Tag: BUSINESS

Olivia Star with green financing

Posted on by Katarzyna Halicka

Olivia Star received a Green Loan from three existing lenders at the same time; A consortium of Santander Bank Polska S.A., BNP Paribas Bank Polska S.A. and Bank Millennium S.A. Olivia is the first office developer in Poland to announce that it has obtained this type of financing. The refinancing loan required a detailed verification of the implemented solutions for the refinancing of the loan. sustainable development, thanks to which it was possible to obtain attractive financing conditions and increase it to the amount of nearly EUR 83 million. Olivia Star is a part of Olivia Centre, the largest business centre in Poland. Legal services were provided by KLBF Kycia Legal.

 

“We are glad to continue our cooperation with our partners, as green financing confirms that the adopted strategy in the field of responsible business conduct is appreciated not only by tenants, who willingly choose Olivia as their office location, but also by banks financing investments related to ambitious criteria for green real estate ,” he says Krzysztof Raćkos, Olivia’s Chief Financial Officer.

 

Obtaining green financing is a confirmation that the solutions implemented in the Olivia Star building – the highest building in northern Polish – meet international standards and are in line with the direction of good, ecological practices that the entire real estate market should follow. Among the criteria that are evaluated are the energy efficiency of systems in buildings, increasing their stability and failure-free operation, monitoring of systems to counteract defects and risks to the natural environment and people working in buildings, as well as pro-social solutions affecting the well-being of employees.

 

– Green Loan meets the Green Loan Principles developed by the Loan Market Association (LMA), an international association based in London that brings together more than 850 banks, institutional investors, law firms and credit rating agencies. For many years, the LMA has been developing standards for documents, including loan agreements, which are now a commonly used market practice in the world. This is a confirmation of the fact that Olivia is a leader in the commercial real estate industry in Poland and in the world on many levels – says Bogusław Wieczorek, attorney-at-law, Plenipotentiary of the Management Board for public relations.

 

The special solutions implemented in Olivia include the modernization of the cooling system in the building, thanks to which its efficiency increased by 30%, and the modernization of the water chiller (increase in efficiency by up to 20%). A new automation of air handling units was introduced (reduction of energy consumption by 15%), installation of 100% LED lighting and air ionizers, thanks to which employees can breathe air free of viruses, PM 2.5 and PM 10 dust, free from allergens, mold and fungi. A significant part of the monitoring system was also digitized, which allowed to increase the level of security and reduce the costs of surveillance, and thus the costs of renting space. Thanks to these and a number of other solutions, Olivia has obtained numerous certificates and awards, among which the most important are the BREEAM certification at the Excellent level and the WELL HSR certificate, in which Olivia was the first in the world to obtain 25 points out of 25 possible, in 22 basic categories and 3 additional ones, related to innovations implemented in its area. Olivia is one of the first Polish business centres, despite its lack of commitment, but out of a sense of responsibility, to conduct ESG reporting using the global GRI 2021 standards and TCFD recommendations. In addition, Olivia is implementing further projects, in line with the ESG strategy (m.in. decarbonization, social) and detailed policies in the field of environmental and social responsibility based on the prepared Code of Conduct. Olivia’s commitment to climate issues is also reflected in her membership in the United Nations Global Compact (UNGC), the largest global initiative for sustainable business.

 

“Such a comprehensive approach to thinking about sustainable development is our consistently implemented standard, including care for Olivia’s natural and social environment,” says Agata Kwapisiewicz, ESG Officer at Olivia Centre. – Our green solutions not only translate into increased business competitiveness, but also attractiveness in the eyes of Gdańsk residents and tourists. The first green loan in the group shows that such thinking also bears fruit in the form of financing granted.

Faculty of Law and Administration UG with Zero Stress green zone designed by Design Anatomy

Posted on by Katarzyna Halicka

The zone of concentration among the vegetation, which was created in one of the buildings of the University of Gdańsk, is the work of Design Anatomy – a studio that designs offices in Olivia Centre on a daily basis. The idea of creating a green zone came from the students themselves and was implemented as part of the Academic Participatory Budget. The synergy resulted in a one-of-a-kind chill-out zone.

 

The Zero Stress Zone was established in a secluded part of the building of the Faculty of Law and Administration of the University of Gdańsk. From the very beginning of the Faculty’s existence, this place was intended for a winter garden, but it was only as part of the cooperation with Olivia Centre that it gained the name of a real leisure zone. The project included the revitalization of green zones, the construction of new modular furniture, which allowed for the separation of a zone not only for in-depth learning among greenery, but also for the creation of a place for official and less obliging meetings. The architects took care of new lighting, separate relaxation, work and integration zones, as well as appropriate acoustics and improved the aesthetic values of the winter garden. As a result, the space has been optically enlarged, while maintaining its seclusion and user-friendliness.

