputed top scorer

No one could match Patryk Kraśniewski from FC Lyreco this season. The striker finished the competition with an impressive tally of 24 goals, four goals ahead of second-placed Wojciech Borkowski (Just Join IT; 20 goals). The podium was completed by Norbert Tomicki from Erste Network, who scored 18 goals.

Kraśniewski and Tomicki also lead in assists

In the top assists classification, we have a tie at the top. Both Patryk Kraśniewski and Norbert Tomicki recorded 13 assists. Behind them is Wojciech Borkowski with 11 assists. The podium is completed by Adam Szczot, a player for Energa.

Combined points standings. Kraśniewski is the season’s king

Combining goals and assists, there is no doubt who was the season’s MVP. Patryk Kraśniewski accumulated 37 points (24 goals + 13 assists), decisively ahead of the rest of the field. Behind him, tied with an identical tally of 31 points in 2nd place, are Norbert Tomicki and Wojciech Borkowski. The podium is completed by Paweł Lis.

Knockout phase. Excitement until the final whistle

The group stage determined the top eight, which competed in the knockout phase. Here is the final standings.

 

The final proved to be a true highlight. Just Join IT defeated FC Lyreco 5:4 in a match full of twists and turns. The decisive goal was reportedly scored by Wojciech Borkowski (this information still requires confirmation).

 

Equally intense was the third-place match . After a regulation draw, EPAM Systems kept their composure better in the penalty shootout, defeating Erste Network. Both the final and the third-place match demonstrated that the differences between the season’s top teams were minimal.

 

Just Join IT defends the title, FC Lyreco is the sensation

Comparing this year’s top finishers with the results from the previous season (2024/25) reveals several interesting facts. In the 2024/25 season, the top five looked as follows: 1. Just Join IT, 2. EPAM Systems, 3. Erste Network, 4. thyssenkrupp, 5. FC Lyreco. Just Join IT thus claimed the championship for the second consecutive time. This confirms that this team remains a powerhouse in the league and defends its title with full merit.

 

The revelation of the season was FC Lyreco, which finished in 5th place the previous year but in this edition reached the final, finishing the season in second place. That’s a four-position climb and the strongest evidence of progress achieved by any team this season. This was largely thanks to the phenomenal form of Patryk Kraśniewski, the top scorer and leader in the combined points standings.

 

EPAM Systems, despite dropping one position (from 2nd to 3rd), once again secured a podium finish, confirming the team’s exceptional consistency in recent seasons. Meanwhile, Erste Network, last year’s bronze medalist, this time finished in 4th place, losing the battle for the podium only in penalties. A clear drop in form was recorded by thyssenkrupp – from 4th place last year to 6th this season.

 

Battle for places 5-8

It wasn’t only the top positions that provided excitement. The competition for places 5-8 also featured plenty of goals:

  • Olivia Centre – Energa 4:4 (0:1 in penalties)
  • Ricoh – thyssenkrupp 3:11

In the match for 7th place, Ricoh defeated Olivia Centre 4:0, and for 5th place Energa crushed thyssenkrupp 7:3, sealing the final arrangement of the top eight.

 

Standings for places 9-13

Below the second tier, five teams competed for positions in the table. The best performers from this group were Arrow Services and Capgemini. Both teams finished the competition with 9 points, but Arrow Services secured the higher position thanks to a better goal difference (+15 versus +5).

 

A surprise may be the last place finish of Air Legends – despite having the worst goal difference in this group, the team was simultaneously among the season’s fair play teams, not receiving a single card.

 

 

Fair Play. Three teams without a single card

Special recognition goes to the teams that went through the entire season without any cards: Air Legends, Erste Network, and Navblue. As we can see, the highest goals in the league can also be pursued through clean, sporting play.

 

Summary

The 2025/26 season will be remembered as one of the highest-scoring and most competitive in the league’s history. Individually, Patryk Kraśniewski shone, the Just Join IT team proved most effective overall, and fans could count on genuine excitement right up to the final whistle of the championship match. We already can’t wait for the next edition of the competition!

