Olivia Prize 2020 awarded! VTS Group, p-beep and EPAM Systems win the first edition of the Olivia Business Centre awards.

Olivia Business Centre, the largest business centre in Poland, awarded its Residents for their greatest and most important achievements of 2020. The winners were selected from 46 submitted projects, competing with each other in three categories: Olivia Pro Bono, Olivia Business and Olivia Global. The Grand Prix was won by the Polish company VTS Group.

VTS Group was also recognised in the Olivia Global category for the popularity enjoyed by the Group’s products around the world, as well as the supply of the most modern Ventus VVS ventilation and air conditioning units, fan coils and air curtains at EXPO 2020 in Dubai. 414 VTS “production centres” have been installed in the exhibition halls of 17 countries as well as in the Polish pavilion.

The EXPO exhibition is the most important global economic event that contributes to the international promotion of countries in terms of technological achievements, innovation and ecology, as well as tourist and social potential. The possibility of installing Polish solutions in the pavilions of so many countries identifies this project as outstanding on a global scale, which was noticed by the jury, awarding VTS Group the Global category.

The additional distinction with the Grand Prix was due to the involvement of the company’s global logistics resources in the importing of 150,000 masks for the Pomeranian Voivodeship in the first weeks of the pandemic, in partnership with the Business Center Club and the Marshal of the Pomeranian Voivodeship.

– We are very pleased that the jury of the Olivia Prize competition appreciated the projects implemented by the VTS Group last year. – says Hanna Siek, VTS Group President. – Due to the prevailing pandemic, it was a particularly difficult year for all of us – globally. I am particularly proud because, despite various challenges and difficulties beyond our control, VTS found itself perfectly in the new reality and used this difficult time as an opportunity for even more dynamic development. This allows us to be optimistic about the future. This award is a great opportunity to thank all employees and associates of VTS Group around the world who, despite the limitations related to the pandemic, have not, even for a moment, ceased to set the pace that others are trying to catch up with. What we have achieved and are still achieving within the VTS Group is for all of us a reason for great joy, pride and satisfaction.

The winner in the Olivia Business category is p-beep for the p-beep paging system. The main task of the p-beep system is to help maintain efficient communication between people in places where classic communication is difficult due to external factors, such as noise, long distances or the need for discretion. The system serves, amongst others, medical services in temporary hospitals throughout Poland, and in the temporary hospital organized at the National Stadium in Warsaw. Thanks to the solution consisting of touch buttons located next to the beds, patients can quickly and efficiently notify the nurse about the need for help. Nurses receive a vibration signal on the smartwatch, as well as a message indicating from which bed the alert came. The systems also work well in large industrial plants, including Polish factories of global tycoons, including Samsung, Bosch / Siemens.

– The Olivia Prize Business award is a great honor for us, and also a great joy – says Grzegorz Poźniak, president of the p-beep management board. – In our daily work, we are most pleased with positive comments from our clients who confirm what we believe in. And we believe that technology, and more specifically p-beep paging systems help, improve and facilitate work, as well as, what is most valuable nowadays, ensuring safety. When we have been recognised and awarded with such a valuable award as the Olivia Prize in the Business category, we are convinced that we have chosen the right direction and that our work makes sense. There are many factors that have shaped us. One of them is the environment in which we live on a daily basis. Over the last few years, we have taken part in many initiatives organized by Olivia Business Centre and O4 Coworking, which have a visible impact on the development of our company. It is a unique place that provides conditions for development, as well as making everyday work simply enjoyable. – adds Grzegorz Poźniak.

The Olivia Prize in the Pro Bono category went to the EPAM Systems (Poland) and its employees who, when medical services were struggling with a lack of personal protective measures and equipment, decided to support local hospitals by producing 3D-printed face shields according to the open-source design of Prusa Research. Soon over 150 participants joined them and they succeeded in producing approximately 200 face protectors and filter adapters per day – mostly in their homes. EPAM Poland supported the volunteers by covering the costs of the 3D Printing Filament used in the manufacturing process and providing logistics support. Thanks to the volunteers’ and EPAM’s joint efforts, medical care teams could perform their work in safer conditions.

– We are delighted that the initiatives taken by our employees helped support our local health care workers and we are proud of the community of over 150 volunteers who came together to give selflessly of their time to build and deliver the much-needed protective face shields – said Ievgen Berezenko, Head of Northern Poland Delivery, EPAM Poland.

