Tag: BIZNES

LeadWell 2026. Two Days of Conversations on Leadership at Olivia Centre

Posted on by Katarzyna Halicka

The third edition of LeadWell is behind us — one of the most important leadership events in the Pomerania region. The conference, organized by O4 Coworking with Olivia Centre as strategic partner, brought together as many as 180 leaders, managers, and experts representing various industries and organizations.

 

This year’s program included 6 substantive talks, 2 panel discussions, 9 workshops, and 20 thematic networking tables. Over the course of two days, LeadWell participants discussed the challenges of modern leadership, exchanged experiences, and worked on solutions they can apply in their own organizations.

 

From difficult decisions to practical solutions

The first day of the conference took place on the 34th floor of Olivia Star. Among the speakers were Krzysztof Wielicki, a legend of world Himalayan mountaineering; Prof. Grzegorz Mazurek, rector of Kozminski University, an expert in digital transformation and management; Witold Kowalski, former CEO of Nike Poland, mentor in the European Commission’s innovative projects and PARP’s Innovation Manager Academy; Rafał Żak, an expert in leadership development, Paweł Wujec, former CEO of K2 Holding (now Fabrity Group), longtime head of Gazeta.pl and Managing Director for Internet at Agora Publishing House, with over 25 years of experience in the media and digital business markets, Kinga Dębska – a director awarded at festivals all over the world, working with big stars and with techniques that don’t appear on the front pages of newspapers.and Maciej Sawicki — CEO of inStreamly, a platform connecting over 150,000 streamers with global brands across 14 markets, and creator of the “trust instead of control” model.

 

Discussions covered mistakes and failures, responsibility, building trust, managing change, making difficult decisions, and various models of work organization. In the evening, participants met again for networking at Olivia Garden.

 

The second day, held at O4 Coworking, had a workshop format. In three thematic blocks, participants worked with expert practitioners on specific challenges related to communication, negotiation, team engagement, conflict resolution, and wellbeing.

 

“For us, what has always mattered most in the program is concreteness,” says Marta Moksa, who is responsible for the substantive part of LeadWell. “Our speakers must be practitioners, and their advice and stories must be usable in the lives of those who listen to them. Both the talks and the second-day workshops are a dose of inspiration, but the kind you can use from the following Monday. For me, a discovery was, for example, Maciej Sawicki’s lecture, whose set of tips I will soon implement myself at O4.”

 

“We are driven by the enthusiasm of the participants. Running this project, including introducing new things every year, such as the Hot Seats panel, the unconference mode or 1-on-1 mentoring, is a considerable effort,” says Martyna Czarnobaj-Borowska, Project Manager of LeadWell. “But we are not interested in making yet another conference in the style of talking heads. Those who come to our event want to experience, co-create and connect with other leaders. This requires us to keep improving constantly, but it’s worth it. LeadWell participants genuinely have ideas for changes in their work. They also have quite a few new colleagues in the profession. And above all, they have batteries charged for the following weeks. And that is exactly why we do it.”

 

Leadership doesn’t have to mean being alone

One of the most memorable talks was Krzysztof Wielicki’s story about a difficult situation in the mountains. The mountaineer recalled a moment when, in an extremely demanding situation, he saw a person approaching him. “He couldn’t come down for me. I had to do it myself. But just knowing that someone was coming toward me, that I could count on him, gave me strength. That kind of partnership is incredibly important.”

 

As Martyna Czarnobaj-Borowska of O4 Coworking, the conference organizer, points out, this story captures one of LeadWell’s core values well. Leaders often have to make difficult decisions on their own, but the ability to talk with people facing similar challenges, and the awareness of mutual support, make a tremendous difference.

 

Piotr Klik, Sales Management Manager in the Affluent Client Segment at Bank Pekao SA, also noted the diversity of participants. In his account, he emphasized that LeadWell brings together representatives from management, HR, IT, and sales, from both large corporations and micro-enterprises. He also praised the practical nature of the conference’s second day, which allowed participants to return to work with concrete knowledge and an action plan.

Photo: Arek Burcon

Olivia Centre — a meeting place for leaders

Olivia Centre hosted LeadWell for the third time and served as the conference’s strategic partner. As the largest business center in Northern Poland, it brings together companies representing various industries, business models, and organizational cultures. Supporting initiatives such as LeadWell is part of Olivia’s efforts to develop the local business community, promote knowledge exchange, and build relationships among entrepreneurs, managers, and experts.

 

The event was organized by O4 Coworking, operating within Olivia.

 

This year’s edition showed how important it is for the development of leadership competencies not only to draw on the knowledge and experience of experts, but also to have the opportunity for open conversation with other leaders about the everyday challenges of managing people and organizations. Every year, LeadWell attracts almost 200 bosses from various companies, from managers at large corporations to owners of small and medium-sized businesses. The discussions are often stormy, and the conclusions surprisingly consistent. The organizers have already announced that the next edition will take place on October 20 and 21, and the first two speakers’ names will be published soon.

 

 

Photo: Arek Burcon

 

SK hynix Chooses Olivia Centre. Global Leader in Semiconductor Memory Technology Expands Operations in Gdańsk

Posted on by Katarzyna Halicka

SK hynix, one of the world’s largest semiconductor memory manufacturers, joins the ranks of Olivia Centre residents. SK hynix memory solutions Poland, a company belonging to the South Korean conglomerate, has leased nearly 2,800 sq m of space in the Gdańsk complex. The new headquarters will feature modern offices, a specialized testing laboratory, and server facilities. This investment is linked to the further development of the company’s operations in Poland.