 

As he points out, Ph.D. Małgorzata Balwicka – SzczyrbaProf. UG, Vice-Dean for The project was inspired by the spaces of Olivia Centre: As part of the neighbourhood visit, we had the opportunity to learn about interesting solutions that entrepreneurs are currently introducing to their office spaces. The changes indicate how workplaces are moving towards places of socialization, integration and cooperation. It was very inspiring for us and allowed us to entrust the changes at our Faculty to experts who perfectly sense the change in trends in the design of ultra-modern and friendly office spaces. The choice turned out to be exceptionally good – their knowledge also proved to be the preparation of unique places conducive to learning and integration of the student community. We hope for further cooperation with Olivia both in the area of interior design and in many other fields!

 

Moreover, as the Dean of the Faculty of Law and Administration of the University of Gdańsk emphasizes, Ph.D. Wojciech Zalewski Prof. UG cooperation with Olivia Centre is also important because a significant number of students of the faculty choose a career path not strictly related to the profession of judge, notary, legal counsel or advocate: About 60% of the students of our faculty continue their careers in business. Thanks to our cooperation with Olivia Centre, we want to emphasize our openness to the values of the business community.

 

I remember this space from my student days – recalls Bogusław Wieczorek, legal counsel and representative of the Management Board of Olivia Centre. I am glad that today I can support the cooperation between my Alma Mater and Olivia. I would like to congratulate the faculty authorities and the students themselves for thinking wisely and modernly about the place they use every day. Experience from the office market definitely proves that a well-designed space supports creative work, focus and moments of rest. Entrusting the project to an experienced team of architects, rather than a random one, is certainly a good choice.

 

The Zero Stress Zone is part of a broader, gradually implemented project at the Faculty of Law and Administration of the University of Gdańsk. The changes also include improving the aesthetics of a much larger part of the building. With the use of the work of prof. Grzegorz Klaman from the Academy of Fine Arts in Gdańsk creates a passage of art and inspiration on the mezzanine, located above the Zero Stress zone. In its vicinity, in the place of the former smoking room, a modern art gallery was created, adapted for the organization of student meetings and discussions. There is also a sculpture by Igor Mitoraj.

 

This zone has always had potential and good energy ,” says Anna Branicka, lead architect at Design Anatomy. – Beautifully lit with natural light, filled with greenery, it was a natural, though unused, meeting place. All she needed was the right arrangement. Together with Olivia Centre, almost as part of the “neighbourly” cooperation, we offered assistance in the design and implementation of the ZERO STRESS zone. The fruit of our partnership is a charming, cozy corner wrapped in greenery, with warm, soft light, a place for integration and relaxation, with a view of the… Olivia Star! We hope that it will serve students and staff for many years to come. Creating biophilic zones in existing buildings is always a good investment.

 

Cinematography: Tomasz Kurek, tomkurek.co

In Olivia about the most important matters. Summit talks: women’s time.

Posted on by Katarzyna Halicka

On Friday, March 1, the spacious conference room on the 34th floor of Olivia Star was filled to the brim. They talked about extremely important issues – women’s equality, the chances for women to play an increasingly important role in politics, and effective ways to break through the so-called “women’s rights”. “glass ceiling”.

 

The debate entitled “Summit Talks – Women’s Time” was attended by the Minister for Civil Society Agnieszka Buczyńska, the Pomeranian Voivode Beata Rutkiewicz, the Mayor of Gdańsk Aleksandra Dulkiewicz, the Law and Justice MP Dorota Arciszewska-Mielewczyk and the Civic Coalition MP Agnieszka Pomaska. The event was hosted by press and radio journalist Magdalena Rigamonti, and the inaugural lecture was given by Prof. Ph.D. Witold M. Orłowski from the Vistula University, professor and director of the Business School of the Warsaw University of Technology, chief economic advisor at PwC Poland.

 

Mainly female politicians were invited to participate in the meeting, so the discussion focused primarily on this area. They were m.in. The topic of the “glass ceiling”, analysing what it is and whether it will be possible to break it, also discussed the issue of quotas.

 

In politics and professional life, the “glass ceiling” for women manifests itself in various ways, m.in. unequal opportunities for promotion, lower salaries compared to men in similar positions, lack of representation of women in key decision-making bodies, or the use of gender stereotypes in competence assessments and task assignment. To overcome this, it is necessary to take broad and conscious action for gender equality, promote women’s participation in the decision-making process, eliminate discrimination based on gender and ensure equal opportunities and opportunities for professional development for both sexes.

Fig. Grzegorz Mehring, gdansk.pl

 

This is another meeting of the “Summit Talks” series. Earlier, Olivia Star talked about crises, i.e.
“Pandemic, war and what’s next?”
 and
the economic challenges of the modern world
.