– The awards crown the work on the most important Resident projects in 2020. – says Bogusław Wieczorek from Olivia Business Centre. – By announcing them, we wanted to honor the initiatives and projects carried out by companies operating in Olivia, and additionally promote them in this difficult period of the pandemic. It is very encouraging to see how many important and useful projects were implemented by our Residents in 2020. The projects submitted to the Olivia Pro Bono category are particularly worthy of recognition, including activities in the field of ecology, animal protection and support for charitable organizations, and which definitely dominated quantitatively in this year’s Olivia Prize. – adds Bogusław Wieczorek.

The thematic scope and scale of projects submitted in such a difficult year as 2020 mean that we are optimistic, impatient even, for the announcement of the competition for 2021!

100,000 trees planted, sowing flower meadows, saving wild and melliferous bees, as well as biodiversity projects. Such initiatives are carried out by the residents of Olivia Business Centre. Olivia itself also offers as much as 24,000^m2 of biologically active space, implements projects for sustainable transport, energy recovery, and draws heat from geothermal sources. It is surprising how many ecological projects can be implemented in one office center, and Olivia Business Centre, on the occasion of World Earth Day, is just announcing a new climate awareness program for 2021.

In the recently concluded Olivia Prize competition organized by Olivia Business Centre, the largest number of applications concerned social and ecological projects implemented by both large global corporations and small enterprises. The largest-scale undertaking was the planting of 100,000 hectares by ABAX. trees in Malawi. In this way, the company recreates an ecosystem that has suffered during the last 10 years of intense devastation.

” ABAX has had a particularly good year in terms of environmental and social responsibility, and our employees have been almost hyperactive in this regard. – says Dorota Orzęcka, Digital Marketing Manager at ABAX. “In 2020, we planted more than 100,000 trees in partnership with our partner WeForest and supported seven local projects close to our offices. Environmental and social responsibility is part of every service we provide, which is why we plant a new tree on the occasion of each order. Together with WeForest, we are a team supporting the reforestation program in Malawi. We are making great efforts to counteract the excessive deforestation that used to cover a third of the country. Logging has led to a loss of biodiversity and continues to threaten the quality and safety of the region’s waters, which are a key resource for thousands of families living there. The project is being dynamically implemented in cooperation with local NGOs, the Department of Forestry and ten local forest nurseries. – adds Dorota Orzęcka.

Energa, a member of the ORLEN Group, also based in Olivia, has implemented a number of projects, including initiatives to protect the white stork, such as the installation of platforms for stork nests on power poles or assistance in ringing birds (the ‘Energy ringers of the Energa Group ‘ project). The company has also launched the ” Energy of Biodiversity” campaign, under which it restores meadow ecosystems. In this way, it contributes to the development of wastelands in the area of the Narew Lagoon in order to increase biodiversity and ultimately save wild bees and honey bees. In the following years, it is planned to install beehives for educational purposes, as well as to launch workshops for children and young people on the construction of “hotels” for wild bees and to create educational paths.

“Biodiversity energy is a comprehensive pro-environmental, ecological and educational project ,” says Alina Skorb-Gała, PhD, Head of the ESG Department at Energa SA. – Flower meadows allow you to save forgotten species of plants and animals, provide food for wild bees, giving them space to live, and shelter in winter. Plants growing in meadows contribute to lowering the air temperature.

Another pro-ecological initiative is the EVAA (Ecological Vertical Agriculture Assistant) technological project, implemented by a team of Sii Poland engineers.As part of Sii’s Passion Sponsorship Program, experts from the Gdańsk branch are developing a system that uses artificial intelligence for plant breeding. The main objective of the project is to reduce the consumption of water and the area necessary for cultivation.

– The ecological aspect is extremely important here. In our approach, we want to apply reinforcement learning to control the physical process of plant development. – says Paweł Czapiewski, team leader of the project. Reinforcement learning is a special type of AI. It is based on the fact that the algorithm only receives a feedback signal in the form of a reward if the lettuce is developing well. He has to figure out for himself how to achieve optimal results. –Adds.

Olivia Announces Climate Awareness Program

On the International Earth Day, which falls on 22 April, Olivia Business Centre is launching a new programme to promote climate awareness, under which it will promote activities for sustainable development and transport as well as reducing energy consumption.

– The restrictive certifications we undergo confirm that our buildings are an exemplary example of thinking about human well-being and environmental friendliness. – says Hamish Potts from Olivia Business Centre. We want to promote sustainable development activities, including the reduction of waste production, responsible use of water and energy, a more circular Olivia and pro-ecological attitudes, motivating our employees and Olivia’s resident employees to think about the environmental footprint that each of us leaves behind in their daily activities and to take up the challenge of changing for the better. –Adds.