 

SK hynix is one of the global leaders in the semiconductor industry, specializing in the production of DRAM and NAND Flash memory, used in computers, mobile devices, and data centers, among others. The technologies developed by the conglomerate also play a significant role in the artificial intelligence sector, whose dynamic growth increases the demand for efficient data processing and storage systems.

 

SK hynix memory solutions Poland already conducts research and development activities in Gdańsk. The team of specialists is involved in, among other things, embedded software development and verification of memory controllers used in SSDs and mobile devices. Moving operations to Olivia Centre is another stage in the company’s development, gaining a new location that combines daily team work with advanced technological facilities. Key factors in choosing the headquarters included transport accessibility, developed business infrastructure, and the ability to attract qualified employees.

 

– Entering Olivia Centre is an important step for us in developing our operations in Poland and the entire region. We are creating a modern center for employees in Gdańsk that will support the development of advanced memory technologies and solutions for the AI ecosystem – says Katarzyna Przybysz, Managing Director at SK hynix memory solutions Poland.

 

Modern Offices and a Specialized Laboratory

 

SK hynix’s new headquarters will combine office functions with advanced engineering and technological facilities. One of its most important elements will be a specialized laboratory designed for testing DRAM and NAND Flash memory products. Alongside the laboratory spaces, a server room, office workstations, and rest and sports activity zones for employees have also been planned.

 

Preparing nearly 2,800 sq m of space required considering diverse technical and operational needs. The laboratory and server facilities have different requirements than traditional office spaces, which is why appropriate infrastructural solutions had to be included already at the design stage. Abundo Space is responsible for the interior design and adapting the space to the tenant’s specialized needs, executing the project in cooperation with the Gdańsk architectural studio Design Anatomy.

 

– For the first time, we had the opportunity to design a space for a technology company where the laboratory and server room played an equally important role as the office work zones. This combination of functionality, modern technologies, and user comfort was an exceptionally interesting design process for us – says Monika Szawernowska, Chief Sales Officer at Abundo Space.

 

The layout of the new headquarters takes into account diverse functions and working methods. Individual zones will serve both daily team work and product testing or technological infrastructure support. Spaces conducive to employee rest and activity have also been provided.

 

Adaptation works include preparing the space for the installation of specialized research equipment and server hardware. After their completion, the Gdańsk SK hynix team will continue and develop its operations in the new location.

 

Olivia Centre Attracts Global Technology Companies

 

SK hynix joining the ranks of Olivia Centre residents is another example of the complex’s appeal to international technology enterprises. The company’s new headquarters also demonstrates how diverse functions modern office spaces can fulfill, combining traditional workplaces with advanced research and technological infrastructure.

 

Olivia Centre is one of the largest business complexes in Poland. Located on Grunwaldzka Avenue, one of the main communication arteries of the Tri-City, it comprises seven office buildings and extensive service and recreational infrastructure. The complex features restaurants, cafes, service points, and a fitness center, with conference spaces also available. One of the most recognizable facilities is Olivia Star, with a publicly accessible observation deck at a height of 130 meters.

 

Olivia Centre brings together companies representing various sectors of the economy, including international technology enterprises and organizations conducting research and development activities. It creates an environment conducive to cooperation, exchange of experience, and business development.

 

– We are pleased to welcome SK hynix memory solutions Poland to the Olivia Centre community – says Michał Klepczyński, Director of Lease Department Olivia Centre.

 

The presence of SK hynix will enrich Olivia’s business community with another representative of the global advanced technology sector. At the same time, the implemented project confirms the complex’s ability to adapt its spaces to individual, even highly specialized, tenant needs.

 

Knight Frank Advised in the Lease Process

 

In the process of selecting a new location, SK hynix memory solutions Poland was represented by the international advisory firm Knight Frank. Its activities included market analysis of commercial real estate, selection of the optimal location, negotiation of lease terms, and project management support.

 

A significant element of the process was finding space that would allow for the combination of traditional office functions with specialized engineering facilities, while also providing appropriate conditions for the further development of the company’s operations.

 

– We are delighted to have advised SK hynix. Thanks to the strong commitment of both the tenant and the landlord, the process ran smoothly, and our team’s many years of experience and knowledge of the Tri-City market allowed us to find solutions that best met the company’s needs – comments Joanna Gomułkiewicz, Associate Director at Knight Frank.

 

SK hynix’s choice of Olivia Centre is an important step in the company’s development in Gdańsk, and for the complex, another opportunity to support international technological business. The new headquarters will create a space adapted for specialists developing technologies used in global markets, including solutions supporting the development of artificial intelligence.

Welcome SK hynix memory solutions Poland to Olivia Centre!

Time to sum up summer at Olivia!

Posted on by Katarzyna Halicka

The summer period is usually a time when business slows down, offices become more relaxed, deadlines lose some of their urgency, and the holiday season tends to stretch them out even further. This is the typical summer office reality in most workplaces — but it’s not a rule that applies everywhere. Gdańsk’s Olivia Centre sums up the summer and proves that this season, the largest business center in Poland was anything but short on initiatives.