 

“Summit Talks” organized by
Pomeranian Employers
 in cooperation with Olivia Centre.

 

 

More:

https://biznes.trojmiasto.pl/Mamy-czas-kobiet-Rozmowy-na-szczycie-n186952.html

https://www.gdansk.pl/wiadomosci/Rozmowy-na-szczycie-Czas-kobiet-Gdansk-Olivia-Six-Rigamonti-Dulkiewicz-Pomaska-Buczynska-Rutkiewicz-Arciszewska,a,259768

https://www.zawszepomorze.pl/rozmowy-na-szczycie-goraca-debata-na-34-pietrze-olivii-star

Olivia Prize 2023 handed out!

Posted on by Katarzyna Halicka

On Wednesday, January 31st, the fourth award ceremony in the Olivia Prize competition took place. Awards for projects carried out by the Residents of Olivia Centre, the largest business centre in Poland, have traditionally been granted in the following categories: Olivia Impact, Olivia Biznes, Olivia Eco and Olivia Pro Bono. From among the projects submitted by mid-January, the jury selected 4 winners and awarded 5 honorable mentions.

 

The choice was made by a jury consisting of representatives of companies operating in Olivia. This year’s winners were: Marta Moksa (O4 Coworking), Grzegorz Borowski (Infoshare), Remigiusz Wojciechowski (Bayer), Marcin Perkowski (Capgemini) and Mateusz Kusznierewicz.

 

OLIVIA BUSINESS

 

This year’s edition of the competition was attended by 22 projects that were implemented by companies operating in Olivia Centre over the past year. In the Olivia Business category, projects with the greatest business potential, characterized by innovation and responding to real market demand are awarded. This year, in this category, the award went to the Pomerania Development Agency for

the Pomeranian Export Broker

 project, the aim of which was to support Pomeranian enterprises in business contacts abroad. The project covered more than 6 thousand. people with 2.5 thousand. Enterprises. As part of the project, 15 economic missions, 42 trips to trade fairs and 58 trips to other international economic events were carried out in countries such as China, the United States, the United Arab Emirates, Australia and many other parts of the world. The project also enabled Pomeranian companies to participate in selected economic events through 614 project grants and 47 individual, “tailor-made” B2B meetings, prepared with the use of specialized market reports from m.in. in the United States, the United Kingdom, Scandinavia, the United Arab Emirates, or Kazakhstan.

 

In the Olivia Business category, a distinction was also awarded, which this year went to the

Black Pearls VC

 fund, which supports young technology companies operating in the Baltic Sea basin. The fund’s activity consists in providing financial support to start-ups at an early stage of development and searching for strategic investors for them after achieving strong market positions. Last year, Telemedi and Solwit reached this level, and in the previous two years, this process covered 6 other companies. In 2023, the fund provided its investors with a 252% increase in return on capital compared to the previous year. As part of its investment portfolio, the Black Pearls VC fund holds shares in a company known as unicorn, valued at over EUR 2 billion, and as much as 57% of the latest portfolio is made up of foreign startups. The fund has invested m.in. in Ondato (Lithuania), Autenti (Poland), insly (Estonia), Swotzy (Latvia), Fluentby (Poland), infoshare Academy (Poland), Enso (Poland/USA), eAgronom (Estonia) and Heavy Finance (Lithuania).

 

 

OLIVIA IMPACT

 

In the Olivia Impact category, awards are given to companies and projects with the greatest impact in the area of corporate social responsibility. In this category the statuette was awarded to
Energa, a member of the Orlen Group
 for the two projects submitted this year: implementing a wide-ranging ESG agenda and supporting important initiatives in the region, Poland and around the world, including through programmes Houses of Good Energy and
Planet of Energy
. As part of the first one, Energa provided 18 institutions (including 15 orphanages in Poland, the St. Brother Albert Home for the Homeless and Needy Aid Society in Gdańsk and one school in South Sudan) with access to efficient and environmentally friendly energy sources. The project provides clean and energy-efficient energy sources, but also workshops, educational meetings, excursions and holiday trips. The second project is Energia’s original educational program, which includes the promotion of knowledge about electricity, its sources and safe and rational use of electricity among the youngest. During the deliberations, the jury also took into account numerous initiatives implemented by the company during all previous editions of the competition.

 

In the Olivia Impact category , a distinction was also awarded to

Bayer

 for creating a climate for the implementation of social and ecological innovations by employees and for being open and encouraging cooperation with other Olivia Centre Residents.