Due to the technological solutions used in them, the buildings of Olivia Business Centre receive high marks of BREEAM ecological certification from the “Excellent” to “Very Good” level. Recently, they were the first buildings in the world to achieve the maximum Well certification rating, issued by the International Well Building Institute (IWBI), in the 25 categories analysed. Such high marks were awarded for exceptional care for the health and well-being of people working in Olivia. Recognition of IWBI advisors was given to both technological solutions such as titanium coatings, which prevent the settlement of viruses, bacteria and fungi on the common surfaces of buildings, as well as ionizers that purify almost 100% of the air circulating in buildings, as well as energy recovery from the operation of elevator cabins, drawing heat from a depth of 95 meters below the garage halls of buildings, or automatically turning off air conditioning when windows are opened. All buildings use eco-friendly LED light sources, which are 100% recycled.

The dominant trend in the design of the latest buildings is biophilic design, which puts human well-being at the centre: the architectural and functional solutions used in buildings help to ensure a balance between moments of intense work during the day and the moments of rest and relaxation that are so important. Olivia Garden , which is being prepared for commissioning, is also in line with this trend – an exotic garden covering over 800^m2 of area, which will be filled with over 4000 plants representing 150 species.

See more:

Olivia Garden: Man in the Spotlight

Olivia’s World’s Fastest Guest

Majestic Beauty: Myoxanthus Oliviae

Welcome, welcome! Cheer on the fantastic volleyball players during the First Volleyball Tournament of Olivia Business Centre & O4 Coworking!

• When? August 17 at 16.30
• Where? Volleyball court in Olivia Park

We invite everyone who counts on good volleyball emotions and wants to support their friends during the competition.

12 teams will take part in the competition, including representatives of companies from Olivia Business Centre and O4 Coworking:

Bayer, Cityfit, Develocraft, Energa, Epam, Fellow Finance, Invest Pomerania, K&M Design, LOUDABOUT, O4 Coworking, Olivia Business Centre, pBeep, Polish-Norwegian Chamber of Commerce, PredictX, PwC, Skils Group, Staples, Tyssenkrup, Zaplify, Zr Trade.

A total of 48 volleyball players will fight for the cup!

During the meeting, we plan a fan zone and an active leisure zone. Therefore, in Olivia Park you will be able to:

• additional training pitch during the games
• balls to be used during warm-ups and for practice during matches
• outdoor games: pétanque, badminton, frisbee
• Fun with summer holiday sounds
• Ana Dessert – a portion of ice cream!

The tournament will end with a grand selection of the winners and we will give out great prizes to Olivia’s Volleyball Champions. What’s more, we have prepared great sports surprises for persistent fans! Stay tuned, your support is always appreciated!

Remember that we play volleyball every Tuesday:)

Also join the FB group Volleyball OBC to arrange to play together.

Every Tuesday as part of the Volleyball Club in Olivia Park at 6:00 p.m. volleyball classes are held under the watchful eye of a coach. Anyone can play with us! Here you have a whole plan of sports activities in Olivia that you can take part in!

See you on the pitch!
Team Olivia & O4 Coworking

Of course, we are not afraid of winds and storms, but… we move Summer to the Patio from the patio to the lobby of Olivia Star
Since tomorrow it is supposed to thunder, rain, rain and pour, we invite you to come under the roof. We are open from 11:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. The program remains the same (well, maybe it will be a bit more acoustic)

–/–

In a moment, on Thursday, August 19, another unforgettable Summer on the Patio! This time we focus on complete relaxation!

Provide:

• positive emotions,
• good live music,
• great fun,
• nice chillout vibe:)
• ice cream (for those who have the My Olivia app… FOR FREE!)

We guarantee a lot of attractions! Who are we seeing? A short plan below.

• We start at 11:00 a.m. (there’s nothing like eating a delicious ice cream on a comfortable deckchair, with good music in the background).
• A large portion of artisanal ice cream is 4 zloty.
• To get an ice cream for free (!!) just show at the stand that you are the lucky owner of the MY OLIVIA app ( you can download it here: DOWNLOAD FROM APP STORE; DOWNLOAD FROM GOOGLE PLAY).
• Magda Gabriel and Patryk Listewnik as well as Filip Fiebiger will play continuously
• We finish at 14:00.