 

Residents enjoy special privileges

Summer has inevitably come to an end, and the close of the season offers a good opportunity for a summary — especially since Olivia Centre has plenty to be proud of. The diversity, intensity, and sheer number of events is impressive. For years, Olivia has been running a range of projects designed to bring the community together. In doing so, it aims to create added value for its residents and their employees. These efforts are centered around numerous passion development clubs, covering areas as varied and unexpected as a sailing club and a choir, a photography club and a football league, historical walks through Gdańsk’s districts, and conversations between attorney Bogusław Wieczorek and experts in the “Rozmowy O!” talks.

 

This season was rich in events — not only on the Olivia premises, but also across many districts of Gdańsk and on the waters of the Gulf of Gdańsk. For the second year in a row, employees of Residents had the chance to train in beach volleyball on full-size courts right in the heart of Olivia. As many as 24 teams took part in the summer tournament. Daily training sessions were made easier thanks to an online court booking system, which employees greatly appreciate. One of the main challenges with seaside courts is precisely the need to wait for availability.

 

The Polish national volleyball team trained on these courts

One of the most exciting events of the season was the training camp of the National Deaf Beach Volleyball Team, both men’s and women’s squads, who trained at Olivia ahead of the season’s biggest event — the Deaf European Championships. It turned out that the Olivia courts brought them luck, as in July, Team Poland won two medals: gold, claimed by the men’s team, and bronze, won by the women’s team. This marked the first time in the history of Polish deaf beach volleyball that Poland’s representatives won two medals at a European Championship.

 

This season’s sporting events also included a day of Hyrox-style workouts led by Błażej Wesołowski, as well as Active Day, during which participants had access to numerous activities throughout the day. At 7 a.m., they set off to paddle on SUP boards, while another group practiced yoga on Olivia’s patio at 8 a.m., and the rest of the day was packed with attractions such as a Ninja-style workout, a body composition analysis on a professional scale under the supervision of CityFit trainers, an Air Bike workout, and group dance sessions with choreography lessons. That day also featured the season wrap-up of the Olivia Centre football league, with the day’s finale taking place on the waters of the bay during an evening sailing session at sunset with the organizers of Olivia Yacht Club.

 

In August, six-time Paralympic champion Natalia Partyka invited everyone to a morning warm-up: a table tennis table-running tournament, during which participants had the chance to compete against Poland’s multi-medalist and start their day with some activity. Olivia’s sporty summer was also full of attractions such as padel tournaments, participation in the Ultras Oliwski run, and the official presentation of Energa Trefl Gdańsk players ahead of the volleyball season, which also featured an exhibition match, a chill-out zone with music, and players signing autographs, posing for photos, and sharing their passion for the sport.

 

History and community involvement

For another year in a row, Olivia was a partner of the “Viva Oliva” district festival — an event full of concerts, outdoor antique fairs, open-air painting sessions, theater and music performances, as well as games and activities for all ages. This summer, Olivia Centre also invited everyone to explore Gdańsk’s districts with the Local Guides. During the walks, history enthusiasts and local residents shared literary inspirations and artistic themes connected to each location, often adding personal touches to their stories. Each walk offered a new way to discover the city. At times, the stories told by the guides even surprised the oldest residents of a given district. This year, the walks covered such Gdańsk districts as Siedlce, Dolne Miasto, Biskupia Górka, and Oliwa.

 

As in previous years, the season of outdoor events closed with a performance by 6 combined choirs, including the Olivia Centre Choir. This time, the centerpiece of the concert was a performance of Grzegorz Turnau’s “Między Ciszą, a ciszą.” Nearly 200 people gathered on Olivia’s patio, performing not only this year’s featured piece but also their own arrangements of popular songs, including Katarzyna Nosowska’s “Sobie i Wam.”

A benefit for everyone

Many initiatives come from the Residents themselves. This was the case with the Olivia Choir, which owes its beginnings to Remigiusz Wojciechowski, Director of Bayer’s Business Services Center. It was his passion for singing that inspired him to establish an in-house choir. The need to develop it further and attract more male voices led the initiative to evolve into a project that now includes over 40 people from more than a dozen companies.

 

Running passion development clubs is often quite a challenge, but experience shows that they serve many important functions — and their significance for the center itself, its employees, and the companies leasing offices at Olivia is hard to overstate. A few years ago, we recognized the enormous potential within a community of several thousand people who work at Olivia every day — says Dorota Buzek-Garzyńska, Director of Communications at Olivia Centre. We decided to make the most of it by creating a space not only for work, but also for pursuing interests, spending time actively, developing new skills, and building relationships. Today, we organize dozens of diverse sporting, cultural, and developmental initiatives that attract hundreds of participants and have become an important part of our community’s life. We saw their significance especially clearly during the return to offices after the pandemic. On the days when we organized events and activities, we noticed higher attendance at Olivia. That showed us that an office can be more than just a place to carry out daily tasks — it can be a space for meetings, inspiration, and shared experiences. Today, we can confidently say that this offering is one of the elements that shape Olivia’s unique character. It’s used by employees of our Residents, for whom the opportunity to take part in a rich program of events is an added value and a complement to their employee benefits. Importantly, our initiatives matter not only for integration and atmosphere, but also serve as a meaningful argument in the sales conversations of our commercialization team. They show that Olivia is not just modern office space, but above all, an active and engaged community.