 

 

OLIVIA ECO

 

Bayer also won this year’s statuette in the Olivia Eco category, for the Eco Floral project by Edyta Bieniasz-Krzywiec, one of the company’s employees, who transferred her family’s daily eco activities to the company. It is based on the principle of circular economy and education with the possibility of reusing everything that employees in the office and at home have at their disposal. Edyta Bieniasz-Krzywiec defines it with the motto “We do what we can, with what we have, where we are”. At the threshold of Olivia Centre project Eco Floral visited as part of the event Eco Family Days, organized by and for Bayer employees, when Edyta Bieniasz-Krzywiec and her husband brought their machine used to process waste from various types of plastic at home and trained other employees in the field of household waste management and what products can be created from plastic waste.

 

In this category, the award went to

EPAM Polska

 for the Green Sweep Gdańsk project, involving over 30 employees from the company’s Gdańsk branch in a nationwide initiative to clean up illegal landfills.

 

OLIVIA PRO BONO

 

The main prize in the category Olivia Pro Bono, awarded to pro-social projects, won the Gdansk Foundation for Management Development per project GFKM Masters – Pomeranian Tournament of Decision-Making Games. The project is aimed at Pomeranian students of high schools, technical schools and vocational schools and includes supporting education in the field of management, entrepreneurship and teamwork, as well as supporting young talents in their search for paths of their own development. The project is based on the use of a tool used to conduct business simulations, and assumes showing young people the challenges associated with running a business. This program is usually used as part of the Executive MBA classes and is aimed at middle and senior management representatives. As Krzysztof Jędrzejowski, a representative of the Gdańsk Foundation for Management Development, emphasizes, GFKM Masters is a project that is to give young people a chance for favourable conditions for development and gaining practical professional skills: In all school corridors there are many leaders, both present and future. The potential of these young people is enormous, and we do not want to miss the opportunity to support their development. We try to provide them with the opportunity to gain experience even before they enter the job market, which will make it easier for them to have a good start in their careers. We decided to create an initiative aimed exclusively at students, knowing that they will soon be able to work in our environment and make key decisions. We want to equip them with competences and skills that will allow them to meet modern market requirements.

 

In the Pro Bono category, two companies received awards: Bayer and

O4 Coworking

. The first of them was awarded for the

Jump High for Santa Claus

 project, which integrates employees from 14 companies around a charity volleyball tournament supporting the Hospice Foundation in Gdańsk, and the second for the O4-ians help project, under which the coworking community regularly and systemically engages in social and charity campaigns.

 

– This year’s edition of Olivia Prize applications included projects at a very high level, which makes us happy, because its intention is to distinguish and promote the most valuable projects in all categories – says Bogusław Wieczorek, Olivia Centre Representative. ” What’s more, the awards are given to projects that companies usually do not talk about publicly, but which bring great business, social and environmental value, so we feel obliged to emphasize the social benefits of their implementation and help the authors of the projects to publicize the beneficial initiatives that are carried out in the Olivia Centre.

 

The winners of each category received statuettes by Dr. hab. Tomasz Sobisz, Vice-Dean of the Faculty of Sculpture and Intermedia at the Academy of Fine Arts in Gdańsk.

 

 

The special guest of the Olivia Prize 2023 award ceremony was Marcin Piatkowski, professor at Kozminski University in Warsaw and economist at the World Bank in Washington. He gave a lecture Pt. “The Golden Age. How did Poland become a European leader in growth and what does the future hold for it?”

 

 

Olivia Prize 2023 award ceremony. Lecture by prof. Marcin Piatkowski’s “Polish Golden Age”

Posted on by Katarzyna Halicka

We would like to invite you to the award ceremony in the Olivia Prize competition! For the fourth time, we will award the projects of employees and companies from Olivia Centre. The special guest of the event will be prof. Marcin Piatkowski.
Registration required.

 

 

Agenda of the meeting

 

18:00 Opening

18:00-18:10 Welcoming guests

18:10-19:10 Lecture by prof. Marcin Piatkowski’s “Polish Golden Age”

19:10-20:00 Olivia Prize Awards Ceremony

20:00-21:00 Closing / cocktail

 

 

Lecture by prof. Marcin Piatkowski’s “Polish Golden Age”

 

 

Marcin Piatkowski

Professor at Kozminski University in Warsaw and leading economist at the World Bank in Washington. Previously, he was a visiting economist at Harvard University, chief economist at PKO BP, economist at the European Department and advisor to the executive director at the International Monetary Fund in Washington. Former advisor to the Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Finance of the Republic of Poland. Author of several dozen scientific publications, lecturer at leading universities in the world and active commentator on economic events in the Polish and world media.

 

Author of the book “Europe’s Growth Champion. Insights from the Economic Rise of Poland.”, also published in Poland, where in 2019 it received the award of the Polish Academy of Sciences for the best book on economics, and in 2020 it won the first place in the Economicus competition of “Dziennik Gazeta Prawna” for the best book promoting economic knowledge.

 

“The Golden Age. How did Poland become a European leader in growth and what does the future hold for it?”