WELCOME! WE LOOK FORWARD TO SEEING YOU!

THE CONCERT WILL BE BROADCAST ONLINE ON OLIVIA’S FACEBOOK PAGE! WE START AT 18:00!

We invite you to the first concert in Olivia Garden! Only here, among thousands of flowers and trees from as many as four continents, will music really bloom! You will feel it with all your heart!

Bring your family, friends and acquaintances, because the event will be special. For the first time in Olivia Garden will perform:

• Olivia Business Centre Choir
• Magda Gabriel and Patryk Listewnik
• Islet

There has never been such a concert under the palm trees, so book your tickets today.

Admission to the concert is free of charge for the employees of Olivia Business Centre. All they have to do is use the My Olivia app and generate their resident ticket.

• DOWNLOAD FROM APP STORE
• DOWNLOAD FROM GOOGLE PLAY

Visitors to Olivia who are not employees of our centre can buy a ticket on this website.

We invite you to Olivia Garden for this extraordinary concert on Tuesday, August 31 at 18:00

The ensemble brings together artists from over a dozen of Olivia m’s companies. among others. AirHelp, Avaus, ARP, Bayer, BDS, Energa, GFKM, Nordea, Olivia Business Centre, Omida Group, PwC, Ricoh, Sii, Staples, Thyssenkrupp, Winning Moves. It operates under the direction of Wiktoria Batarowska.

Listen

Islet, or rather Izabela Laskowska, is an artist with a beautiful velvety timbre of voice, who loves acoustic sounds, but also modern, electronic sounds.

In 2015 her debut album “Stop” was released. In each of the 12 compositions you can find beauty and delicacy.

Listen

A musical duo that presents well-known songs from the pop, rock or indie genres, in acoustic arrangements. Magda and Patryk’s performances will have something for everyone, from calm nostalgic ballads to energetic, lively compositions.

Listen

Flavors of Asia? America? Europe? Indulge in Olivia and go on a culinary journey without leaving the Tri-City. We invite you from 2 to 5 September!

On these days, Olivia’s patio will host an event combining a culinary festival with entertainment. The culmination of the event will be Wielka Szama – the tastiest food truck rally in Gdańsk, which will take place on Saturday and Sunday at the Olivia Hall.

Olivia Business Centre is not only offices. It is also services and restaurants with a unique view, atmosphere and, of course, extraordinary dishes. This time, representatives of our culinary residents will come out to their guests on the patio. Where to eat lunch or dinner on the first Thursday and Friday of September? Be sure to visit Olivia! From 12:00 p.m. to 5:00 p.m., each day of the event will offer you not only delicious food, but also a number of attractions (live music, yoga, Zumba, chillout zone, sports zone…).

On the weekend, we also invite you to the grand finale, i.e. the Great Shama – one of the largest foodtruck rallies in Gdańsk! Mobile restaurants will be parked in the parking lot in front of Hala Olivia. Do you like Asian flavors? At the event, try wok noodles, Chinese baozi buns, and steamed dim sum dumplings. Do you prefer Mexico? You can’t pass by the food trucks serving tacos, quesadillas, and burritos. This is not the end of culinary journeys. The menu of the exhibitors will also include sandwiches with meatballs, corn dogs, pastrami, khinkali and desserts: Spanish churros, rolled Thai ice cream and fresh donuts. At the same time, on the patio of Olivia Business Centre, you will still be able to taste the specialties of local restaurateurs. We invite families with children, because there is a game zone for the youngest waiting for you at the weekend.

The dining experience is not all that you will be able to experience on the weekend of 4 and 5 September. The time at the event will be made more pleasant by live music played on the saxophone. Whole families will be able to take part in blowing huge soap bubbles together, as well as in a field game prepared especially for this occasion. There will be no shortage of healthy competition. Children and teenagers will be able to take part in a thematic art competition every day. Adult participants will compete in a timed eating competition. The youngest will be able to have fun on inflatable attractions with fairy-tale characters, and adult guests will be able to learn various curiosities about the golden beverage in the regional beer zone. In this zone, there will also be opportunities to win attractive prizes, m.in. taking part in quizzes, capping competitions and beer-pong.

Almost traditionally, the tastiest food truck of the event will be chosen. Who will win the title this time? It’s up to the guests to decide.

The event will be organized in compliance with all current restrictions. The dishes will be prepared in accordance with the prevailing sanitary regime. The organizers make every effort to ensure that your stay at the event is safe and comfortable.