 

 

More

 

 

 

ACTIVE DAY is coming. Check out the schedule!

Posted on by Katarzyna Halicka

Get ready for the most energetic day of this summer! This Friday, July 31st, Olivia will transform into a true hub of sports excitement, healthy lifestyle, and great fun. We’ve prepared ACTIVE DAY for you – a day packed with attractions that will prove that movement is pure pleasure, and Friday is the perfect time to recharge your batteries together.

 

Check out what we’ve prepared for you and plan your Friday with ACTIVE DAY!

 

 

Morning warm-up from the very start

 

We start the day on a high note (and with complete peace of mind), even before office duties fully kick in.

  • 07:00 | SUP classes. For those who want to start the day with a unique perspective, feel a true holiday vibe, and test their balance on the water. It’s an ideal, refreshing start to wake up the body. Sign up!
  • 08:00 | Morning warm-up with Magda Poborca. After water fun, we’ll smoothly transition to a morning practice on land. Magda needs no introduction – for years, she has been taking care of your fitness and flexibility during afternoon yoga classes at Olivia. This time, Magda will energize us with positive vibes and get every body moving, preparing us for the rest of this intense day. Sign up!

 

Patio full of challenges (11:00 AM – 1:30 PM)

 

In the middle of the day, we move to the patio, which will transform into a zone full of diverse activities. Between 11:00 AM and 1:30 PM, you can expect:

  • Ninja-style training. Want to test your agility and strength? Special scaffolding will be set up on the patio, where you can train ninja-like moves under the guidance of professionals. We guarantee lots of fun and a safe dose of adrenaline!
  • CityFit Zone. A CityFit stand will appear on the patio – a gym well-known to everyone at Olivia. They’ve prepared something special for you! You’ll be able to step onto a scale with a body composition analyzer to learn about your muscle mass, body hydration, and more. For competition fans, the CityFit team will bring the iconic Air Bike – take part in the challenge, achieve the best possible score, and win super prizes!
  • Dance steps with Studio RYTM. Movement also means dance! Instructors from the RYTM dance studio will get you moving and teach you awesome routines. A few simple steps are enough to feel the rhythm and boost your endorphins.
  • Health Zone with Omniotic. Because sport also means consciously taking care of your body from the inside. Experts from Omniotic will introduce you to the topic of probiotics – you’ll learn how to support your immunity, microbiota, and overall well-being with an active lifestyle.
  • 12:00 PM | Conclusion of the Olivia Football League 2025/2026. This will be a special moment! Exactly at noon, a ceremonial summary of the football season will take place on the patio. Come and reward the champions, thank all the teams for their fight, and celebrate the end of these exciting games together!

 

Gastro Zone: Italian feast and ice cream to cool down

 

After intense activity and sports challenges, a delicious reward is in order. The Sapori Perfetti food truck will park on the patio, serving authentic, brilliant Italian cuisine. And because we’re strongly hoping for beautiful, sunny weather, there will also be something to cool you down – artisanal ice cream from Lodolove!

 

Great emotions on the sand: Olivia Summer Cup

 

Simultaneously, on our courts, the temperature will reach its peak! A fierce beach volleyball tournament – the Olivia Summer Cup – will be ongoing. This is an excellent opportunity to feel the spirit of healthy competition. Sign up!

 

Even if you’re not playing on a team, your voice matters! We invite entire office teams to passionately cheer for their favorites. Bring your banners, good humor, and plenty of energy – let’s create an unforgettable atmosphere in the stands!

 

 

Evening chill. Sunset sailing (8:00 PM)

 

For the perfect end to this eventful day, we’ve prepared something truly magical. At 8:00 PM, we’ll move to the Sopot marina, from where we’ll set sail for an evening cruise at sunset. This is the ideal moment to catch your breath, socialize, and admire the beauty of the Tri-City from the water in the best company. Sign up!

Lace up your sports shoes and let’s spend this super active day together. See you there!