 

  • Why are some countries rich and others poor?
  • Why are some able to get out of economic backwardness, while others are stuck in poverty?

 

The author provides answers to these questions on the example of Polish and its unprecedented economic success after 1989, when we achieved the fastest growth rate in Europe and one of the fastest in the world. As a result, in just one generation, Poland joined a small group of high-income countries and entered its economic golden age. It also analyses the causes of the earlier centuries-long backwardness of the state and emphasizes the key role of inclusive institutions, culture, ideas and individuality as sources of Polish success. In addition, it points to threats to further development and proposes a new growth model that would allow Poland to catch up with the West for the first time in history.

 

Olivia Prize Awards Ceremony

 

The Olivia Prize is awarded in four categories:

  • Olivia Business – for an economic or business project, carried out individually or in teams by Olivia Centre Residents.
  • Olivia Pro Bono – for a social project, carried out individually or in teams by the Residents of Olivia Centre.
  • Olivia Eco – for an ecological project, carried out individually or in teams by Olivia Centre Residents.
  • Olivia Impact – for the project that in 2023 had the greatest positive impact on the environment, in the business, social or ecological area. This special prize is awarded at the Jury’s choice from among all submitted initiatives.

 

The winners will receive vouchers and statuettes prepared by the Prof. Tomasz Sobisz.

 

Prof. Academy of Fine Arts dr hab. Tomasz Sobisz

He graduated from the Academy of Fine Arts in Gdańsk in 1998. Habilitated doctor, works at his alma mater at the Faculty of Sculpture and Intermedia. Currently, he is the Vice-Dean of the Faculty of Sculpture and Intermedia. His sculptural output has been honoured with many prestigious awards, including the award of the Minister of Culture and Art, the award of the Mayor of Gdańsk in the field of culture, the award of the Rector of the Academy of Fine Arts in Gdańsk, and the award at the First Triennial of Pomeranian Art. In 2012 he received the PRO PATRIA Medal, and in 2014 he was awarded the Skra Ormuzdowa and the Medal of the Senate of the Republic of Poland. He has presented his sculptural achievements at many exhibitions, including at the Centre of Polish Sculpture in Orońsko (2011) and in Gdańsk at individual exhibitions: MEMORANDUM, STABILE (Gdańsk City Gallery, 2012) and BATTLEFIELD (State Gallery of Art in Sopot, 2015).

 

Sign up for the event

 

 

2023 in the largest business centre in Poland

Posted on by Katarzyna Halicka

Already at the beginning of December 2023, Olivia could boast of achieving a record result in terms of commercialization of its space. The level of contracts reached m.kw 50,000, while the previous best result in the history of this project was in 2018 at the level of m.kw 40,000. At the same time, this is another good result, as Olivia summed up 2022 with a result of 30 thousand m.kw of contracted leasable space. This year’s result was due to the renewal of existing contracts, including agreements with Energa from the Orlen Group, which has been residing in Olivia continuously since 2012, Sii, which leases 5 floors in the newest building of Olivia Prime, and Bayer GBS Gdańsk, which has been invariably staying in Olivia for 11 years. The contracts also included new contracts, including agreements with Pekao S.A. and Just Join IT, the company managing the largest portal for the IT environment in Poland.

 

In my opinion, this is the most difficult year in 15 years – growing vacancy rates in the regions, stagnation on the market (in Warsaw even a decrease in the volume of the entire market), suspension of all construction of new office buildings in Gdańsk, progressing price fight, reduction of office space by large tenants due to remote and hybrid work. I am proud that even in times like these, we are able to make a profit and break our records: last year, the number of new residents’ entries and the volume of contracts – notes Maciej Kotarski, Leasing Director of Olivia Centre, with satisfaction.

 

 

In March,
Olivia’s bonds debuted on the Catalyst stock exchange
. 25,000 were put on the market. series L bonds with a nominal value of PLN 1,000 each. It was the first debut on Catalyst this year. In the following months, new series of already issued bonds from the last issue program were introduced to the market. The offer also includes new issues, in which most of the subscriptions were significantly reduced – even by more than 55%. This means that the total demand was much higher than the number of securities available. This result confirms the great success of the entire project, as it is associated with exceptional trust in it on the part of investors. The year 2023 was also another year in which cooperation with the local community of Oliwa – the district in which Olivia Centre is developing – is continued. The
fourth edition of the Oliwa Neighbourhood Budget – a
 social project to support initiatives important for the neighbours of Poland’s largest business centre – was held. The budget, which dates back to 2019, has already become a permanent fixture in the schedule of social initiatives in one of the oldest districts of Gdańsk. At the same time, it is the only permanent project in Pomerania to support local communities by the private sector in the form of a neighbourhood budget. Its previous editions have made it possible to co-finance projects with a total value of over PLN 65,000. Golden. Last year also saw the third edition of the Olivia Prize, whose jury, consisting of representatives of residents, selects the most interesting projects in the Impact, Eco, Business and Pro Bono categories. The Olivia Eco award was granted in partnership with the United Nations Global Compact Network Poland. This year’s winners included Infoshare, Speeron Polska sp. z o.o., Zaplify, Sii, ZR Trade, Nowy Styl and Bayer GBS Gdańsk.