HIGHLIGHTS:

What? Taste Olivia & Wielka Szama
Where? Patio at Olivia Business Centre and car park in front of Olivia Hall
When and at what time?

• Thursday 2.09 12:00-17:00
• Friday 3.09 12:00-17:00
• Saturday 4.09 12:00 – 21:00
• Sunday 5.09 12:00 p.m. – 8:00 p.m.

SEE THE FULL TIMETABLE!

JOIN THE EVENT ON FACEBOOK!

It was a day full of emotions! I Olivia and O4 Coworking Volleyball Tournament with over 5000 bounces, 100 attacks and 410 points scored. And most importantly, 44 great players from 19 companies!

They played in the sun and rain, in the wind and in temporary windless weather. They were not afraid of clouds and sunshine. Daredevils from 11 teams faced each other in Olivia Park. What can I say… Here are the winners!

3rd place: Team “DEFENDING CHAMPIONS”
Companies: Epam / K&M Design / Polish-Norwegian Chamber of Commerce
Ariel (captain)
Arkadiusz
David
Michael

2nd place: Team “SAND IN THE EYES”
Company: Bayer
Michał (captain)
Patrick
Damian
Dominik

1st place: “ENERGA TEAM”
Company: Energa
Sławomir (captain)
Artur
Peter
Peter

Player of the Tournament: Piotr Wrzosek from Energa.

Look what happened there! Cups, medals, super prizes, ice cream, and most importantly: great fun and relaxation together. See you at Tournament II!

THANK YOU AND CONGRATULATIONS!

Did you know that in the high Andes in Peru there is an orchid strongly associated with Olivia? It’s a majestic beauty: Myoxanthus Oliviae. The name refers to the Olivia Business Centre in gratitude for supporting the activities of the “Biodiversitatis” Foundation aimed at creating a nature reserve with a research station in southern Colombia (Olivia has thus entered the great book of species). A local painter living in the Sibundoy Valley has prepared an illustration of the new species, which you can see here.

Myoxanthus Oliviae from Peru

The newly discovered orchid species belongs to the genus Myoxanthus, whose representatives are found in Central and South America. The orchid grows between stones and on trees in the Peruvian mountains at an altitude of 2700-3100 m above sea level. The reddish-brown flowers of Myoxanthus oliviae grow at the end of the stem, right at the base of a single, leathery leaf. The most distinctive feature of the newly described orchid is its petals, which have an arrow-like shape at the top – such flowers are not found in any other species of Myoxanthus.

How are newly discovered plants named?

A species is considered validly described when it receives a binomial Latin name and its description is published in a scientific journal. The name must follow Latin grammatical rules and can be simple, descriptive (referring to morphological features), geographical (referring to geographical distribution) or commemorative (e.g., given in honor of a person) or “nonsensical.” The first part of the name is a generic name in the form of a noun, and the second is the so-called A species epithet, i.e. a species name, most often in adjectival form.

The first tropical nature reserve with a research station created by Poles

On Earth, there are approx. 6.5 million terrestrial species. An additional 2.2 million inhabit the seas and oceans. So far, however, only 1.2 million species have been cataloged. According to the estimates of the Millennium Ecosystem Assessment, an organization cooperating with over a thousand experts around the world, extinction processes affect 0.01-0.1% of species annually. As a result of climate change, 15-37% of terrestrial organisms may disappear from the Earth’s surface by 2050.

Tropical Nature Reserve

The team of the “Biodiversitatis” Foundation has taken steps to create a nature reserve with a research station and an educational center in southern Colombia. Funds are currently being raised for the purchase of 30 hectares of North Andean mountain forest in the Sibundoy Valley (Putumayo department), which is one of the most diverse tropical ecosystems. On just 1 ha of such a community there are up to 300 different species of vascular plants. The forest is inhabited by m.in. Andean bears and mountain tapirs. The tropical Andes are one of the most species-rich regions in the world. This center of diversity covers less than 1% of the Earth’s surface, concentrating more than 1/6 of all known plants.

The planned reserve covers areas located at an altitude of 2500-2800 m above sea level. The local name of the area, “La Palma”, refers to the magnificent specimen of the Ceroxylon palm tree that stands out against the landscape.

So far, our research in the Sibundoy Valley, which we have been conducting since 2012, has focused on understanding the diversity of orchids. To date, we have discovered about 20 species of orchids in this region that are new to science, m.in. “devil’s orchid” (Telipogon diabolicus). In December 2018, a pilot study was conducted on hummingbirds, and in March 2019 on bat fauna.