 

 

We know the winners of the 7th Oliwa Neighborhood Budget!

Posted on by Katarzyna Halicka

A food-sharing station in Oliwa, photographic portraits of residents marking the 100th anniversary of the district’s incorporation into Gdańsk, intergenerational craft workshops, and another edition of the concert in Oliwa Park. These are the four projects awarded in the 7th edition of the Oliwa Neighborhood Budget. This year’s program pool amounts to PLN 24,000, with prize funding provided by Olivia Centre, Andrzej Stelmasiewicz, and Przemysław Skokowski, a councillor for the Przymorze Małe district.

 

The awards ceremony took place on October 20 at the Oliwa Culture Town Hall. This year’s winners proposed projects of a very diverse nature, ranging from practical solutions that make food sharing easier to cultural initiatives that highlight the district’s history, encourage community gatherings, and draw attention to important social issues. The ceremony concluded with a lecture titled “Oliwa Park and the Green Surroundings of Oliwa,” delivered by Dr. Habil. Eng. Arch. Katarzyna Rozmarynowska, an architect, urban planner, and researcher of the history of Gdańsk’s gardens, a longtime lecturer at Gdańsk University of Technology, and author of numerous academic publications on the history of urban greenery, including the book “Vanishing Gardens…? From the History of Gdańsk’s Public Green Spaces 1708–1945.”

 

The Oliwa Neighborhood Budget was established in 2020 on the initiative of Olivia Centre, to support ideas from residents and local organizations working for the benefit of Oliwa and Przymorze Małe. From the very beginning, the project’s partner has been Andrzej Stelmasiewicz, an Oliwa-based entrepreneur, community activist, and cultural animator, founder of the Gdańsk Community Foundation. In 2024, Przemysław Skokowski, an entrepreneur and councillor for the Przymorze Małe district, joined the group of funders. Together with Olivia Centre, they contribute their own funds to carry out neighborhood initiatives. This year, that amount totals PLN 24,000.

 

Funding may be applied for by non-governmental organizations, foundations, associations, local organizations, as well as residents themselves. Projects are evaluated by a jury made up of representatives from local institutions, community activists, district representatives, and Olivia Centre.

 

Four funded projects

One of the winners is the Regional Volunteer Centre in Gdańsk, which submitted the project “Food-Sharing Station at RSM Budowlani.” The first small food-sharing station in Gdańsk—a publicly accessible fridge and shelf for food placed inside a building—will be set up in a housing cooperative building at 569 Grunwaldzka Avenue. Anyone will be able to leave surplus, good-quality food there or take products donated by others free of charge. Local entrepreneurs will also be invited to take part in the initiative. The project, coordinated by Karol Krzyczkowski, aims to reduce food waste and serve residents, including the many seniors living in the cooperative’s housing stock. The Regional Volunteer Centre in Gdańsk already has experience running a food-sharing station in Gdańsk’s Orunia district.

 

“Faces of Oliwa. Stories and Frames” is a project by Daria Balabai, a cultural animator, film director, and founder of the Ukrainian Library in Gdańsk. To mark the 100th anniversary of Oliwa’s incorporation into Gdańsk, a series of resident portraits will be created using traditional photographic techniques, in the style of the turn of the 19th and 20th centuries. Those photographed will include both people with generations-long ties to Oliwa and its newer residents, including people with migration backgrounds. The photographs will be accompanied by their personal stories and memories. The project also includes analog photography workshops, an outdoor exhibition, and the creation of a digital archive, which will help preserve residents’ stories for future generations.

 

Also among the winners is the Park ON Association, which supports people with Parkinson’s disease and other neurodegenerative conditions, as well as their caregivers. The association will organize, for the eighth time, the “Concert in the Park with James P. and a Hat in the Background.” The free event will take place on July 4, 2027, in Oliwa Park. Concerts organized by Park ON have attracted residents and tourists for years, combining music with raising awareness about Parkinson’s disease. They are also an opportunity to thank individuals and institutions that support patients. The organizers place particular emphasis on making the event accessible to those whose health makes it difficult to attend concerts held indoors. It has also become a tradition for the audience to wear hats and fanciful headgear. The concert will be accompanied by a presentation of ceramic works made by association members and the presentation of “Uskrzydlenia” statuettes.

 

The fourth award-winning project is “Intergenerational Meetings,” submitted by Anna Wesołowska-Owczarska of the informal neighborhood group Pirates Club. Four craft workshops will be held at the “Przy Rynku” library in Przymorze, during which residents of various ages will work together to create jewelry from beads, natural stones, and elements of old ornaments. The project’s initiator hopes to encourage participants not only to creatively reuse recycled materials, but also to talk and share family stories. The workshops will be an opportunity to meet neighbors, develop interests, and spend time without phones or social media.

 

From Idea to Implementation

In the Oliwa Neighborhood Budget, what matters most are ideas that respond to residents’ needs. This year’s winners propose both new ventures, such as the Food-Sharing Station and Oliwa’s photographic archive, and the continuation of initiatives that already have loyal and engaged participants and audiences.