 

The year 2023 ended with the jubilee of a unique project –
the Olivia Centre Choir, which celebrated its 5th anniversary
. The concert, which took place on December 6 on the 34th floor of Olivia Star, filled the concert hall to the brim and gathered an audience of over three hundred people. Once again, the choir proved with its performance how unique this project is, as it brings together representatives of over 20 companies from Olivia, and at the same time is one of the clubs for developing passions that operate in Olivia. All of them bring together true enthusiasts of sports, photography, ecology, plant breeding or music, and their main goal is to animate the Olivia community and build bonds between employees of companies that have their offices in Olivia.

 

Analysing at the end of each year the number of initiatives that take place in Olivia, it is hard to believe how multidimensional this project is and how much is happening in it over the course of 12 calendar months – sums up Bogusław Wieczorek, Plenipotentiary of the Management Board of Olivia Centre. Such a reflection, however, allows us to see how important the role our centre plays in the life of the agglomeration and how many business and social projects we manage to implement every year. There are new challenges ahead of us, which will certainly not be less important for our and the local community, so I am looking forward to the new challenges of the year that has just begun.

Another record-breaking year in Olivia Centre

Posted on by Katarzyna Halicka

The year 2023 is not over yet, and the largest business center in Poland can already announce that this year will be record-breaking. In the first days of December, the level of contracts reached m.kw 50,000, and contracts are waiting to be signed, allowing for a forecast result of m.kw 53,000 or even 55,000. Summing up 2022, Olivia Centre could boast of reaching the level of 30 thousand m.kw. covered by the lease agreements.

 

The previous record year was 2018, when for the first time in the history of this 11-year project, the commercialization of leasable space at the level of 40,000 sqm was achieved. m.kw. We managed to beat this result already in September ,” says Michał Klepczyński, Leasing Director at Olivia Centre. “Most of the contracts are related to the renewal of the contracts of the existing residents of Olivia Centre, but this group also includes new residents, and what is particularly important for us, among the 5 new companies, 4 are service companies, which allows us to expand the offer of services available to Olivia employees and residents of the Tri-City.

 

The new services include the café and confectionery Ciacho bez Cukier, abranch of Pekao S.A., a global tycoon on the vehicle rental market, Enterprise, and a showroom for the sale of apartments by the Belgian developer BPI S.A.

 

This year’s result gives us great satisfaction – emphasizes Maciej Kotarski, director of Olivia Centre. – We have signed contracts for such a high volume of space in extremely demanding times and market realities. The evolution affects the entire labour market, and we manage to keep up the pace. Last year, we had as many as 18 contracts concluded with new residents, which was a record in the history of our project, so it would be difficult to expect that we will be able to reach such a high level this year as well. During the period of the greatest market turmoil, i.e. since 2020, our team has acquired as many as 46 new residents, who have taken over 30 thousand residents. m.kw. lease area. Among them are companies such as AMS, Capgemini, Graphcore, Just Join IT, Nike, Polskie Sieci Elektroenergetyczne S.A., Pekao SA Santander, SoftServe, SPEEDNET.

At the same time, it is worth emphasizing that departures to other locations outside Olivia Centre are marginal: within 4 years, only 4 companies, occupying slightly more than 1000 m.kw, decided to change their location. In addition, the level of commercialization of space in the entire center is currently over 90% and is still growing, which also allows us to conclude that the attractiveness of the center in the eyes of the market is increasing.

 

In my opinion, 2023 is the most difficult year for the market over the last 15 years,” emphasizes Maciej Kotarski. Throughout the country, there is a growing vacancy rate, a significant stagnation, and in Warsaw even a decrease in the volume of the entire market. Observing this, investors decided to suspend virtually all construction of new office buildings in Gdansk, accompanied by an ongoing price war. All the more credit goes to the commercialization team at Olivia Centre, which is able to bring profits even in such demanding times.

 

Just Join IT among the Residents of Olivia Centre

Posted on by Katarzyna Halicka

One of the fastest-growing companies on the HR Tech market in the CEE region has moved into its new office in Olivia Centre.

 


Just Join
 IT is the largest portal with job offers for the IT industry in Poland. The company also owns RocketJobs.pl and Hello HR portals, dedicated to office workers and the HR industry. A total of one million people visit all three sites every month. The search for a new office was related to the continuing dynamic development of the company, which was founded only 6 years ago by two friends: Piotr Nowosielski and Tomasz Gański. From the very beginning, they were distinguished by their unconventional approach, high creativity and search for solutions that would change the recruitment portal market. They focused on ease, openness and unconventionality.