The main threat to local diversity is deforestation associated with the intensification of agriculture and the development of road infrastructure.

A research station made … made of plastic

In cooperation with the University of Lodz and the Czech Academy of Sciences, we plan to build a research station in the reserve, which will be the first facility in the region to conduct research on the biodiversity of the North Andean forest, and at the same time enable long-term observations of this still poorly understood ecosystem.

The station is to be built using recycled materials, specifically plastic waste. In The Venture competition (2016), the Colombian company Conceptos Plásticos was voted the best start-up in the world. Oscar A. Méndez’s plant collects and recycles plastic trash to create durable, waterproof homes that are resistant to earthquakes.

Following in the footsteps of Conceptos Plásticos, other companies have emerged in the Colombian market that are currently offering the creation of “green” buildings, m.in. Bloqueplas, Brickarp-Ficidet.

Education and “eco-tourism”

The Foundation believes that the project to create a nature reserve will also have a positive impact on the local community. It intends to involve the local population in activities related to nature conservation and the development of ecotourism in the region. By raising awareness of the importance of biodiversity, especially among young people, it can intensify the conservation and regeneration of native forests. It intends to promote the so-called “Community-based ecotourism”, i.e. tourism that has a positive impact on both the quality of life of people and the protection of natural resources.

With the help of Colombian collaborators, he plans to create short educational trails in the reserve, which will be made available to children from local rural schools. During field classes, she plans to promote the idea of sustainable development among the youngest.

How can you support the project?

• “Adopting a Tree”: https://adoptuj-drzewo.pl/
• By making a donation: http://www.biodiversitatis.com.pl/donate

Business centres are rarely associated with social activities and commitment to ecology, urban projects or good neighbourly relations. Gdańsk’s Olivia Business Centre shows that it can be different. Over the last 12 months, the social initiatives established in its community have included – in addition to the constant support of hospitals and medical staff – m.in. restoration of the Avenue of Trees along the main Tri-City artery, a neighbourhood budget that supports local projects submitted by residents, as well as public collections of computer equipment that is donated to students at risk of educational exclusion during online education.

Szymon Renk, an employee of the commercialization department of Olivia Business Centre, has prepared the project Grunwaldzka Avenue through Wielkie A . It is an initiative that aims to restore Grunwaldzka Street in Gdańsk to the character of an urban avenue. Back in the 60s. It was a road surrounded by mature trees, providing shade, friendly greenery, filtering the air and limiting high temperatures during the summer heat. Currently, there is no trace of the trees and many residents of the Tri-City no longer remember the former character of the street. Szymon Renek’s project was submitted to the Gdańsk Participatory Budget in 2020 and gained huge support from residents, receiving the highest number of votes of all submitted projects.

” Urban planning is my eternal passion,” says Szymon Renk, the author of the project. I read books on the subject, I watch albums from all over the world, I browse discussion forums every day. By chance, I came across a photo of Grunwaldzka Avenue from the 1960s, when it did not resemble the current “motorway” at all. With this project, I would like to change the character of the avenue I use every day. This street has great potential in terms of urban fabric and commercial premises on the ground floors of buildings. Olivia has shown this in the last 10 years. This will be confirmed by anyone who remembers neglected wastelands, a used car dealership or a go-kart track, which were located in the place of today’s business showcase of the Tri-City. I submitted the project because it is tIt’s the perfect place where you can make people see that a street is not just a roadway without harming any road user. It is also greenery, small architecture, a pavement encouraging walks or a bicycle path. I would like to act “at the grassroots” so that the inhabitants change their perception of the city, the inhabitants of Oliwa, students and employees of office buildings feel that it is pleasant to walk to SKM or commute to work by bike; so that the commercial premises in this area start to be teeming with life. – adds Szymon Renk.

Commitment to the medical community and people in need

The project is currently waiting to be implemented, but in the meantime the Olivia community is involved in other, no less important initiatives. Since the spring of 2020, Olivia Business Centre has been financing food supplies for the employees of the Gdańsk Hospital. St. Wojciech in Zaspa, who are fighting the COVID-19 pandemic. So far, more than 10,000 have been delivered. portions of meals. In addition, twice a week, food is also delivered to Oliwa support points for people in need as part of the Zupa na Oliwie project. These are “food sharing” fridges, to which food is delivered every day by residents and gastronomes of Oliwa.