Seven editions of the program also mean seven years of cooperation between Olivia Centre and residents, social organizations, local entrepreneurs, and district representatives. Thanks to joint funding, projects can be realized that their initiators would otherwise find difficult to finance on their own. And residents of Oliwa and Przymorze Małe gain new places, events, and opportunities for working together.

Gdańsk Metropolitan Area established at the Olivia Star summit

Posted on by Zosia Nadolska

A ceremonial 31st session of the Gdańsk City Council was held at Olivia Star in Gdańsk, during which a resolution was adopted to establish a new metropolitan union in Pomerania.

 

The Gdańsk Metropolitan Area is gradually becoming a reality. The next step toward its establishment was a ceremonial session of the Gdańsk City Council, attended by representatives of 61 municipalities forming the Gdańsk Metropolitan Area. Among the invited guests was also Elżbieta Bieńkowska, Chair of the Centre for European Policy Studies, former European Commissioner, Deputy Prime Minister, Minister of Infrastructure and Development, and Minister of Regional Development.

 

Gdańsk Metropolitan Area – a new growth impulse for Pomerania

 

The Gdańsk Metropolitan Area (GOM) represents one of the most significant institutional and developmental events in the region’s history since the local government reforms. The metropolis is set to begin operations on January 1, 2027, replacing the previously functioning Gdańsk-Gdynia-Sopot Metropolitan Area association.

 

The new structure will comprise 61 local government units, including cities, municipalities, and counties from the Tricity area and its surroundings. The area covered by the Gdańsk Metropolitan Area is home to over 1.5 million people, making it the second most populous statutory metropolitan area in Poland after the Upper Silesian-Dąbrowa Basin Metropolis.

 

Gdańsk will serve as the central hub of the metropolis, though its development is intended to rely on a polycentric structure that also includes Gdynia, Sopot, Wejherowo, Reda, Pruszcz Gdański, Tczew, and dozens of smaller urban and rural municipalities. The main goal of the reform is not to create a new administrative level or change the boundaries of local governments, but to establish a lasting mechanism for coordinating actions in areas where individual municipalities have limited capacity to act.

 

The metropolitan act will allow us to create a new institution responsible for spending the funds that, thanks to the act, will remain at the disposal of the residents of Pomerania – said Agnieszka Owczarczak, Chair of the Gdańsk City Council, after the session. And these are significant amounts, as in the first year the Gdańsk Metropolitan Area will have 150 million PLN at its disposal, and in the following years this amount will grow to as much as 500 million PLN annually, to be spent for the benefit of the residents of Pomerania.

 

Michał Glaser, President of the Management Board of the Gdańsk-Gdynia-Sopot Metropolitan Area, in turn emphasized the symbolism of the place where the resolution was adopted:It was at Olivia Star that the Smart Metropolis congresses were held, and it was here that knowledge tests about the metropolis took place, promoting the idea of establishing the union, so I am very pleased that this historic resolution was adopted precisely in this place. However, the most important work still lies ahead of us. Starting in January 2027, we will be working to make up for the backlog in public transport, so that buses, trains, and trams are managed by a single entity, allowing for a single ticket for Tricity residents, a coherent network of connections, and well-coordinated public transit. The second area of cooperation and benefit will be economic development and innovation, and we are counting heavily on entrepreneurs joining in the creation of the metropolis and becoming partners in the Gdańsk Metropolitan Area project.

 

The location of the session was not chosen by chance. Olivia Centre is a symbol of the region’s development, the business hub of Gdańsk, and a place offering views not only of Gdańsk but also of a large part of the metropolitan area. Olivia Centre has been a long-standing supporting member of the association, working toward the creation of the metropolis. In this largest business center in Poland, more than 200 companies operate, ranging from SMEs, which form the backbone of the Polish economy, to the largest, globally recognized brands – says Bogusław Wieczorek, Management Board Plenipotentiary at Olivia Centre.The strength of Pomerania stems from the region’s entrepreneurial spirit, but we believe that the establishment of the metropolitan union will enable even greater and better-coordinated regional development. We see the greatest opportunities in the development of public infrastructure, road networks and public transport, as well as funding for scientific research and support for innovation and cooperation between business and academia.

 

A key argument in favor of establishing the metropolis is the new financial opportunities it brings. The metropolitan union will receive a share of the PIT (personal income tax) revenue paid by residents of the region. According to local government estimates, as early as the first year of operation, the metropolis could have around 150 million PLN in additional funds at its disposal, while after full implementation of the system, the annual budget could reach as much as around 500 million PLN. This means that a significant portion of funds that previously went directly to the state budget will now remain in Pomerania.

 

Public transport is likely to be the biggest beneficiary of the new funds. The metropolis will gain the authority to integrate bus, rail, tram, and trolleybus transport, and to create a unified transport policy for the entire area. Plans include further development of the joint metropolitan ticket, synchronization of timetables, and the elimination of so-called transport blind spots, i.e. areas with limited access to public transit. Additional funds may be allocated to purchasing new rolling stock, developing rail and bus connections, and carrying out road investments of supra-local significance.

 

The new metropolis will also be responsible for strategic spatial planning and the coordination of major infrastructure investments. This will make it easier to jointly prepare transport, logistics, and economic projects whose impact extends beyond the borders of individual municipalities. It will also facilitate access to domestic and European funding for projects carried out on a region-wide scale.