 

We were looking for a place that would fit into the unique mindset of Just Join IT. Creativity, buzzing energy, willingness to break the mold and mission to give people the best jobs in the world is the driving force behind our rapid growth. We needed a lot of space to work together and meet informally and create our own professional video studio. We considered several locations, but as soon as we visited the space in Olivia, we felt internally that this was it. The view of the sea and the housing estate in Żabianka, where Just Join IT took its first steps as a startup, additionally captivated us – said Mateusz Szcześniak , Operations Manager at Just Join IT, coordinating the office change process.

 

The company occupies an exceptionally representative 13. first floor in the Olivia Prime office building. It is the newest building of the largest business centre in Poland, whose leading stylistic motif is biophilia. The common areas of the building are filled with plants, and their main finishing material is wood. Most offices have extensive terraces and loggias, often filled with vegetation.

 

The author of the interior design is
Design Anatomy
, an architect studio of Olivia Centre, which has previously prepared a number of award-winning interior designs, m.in. observation deck on the 32nd floor of Olivia Star, conference space on the 34th floor and over 100,000 million people on the 32nd floor. m.kw. office space. The office has been designed to combine functionality, comfort of work and light, user-friendly interior designa. Weronika Budzyńska from Design Anatomy created the project with a view to introducing a calm and conducive to concentration working atmosphere, taking into account the principles of neurodiversity. The office space has been illuminated with natural light, which makes it exceptionally pleasant and light to look at. This effect is enhanced by the bright pastel colors used in the interior design. Workspaces have been divided into smaller zones with the introduction of acoustic panels, office and meeting rooms.

 

The neurodiversity aspect of the project is provided by places designed for more active forms of distraction from work. In the interiors, steel structures with energizing colors in the form of stretching ladders have been introduced, which give employees the opportunity to release tension and gain energy during an intense working day. These are not the only elements that directly affect well-being, as the interior of the office has been filled with plants. The project included the use of them to delineate individual open space zones, thanks to their use both in standing pots and suspended from ceilings. In the collaboration zone, the plants have been woven into the metal ceiling, thanks to which they create a beautiful natural canopy illuminated by decorative lamps.

 

We assess our presence in Olivia as a very positive – emphasizes Sandra Grzesiak, office manager at Just Join IT. – Changing the space to a larger, newer one and, above all, one where we are all on the same floor, definitely has a better effect on our work. The décor of the new office is very warm and homely, which is appreciated by our employees. The entire Just Join IT and RocketJobs.pl team are very happy with our new space. In the office, for example, we have ladders for exercises, and the sales department even organized a competition for the largest number of pull-ups. In the open part, we have arranged a space with sofas, tables and seats, which works well during our monthly company-wide meetings, as well as for celebrating successes or for evenings together, when we play games on the console and projector. An additional advantage is the possibility of coming to the office with pets, which our employees appreciate very much and come with their pets quite often. We have our regulars, e.g. the cute poodle Kokos.

 

The central point of the office is the Collaboration zone, from which there is a view of the city and the Bay of Gdańsk. It has been designed as a multifunctional place that fosters integration and team collaboration. The interior is filled with furniture of various forms and functions, and their selection is based on the idea of providing employees with maximum comfort during work and meetings. Additionally, the adjacent kitchen area has been designed to allow employees space to relax and unwind. The whole thing while maintaining the harmony of beige, gray, green, blue and red colors. The terrace overlooking the sea is a great inspiration in everyday work and a place for integration and relaxation.

 

Designed by Design Antomy, the conference rooms provide ideal conditions for effective work. Panels, acoustic ceilings, carpets and furniture are all decorated in monochromatic colours to encourage concentration and creativity. In addition, the use of display cabinets in the same colours as the interiors of the rooms adds character and complements the arrangement of the office.

 

An additional accent is provided by neon signs designed by Just Join IT, giving the space an individualized style.

 

Just Join IT is one of the most colourful and dynamic teams that have recently moved into Olivia – says Bogusław Wieczorek, Plenipotentiary of the Management Board of Olivia Centre. From the very beginning of their presence in our center, the team has been very visible in the public spaces and community initiatives of our center. Piotr Nowosielski was a juror in our Olivia Prize competition, in which we award the best initiatives of Olivia companies. Employees often use numerous restaurants and gyms, which also serve as a space for integration and building contacts. It is a very engaged and active community that adds value to our center.

We appreciate the comprehensive approach of Olivia’s team and end-to-end commitment, starting from design, through engineering works, to execution. In each of the areas, the experts acted professionally and coherently, which greatly facilitated the process of changing the office. summed up Mateusz Szcześniak from Just Join IT.