During the pandemic, Olivia Business Centre undertook a number of initiatives under the name Together we can do more, which were addressed to the to the medical community, and were intended to support their activities during the pandemic. In April 2020, Olivia financed the construction of a fully test-ready diagnostic module. It makes it possible to test staff for coronavirus in front of the hospital building. It is the first project of this kind in Poland. The second such building, also financed by Olivia Business Centre, was erected at the campus of the University of Gdańsk and was the first walk-thru CPVID-19 test centre in Poland, enabling the testing of non-motorised patients. In addition, as part of the Together We Can More project, hospitals in Gdańsk received a ventilator, fumigator, medical clothing and protective masks.

Olivia Business Centre also supported the volunteering of the Dominican Fathers, who set up a helpline dedicated to receiving reports from people in need of help during quarantine, isolation or for fear of infection.

Supporting students during remote education and district development initiatives

The OBC Social Activist group established in Olivia Business Centre (on Facebook) is very active. Since the beginning of the pandemic, this informal group has been collecting used computers as part of the Laptops for Students campaign. Olivia’s residents and befriended institutions have already collected over 60 computers, which were donated free of charge to schools in Oliwa. The campaign aims to counteract the digital exclusion of students who, due to the lack of computers, are at risk of educational exclusion during the period of online learning. Currently, OBC Social Activists are in talks with the Santander Group about acquiring as many as 80 computers. They need to be adapted to the needs of students, which is why the members of the group are asking for support in the form of the purchase of software or hardware parts, as well as help in configuring the equipment.

In the autumn of last year, the first edition of the Oliwa Neighbourhood Budget – a project of financial support for initiatives submitted by the residents of the district – had its first edition. Its aim is to improve their quality of life, modernize the surrounding space and introduce solutions that will develop local interactions. Both soft projects (organisation of meetings, courses or workshops) and infrastructure projects that will become a permanent part of the Oliwa space could apply for funding. In the edition, which was decided in September, three projects received funding: Library + , submitted by a group of parents from Oliwa. As part of the project, a children’s section was created in the district library, which was to encourage the youngest inhabitants of Oliwa to visit the facility more often and to familiarize them with books and reading. The second project, Cultural and Culinary Oliwa , was submitted by the City Initiative Association and the Special Schools Complex No. 2. The project involves the creation of a map of Oliwa with the biggest attractions of the district, less popular, but also worth seeing, as well as gastronomic and service outlets, cafes… Thanks to it, it will be possible to promote local entrepreneurs widely. The third project is Arte-creation , submitted by the Association for People with Parkinson’s Disease and Degenerative Brain Diseases and Caregivers: Park On. As part of the project, funding was granted to 18 art and ceramics workshops with elements of art therapy dedicated to people who, due to their age or the consequences of a progressive degenerative brain disease, are at risk of depression, loss of fitness, and a sense of exclusion.

Social projects contribute to meeting local needs, improving the quality of life, and also act as a contribution of investors to the development of the environment in which they develop their business. They are an excellent example of the synergy that allows the neighbours of large investment projects to benefit from new projects that appear in their environment.

Business centers are rarely associated with social activity, commitment to ecology, urban projects or good neighbourly relations. The Olivia Business Centre in Gdańsk shows that it can be different. Over the past 12 months, social initiatives established around the business centre include reconstruction of an avenue of trees along the main Tri-City artery, a neighborhood budget supporting local projects submitted by residnts, as well as a campaign to collect computer equipment, which was given to students at risk of educational exclusion during online education.

Szymon Renk, an employee of the commercial department at Olivia Business Centre, has prepared the project Grunwaldzka Avenue with a big A. It is an initiative that aims to restore the character of an urban avenue to Grunwaldzka Avenue in Gdańsk. As late as in the 1960s, Grunwaldzka was a road surrounded by beautiful trees, providing shade, friendly greenery, filtering the air and limiting high temperatures during periods of summer heat. Currently, there is no trace of the trees and many residents of the Tri-City no longer remember the street’s former character. Szymon’s project was submitted to the Gdańsk Civic Budget in 2020 and gained enormous support from inhabitants, obtaining the highest number of votes from all submitted projects.