 

An important feature of the Pomeranian metropolitan act is its strong emphasis on environmental issues. The coastal region is particularly vulnerable to the effects of climate change, which is why environmental protection and climate change adaptation have been included among the metropolis’s responsibilities. This opens the way for joint implementation of projects related to water management, protection of coastal areas, improving air quality, increasing energy efficiency, and developing green infrastructure.

 

A particularly interesting solution is the statutory support for research and innovation activities. The regulations stipulate that at least 5% of the metropolitan union’s budget will be allocated to scientific research and cooperation with universities. This means it will be possible to finance projects carried out jointly by local governments and the academic community, including, among others, the University of Gdańsk, Gdańsk University of Technology, and the Medical University of Gdańsk. With a budget reaching 500 million PLN annually, this could mean around 25 million PLN allocated each year to the development of knowledge, research, and innovation.

 

Photo: Grzegorz Mehring

They Work for You While You Work. Technology in the Workplace

Posted on by Mikołaj Jana

Olivia Centre: technology in service of people. Gdańsk’s business center sets the standards for modernity.

 

Few people know that Gdańsk’s Olivia Centre is the largest business center in Poland. However, the scale of solutions implemented here—from HVAC systems to security, sustainable construction, and wellbeing—shows that Olivia Centre not only matches global leaders but surpasses them in many areas. This is a place where technology works primarily for people: employees, tenants, and residents of the Tri-City.

 

Air Quality Like the White House. Advanced HVAC Systems

One of the key elements of Olivia’s modernity is its ventilation and air conditioning systems. In recent years, a series of upgrades have been carried out that significantly improved user comfort and safety. Among the installations that distinguish Olivia in the field of global business centers are air ionizers that remove viruses, PM2.5 and PM10 particulates, allergens, mold and fungi, and restore ionic balance. In recent years, the facility has gained a number of modern solutions, such as new automation for ventilation units, new condensing units, air heating options in central units, controllers managing the amount of supply air, F7 air filters, and individual thermal comfort controllers in leased areas. The implemented solutions directly impact the health and wellbeing of users – says Bogusław Wieczorek, the representative of the management board of Olivia Centre. This is particularly significant in times of increased air quality awareness, but also contributes to significantly more efficient resource management and savings for tenants: The replacement of ventilation units resulted in 15% energy savings, and the achieved energy efficiency reached a level of 3.17, where the highest global results reach 3.20.

 

Geothermal Energy in Service of Comfort and Environment

Olivia Star—the tallest building in Northern Poland—has been equipped with a geothermal system with heat pumps unique on a national scale, utilizing the Earth’s heat through several dozen vertical probes reaching 95 meters below the building’s lowest level. The system generates both heat and cooling, produces no harmful gases, and its seasonal energy efficiency exceeds 145%. This is an example of technology that simultaneously reduces operating costs, cuts emissions, and increases user comfort.

 

Energy Efficiency and Sustainable Construction

All Olivia buildings hold BREEAM certifications—from Very Good to Excellent. Importantly, Olivia is one of the few centers in Poland to certify buildings in the fully-fitted model, covering both common areas and leased spaces. In practice, certification translates into energy-efficient water management technologies, availability of alternative forms of transport, the highest material and construction standards, and resistance to extreme weather events.

 

24/7 Security: Intelligent Systems and Full Integration

Given that several thousand people work in Olivia daily, Olivia Centre places particular emphasis on employee safety. For this reason, it has implemented a number of solutions in the facilities: extensive CCTV monitoring, the GEMOS system integrating all security systems, digital image analytics, physical security present in the facility 24/7/365, central UPS batteries in N+1 configuration, two independent power sources, and gas suppression systems in server rooms. This is infrastructure that also matters to tenants, as it minimizes the risk of failures and ensures business continuity for companies with offices in Olivia.

Communication and Access to Information

Olivia’s management has been developing an information exchange system with tenants for years. Currently, the most important forms of communication are LCD screens located in all elevators of the center, social media profiles and closed groups for members of passion development clubs and sports teams, and the website. Applications also play an important role in communication and community integration. The most popular is MyOlivia, which provides mobile access to buildings (HID Mobile Access), a proprietary ticketing system, and the ability to purchase daily or subscription access to parking. Another solution available in Olivia is the Olivka app, where guests of dining spaces and event participants can collect points and then exchange them for discounts or free event tickets.

Climate Resilience and Decarbonization

Olivia Centre has been a member of the United Nations Global Compact (UNGC) for years—the largest global initiative bringing together sustainable businesses. At the same time, it conducts activities in accordance with global environmental and social responsibility standards (ESG), performing annual climate risk analyses (TCFD) and conducting carbon footprint audits (GHG Protocol). Olivia has its own decarbonization strategy, which also implements solutions supporting micromobility. Olivia is also implementing the Tork PaperCircle project, closing the loop on paper towels.