The second edition of the Olivia Prize is starting!

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Olivia Prize 2021 – the call for applications for the second edition of our competition is now open! Submit your company or project by 28 February.

The Olivia Prize will be awarded in three categories:

  • Olivia Business – for an economic or business project carried out by a team of Residents.
  • Olivia Pro Bono – for a social project, carried out individually or in a team by the Residents.
  • Olivia Eco – for an ecological project, carried out individually or as a team by the Residents.

In addition, the Olivia Impact special award will be granted for the initiative assessed as the most impactful on the environment, within one of three categories. Projects completed or started in 2021 are eligible for the Olivia Prize 2021 awards.

Who can be nominated for the Olivia Prize?

Any person who works at the Olivia Centre, a company from Olivia and an initiative carried out individually or in groups can be nominated for the Olivia Prize. The age, position, or industry of the nominees doesn’t matter.

Who can apply for the award?

Anyone can submit an entry for the award. It is not necessary to be a Resident of Olivia Centre.

The aim of the Olivia Prize competition is to distinguish the most important implementations and initiatives of Olivia companies. Last year, the jury considered as many as 46 applications. The following were awarded: p-beep – for an innovative communication system in difficult working conditions; EPAM Systems – for the grassroots initiative of employees who, as volunteers, made and delivered personal safety equipment, including face shields, made using 3D printing technology, to Pomeranian hospitals. The main prize went to the Polish company VTS Group. The company’s flagship product, air handling units and air conditioning units, was appreciated. They find recipients all over the world, and their quality is evidenced by the fact that as many as 17 countries decided to use them in their pavilions during the EXPO 2020 exhibition in Dubai, which is coming to an end.

“Last year, we were very impressed by how many important and useful projects were implemented by our Residents in 2020. – says Bogusław Wieczorek from Olivia Business Centre. – Among the applications were activities in the field of ecology, animal protection, support for charitable organizations. They definitely dominated last year’s edition of the Olivia Prize. However, special recognition should be given to business projects, which were often carried out in spite of the difficult, dynamically changing situation on global markets. The thematic scope and scale of the projects submitted after such an exhausting 2020 make us look forward to the summary of the initiatives from 2021 with optimism and impatience. Importantly, the jury is composed of representatives of Olivia companies, so each award is particularly valuable, and the recognition from the business community often comes before the material dimension. –Adds.

This year, we are introducing an additional Olivia Eco category, which will be awarded in partnership with the United Nations Global Compact. UNGC was founded in 2000 and is now the largest corporate sustainability initiative in the world, with more than 12,000 companies and 3,000 non-business signatories in more than 160 countries.

” Already last year, a significant part of the applications concerned social and ecological projects that our Residents implemented in 2020. We very much hope that the cooperation with UNGC as a partner of the award will additionally contribute to the promotion of such activities. At the same time, we are very pleased that such a significant institution is willing to engage in the project we are organizing to distinguish the valuable initiatives of our Residents. – sums up Bogusław Wieczorek.

Applications are accepted until February 28, 2022, and the results will be announced in mid-March.

Co-create. Co-celebrate. Dog Show in Olivia Star

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On 25 January, an exhibition presenting the idea of Kaunas as the European Capital of Culture 2022 was set up in the lobby of Olivia Star. The exhibition is an invitation to participate in the year-round, largest festival of joint creativity in the history of the city. The opening ceremony was conducted by the Ambassador of Lithuania to Poland, Eduardas Borisovas.




Among the invited guests were Rasa Rimickaitė, Attaché for Lithuanian Culture in Poland, Barbara Frydrych, Director of the Office of the Mayor of Gdańsk for Cultural Affairs. Bogdan Borusewicz, Marshal of the Senate, Magdalena Witkowska, Dean of the District Council of Legal Advisers in Gdańsk, Bożena Kisiel, President of the Society of Friends of Vilnius and the Vilnius Land, Celina Zboromirska-Bieńczak, Deputy General and Artistic Director of the Miniatura Municipal Theatre, Tomasz Snarski, PhD, Artistic Director of the Vilnius Festival in Gdańsk and Andrzej Stelmasiewicz, Councillor of the City of Gdańsk. On behalf of the Olivia Centre, the guests were welcomed by Bogusław Wieczore, Plenipotentiary of the Management Board for PR.

Kaunas has prepared more than a thousand cultural events, including more than 40 festivals, 60 exhibitions, 250 theatrical performances and the same number of concerts. On behalf of the Embassy of the Republic of Lithuania and the Olivia Centre, we cordially invite you to see the exhibition, learn about the planned initiatives and discover a unique place on the map of Europe and the world, which is only a few hours away. See you in Kaunas!

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