– Urban planning is my eternal passion. – says Szymon Renk, the creator of the project. I read books devoted to this, I look at pictures of cities from all over the world, I browse discussion forums every day. Last year, I came across a photo of Aleja Grunwaldzka from the 1960s by chance, when it did not resemble today’s unpleasant “highway” at all. With this project, I would like to change the nature of the avenue that I use every day. This street has great potential in terms of urban fabric, with service premises on the ground floors. Olivia has done this in the last 10 years. This will be confirmed by anyone who remembers the neglected wastelands, the used car dealership or go-kart track, which were located in the location of today’s Tri-City business showcase. I submitted the project because it is an ideal place where you can make people notice that the street is not only a road, without any harm to any street user. It is also green, small architecture, a sidewalk encouraging walks or a bicycle path. Through this project, I would like to act “at the root”, so that the residents change their perception of the city, so that the residents of Oliwa, students and office workers feel that it is pleasant to go to SKM or to go to work by bike; so that service outlets in this area start to be vibrant with life. – adds Szymon Renk.

Commitment to the Medical Community and those in need

While that project is currently waiting to be implemented, the Olivia community is implementing new, equally important initiatives. From spring 2020, Olivia Business Centre has been financing food deliveries for employees of the St. Wojciech Hospital. in Zaspa, Gdańsk, who are on the front line in the fight against the COVID-19 pandemic. So far, over 10 thousand meals have been delivered. In addition, food is also delivered twice a week to the Oliwa support points for people in need as part of the Soup in Oliwa project. These are “food sharing” refrigerators, to which the inhabitants and Oliwa’s gastronomy entrepreneurs provide food every day.

During the pandemic, Olivia Business Centre launched a number of initiatives called Together We Can Do More, which were addressed to the medical community, and aimed at supporting their activities during the COVID-19 pandemic. In April 2020, Olivia financed the construction of a fully ready-for-research, ready-to-use diagnostic module in Gdańsk Zaspa. It allows people to be tested for the presence of coronavirus in front of the hospital building and is the first project of its kind in Poland. The second such unit, also financed by Olivia Business Centre, was erected at the campus of the University of Gdańsk and was the first walk-thru testing center for Covid-19 in Poland, enabling testing of pedestrians. Moreover, under the project Together We Can Do More, hospitals in Gdańsk received a respirator, a fumigator, medical clothing and protective masks.

Olivia Business Centre has also supported the voluntary service of Dominican Fathers, who set up a helpline for people who need help during quarantine, in isolation or with fear of being infected.

Supporting Students during Remote Education and Initiatives for the Development of the District

The Społecznak OBC group established within the Olivia Business Centre Facebook page is very dynamic. Since the beginning of the pandemic, this informal group has been collecting used computers as part of the Laptops for Students campaign. Residents of Olivia Business Centre and likeminded institutions have already collected over 60 computers, which were then transferred free of charge to Oliwa’s schools. The campaign is aimed at countering the digital exclusion of students who, due to the lack of computers, are at risk of educational exclusion during the period of online learning. Currently, OBC Community Members are talking with the Santander Group about acquiring as many as 80 computers. They require adaptation to the needs of students, therefore group members ask for support in the form of purchasing software or hardware, as well as help in configuring computers.

In autumn last year, the Oliwa Neighborhood Budget – a project of financial support for initiatives submitted by the district’s residents – had its first edition. Its aim is to improve the quality of their lives, modernize the surrounding space and introduce solutions that will increase local interactions. Both soft projects (meetings, courses or workshops) as well as permanent infrastructure projects, , could apply for funding. In the edition, which was resolved in September, three projects were successful: Library +, submitted by a group of Oliwa’s parents. A children’s department was established in the district’s library to persuade the youngest inhabitants of Oliwa to visit the library more often and to accustom them to books and reading. The second project, Cultural & Culinary Oliwa, was submitted by the Inicjatywa Miasto Association (City Initiative) and by the Special Schools Complex No.2. This project aims to create a map of Oliwa with the best attractions of the district, lesser known places that are worth seeing, as well as restaurants, cafes and other service points. Thanks to this, it will be possible to widely promote local entrepreneurs. The third project that received funding is the Art – creation project, submitted by the Association for People with Parkinson’s Disease and Brain Degenerative Diseases and Caregivers: Park On. As part of this project, funding was granted to 18 art and ceramic workshops with elements of art therapy, dedicated to people who, due to their age or the consequences of progressive degenerative brain disease, are at risk of depression, loss of activity, and may suffer a sense of exclusion.

Social projects contribute to meeting local needs, improving the quality of life, and also allow investors to contribute to the development of the environment in which they develop their business. They are an excellent example of synergy that allows neighbours of large investment projects to benefit from new projects that appear in their nieghbourhood.