All implemented solutions have resulted in Olivia obtaining the prestigious WELL Health and Safety Rating certification, demonstrating that the facility represents the highest global standards of safety and health. Olivia Centre became the first business center in the world to achieve the maximum score of 25 out of 25 points in the prestigious WELL Health-Safety Rating certification. The assessment covers cleaning procedures, crisis preparedness, access to healthcare, air and water quality, and innovations, among others. Olivia Centre’s buildings met all 25 out of 25 possible criteria, achieving the maximum score that no office facility in the world had previously obtained—emphasizes Bogusław Wieczorek. Among the 25 analyzed categories were also those related to innovations and technologies operating in our facilities, and we also achieved the maximum number of points possible in these areas. This shows that the Gdańsk facility is among the most innovative and socially responsible centers in the world. The WELL HSR badge placed at building entrances informs every user of the highest level of safety and health care. This is a clear signal to employees and guests: here, the quality of the work environment is a priority.

 

Olivia Centre—A Technological Leader That Puts People at the Center

Olivia Centre is not an ordinary office complex. Years of implemented solutions and investments in technology allow us to speak of it as an ecosystem of modern technologies that improve air quality, increase safety, reduce energy consumption, support health, build community, and enhance work and life comfort. Many of these solutions serve as an example of how to effectively use innovation: with technology in service of people, not the other way around.

 

Olivia Is Growing and Will Soon Welcome Its First Residents

The experience gained in managing the business center has enabled the transfer of solutions to Olivia’s newest project: Olivia Pulse—the first residential building that will welcome its first residents this year. Olivia Pulse can be described as a single smart system, enabling automatic reduction of device operation during user absence, efficient energy and resource management, and activation when residents need them. Air conditioning, which will be standard in the facility, will turn off after opening a window, zoned LED lighting in corridors on all floors will be activated by motion sensors, and in the absence of presence in a given space, only selected light sources will illuminate. The operation of selected multimedia installations will also depend on user presence.

 

The facility will provide full digitization of building access and usage processes. Residents and guests will have access to the building and apartment without using keys, via an application (it will be possible to set up an application that will allow booking and opening the apartment from the app; cards will be used as standard for opening rooms, as there will be no physical keys in the building). This solution will enable fully remote apartment management, independent access management including for guests, and provide contactless parking access. The Olivia Pulse system will also allow full integration with the services, dining, sports, and wellbeing offerings available at Olivia Centre. The building’s application will be integrated with the MyOlivia app.

 

Electronic systems, however, are only part of the solutions that will be provided in the building. Olivia Pulse is being built to BREEAM certification standards, which means that smart and technological solutions are not an addition but an integral element of the project. This translates into the introduction of solutions affecting energy efficiency, rational water management, CO2 emission reduction, the use of durable and environmentally responsible finishing materials, whose quality is intended to ensure the building’s long-term operational efficiency and eliminate the need for frequent renovations and replacement of finishing materials.

 

By welcoming its first residents, Olivia Centre is not only taking another step on the path to innovation but is also becoming a fully mixed-use project—a multifunctional urban space where the lights never go out around the clock, and the project becomes part of vibrant Gdańsk.

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.

 

Tonsa Commercial Sells Olivia Star to STRABAG Group in Landmark Polish Real Estate Transaction

Posted on by Katarzyna Halicka

Press release

 

Tonsa Commercial sells Olivia Star to STRABAG Group in landmark Polish commercial real estate transaction

 

  • Expected to be the single largest commercial real estate transaction in Poland in 2026 and unprecedented in scale for Poland’s regional cities, with no comparable single-asset office deal previously completed in Poland outside Warsaw
  • Sale validates Olivia Centre – one of the largest office complexes in Central and Eastern Europe – as a fully institutional-grade investment destination
  • Tonsa Commercial retains ownership of the six remaining Olivia Centre buildings, comprising c. 130,000 sqm of office space
  • Tonsa Group PM continues as operator of Olivia Star post-completion, providing property management, leasing support and operation of the Olivia Star Top concept
  • Continued growth strategy across the Tonsa Group portfolio, including the Olivia Home residential brand and the Pekabex precast concrete platform


Rotterdam / Gdańsk, 02 July 2026 – Tonsa Commercial REI N.V. (“Tonsa”), the Rotterdam-headquartered international real estate investor and developer behind Olivia Centre in Gdańsk, has completed the sale of the Olivia Star office tower to Austria’s STRABAG Group. The transaction, structured as a share deal, is expected to be the single largest commercial real estate transaction in Poland in 2026. It is also unprecedented in scale for Poland’s regional cities: no comparable single-asset office transaction has previously been completed in Poland outside Warsaw.

 

Olivia Star is the tallest building in Gdańsk and the whole of northern Poland, with an architectural height of 180 metres (156 metres to roof), 35 floors above ground and three underground levels. The tower comprises approximately 45,000 sqm of office space within a total floor area of c. 67,700 sqm, alongside extensive conference facilities, five restaurants, three bars and the publicly accessible Olivia Star Top observation deck and event space. Occupancy stands at 98 percent, with anchor tenants including Nordea Bank and PwC. Completed in 2018, Olivia Star was developed by Tonsa Commercial as the flagship of the wider Olivia Centre platform.

 

Olivia Centre, formerly Olivia Business Centre, comprises seven completed office buildings on Al. Grunwaldzka 472 in the Oliwa district of Gdańsk, totalling approximately 230,000 sqm of floor area and around 175,000 sqm of office space, making it the largest business hub in Poland and one of the largest office complexes in Central and Eastern Europe. More than 120 occupiers are present across the campus, including global names such as Amazon, Bayer, Allianz, Nordea Bank and PwC. Following the sale of Olivia Star, the remaining six buildings remain in the full ownership of Tonsa Commercial.

 

Continued operational role. Following completion, Tonsa Commercial will continue as operator of Olivia Star, providing property management and leasing support. Also operation of the Olivia Star Top concept – the publicly accessible observation deck, conference facilities, restaurants and bars on the upper floors – is being provided by team working closely with Tonsa Commercial.   This ensures full continuity for occupiers and visitors and keeps Olivia Star seamlessly integrated with the wider Olivia Centre campus, which Tonsa continues to develop and manage.

 

Commenting on the transaction, Maciej Grabski, President of Olivia Centre and Director of Tonsa, said: “When we began Olivia Centre in 2010, our ambition was to bring fully institutional-grade quality to Gdańsk and to the wider Polish regional market – to global standards in design, sustainability and tenant experience. Olivia Star was conceived as the flagship of that vision. To see it acquired by a partner of STRABAG’s stature, in what we expect to be the largest Polish real estate transaction of 2026 and the first deal of its kind in Poland outside Warsaw, is a powerful validation of what Olivia Centre represents today: one of the largest and most mature office complexes in Central and Eastern Europe, attracting institutional capital on the same terms as Western European gateway markets. We remain operator of Olivia Star and continue to develop and manage the wider Olivia Centre campus, alongside the broader Tonsa Group pipeline.”

 

Beyond its role as a premier workspace, Olivia Centre has been deliberately designed as a vibrant, mixed-use ecosystem that goes far beyond traditional office leasing. The campus integrates an unparalleled range of services to meet the daily needs of professionals, visitors, and local residents alike. The hub features extensive amenities including medical and educational facilities, fitness clubs, and diverse gastronomy. A centerpiece of this holistic environment is Olivia Garden – a year-round, tropical green space of several thousand square meters serving as a natural retreat.

 

Central to the identity of Olivia Centre is its profound focus on building a resilient and engaged local community. The campus acts as a social catalyst, fostering interactions through a robust annual calendar of cultural, educational, and sports events. By cultivating proprietary initiatives – ranging from resident sports leagues and the Olivia Choir to numerous volunteering and networking programs – Tonsa Commercial ensures that the complex is not just a place to work, but a thriving community hub. This people-centric strategy significantly enhances tenant well-being, supports talent retention for occupiers, and creates a welcoming space that actively enriches the social fabric of the wider Gdańsk metropolitan area.

 

This holistic, community-driven vision is firmly rooted in a comprehensive Environmental, Social, and Governance (ESG) framework, as highlighted in Tonsa Group’s successive Sustainability Reports. Olivia Centre is a pioneer of sustainable real estate in Poland, continuously implementing solutions that reduce carbon emissions, optimize energy efficiency, and promote biodiversity. For institutional investors and global tenants alike, this rigorous dedication to ESG principles guarantees long-term asset resilience and aligns perfectly with modern corporate responsibility goals.

 

The Olivia Star transaction reflects a renewed inflow of international institutional capital into Poland’s regional cities, where the yield spread to Western European markets and Poland’s leading position in European GDP growth forecasts continue to drive investor demand. Tonsa Group will continue to develop, lease and manage the remaining Olivia Centre portfolio and is actively progressing further investments across its real estate platform, including the Olivia Home residential brand and the Group’s controlling interest in Pekabex S.A., the largest provider of precast concrete in Poland with operations across Poland, Germany, Sweden and the United Kingdom.

 

Olivia Pulse building offers residential apartments and marks the next step in the continued evolution of Olivia Centre, further broadening the destination’s offer and reinforcing its long-term mixed-use vision. It will complement a campus already positioned as a highly diverse, community-oriented environment, where office space is combined with services, gastronomy and amenities that support everyday life beyond traditional workplace functions. In this way, Olivia Pulse – developed by group’s Olivia Home – reflects the same user-focused and sustainability-driven approach that underpins the wider Olivia Centre platform and its ESG strategy.

 

Advisors. Tonsa Commercial was advised by Greenberg Traurig and Pinsent Masons (legal transaction advisory) and Tax Advisor Magdalena Zamoyska (transactional tax advisory). On the purchaser side, STRABAG Group was advised by KINGSTONE Real Estate (transaction advisory and process coordination), Act Legal (legal and tax), Savills (technical) and Baker Tilly (financial).

 

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About Tonsa Commercial

Tonsa Commercial REI N.V. is a Rotterdam-headquartered international real estate investor, developer and asset manager. The Group’s flagship project is Olivia Centre in Gdańsk – one of the largest office complexes in Central and Eastern Europe – alongside the Olivia Home residential brand. Through its parent vehicle Tonsa SCA, SICAV RAIF, the Group also holds a controlling interest in Pekabex S.A., the largest provider of precast concrete in Poland, operating across Poland, Germany, Sweden and the United Kingdom.

For more information visit: www.tonsacommercial.com and www.oliviacentre.com

 

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Press contact

Tonsa Commercial / Olivia Centre

Bogusław Wieczorek
Board Representative to Public Relations
boguslaw.wieczorek@oliviacentre.com
+48  501 951 937

 

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Note on image rights. Photographs of Olivia Star and Olivia Centre may be used in the context of reporting on this transaction. Please cite “Tonsa Commercial / Olivia Centre” as image source. Photographs may only be edited within the context of standard image processing.