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Vastint secures central Cardiff site

16 | 12 | 2016

Vastint UK recently secured a large site of 24 acres (~10 ha) in central Cardiff.

The Embankment site is located at Dumballs Road and runs along the river Taff. The site lies within walking distance of the retail heart of the city and the Central Station. It is also close to the vibrant Cardiff Bay.

The City of Cardiff has bought a neighbouring site of over 8 acres and the parties will work together to bring forward a new masterplan for the area.

“We have been negotiating the purchase of land at the Embankment site for the past six months and have been in discussions with the City Council for a year. We are happy and excited about securing this opportunity in Cardiff, which is another key milestone in the growth of Vastint’s operations in the UK.” says Andrew Cobden, Managing Director Vastint UK Services.

“Whilst the land will remain largely occupied for the next 2 years the aim is to regenerate  the site in line with Vastint’s goal to create long-term income and value. We are interested in developing a truly mixed-use scheme, including housing, that complement the city core.”

The Cardiff site is the third large scale mixed use development in the UK undertaken by Vastint, the first being Strand East, a 10 Ha development in London and the second being the former Tetley Brewery site of 8.5 ha in Leeds.

Vastint has completed works for Courtyard Brussels EU

01 | 12 | 2016
The construction works and the FF&E installation works for the Courtyard by Marriott hotel at Rue Joseph II 32 in Brussels are completed and the brand new hotel will open today. The Courtyard by Marriott hotel is located in Quartier Léopold, in the heart of the European district of Brussels. The hotel features 150 hotel rooms as well as meeting room areas and restaurant and bar facilities. The hotel is leased by Belvar and operated under a franchise agreement with Marriott. Construction work started in November 2015. The architect of the project is Atelier d’Architecture de Genval and CIT Blaton has been the General Contractor.

Find out more at Vastint Belgium website

Leading Polish company in the sector of e-commerce has chosen Business Garden Wroclaw

24 | 11 | 2016

Vastint Poland signed an agreement with Ceneo for the lease of an area of 2,200 m2 at Business Garden on Legnicka Street in Wroclaw. The new tenant will move into the property in March 2017. Ceneo was represented by Savills during the transaction.

“This is the third lease to be signed for Business Garden. Currently, an IT company has signed for 1,000 m2 and a confidential client has signed a lease for 6,000 m2. Other lettings will be announced very soon,” says Roger Andersson, Managing Director of Vastint Poland.

“One of our priorities has always been to provide friendly and well-equipped workplaces – after all, it is well-known that a good atmosphere, comfortable interior and original solutions affect the creativity and the integration of the whole team. I am confident that our employees will find the new premises to be effective and inspiring,” says Marcin Łachajczyk, Managing Director of Ceneo.pl.

“We are pleased that Ceneo chose such an inspiring place as Business Garden for its new office. It is a comfortable, pleasant and environmentally-friendly work place, ideal for demanding tenants. We are convinced that Ceneo will have the perfect conditions to develop their business in this location,” says Jaroslaw Pilch, Head of Tenant Representation at Savills.

Business Garden Wroclaw is being built on Legnicka Street, in the immediate vicinity of the shopping and entertainment centre Magnolia and the railway station Mikołajów. Ultimately, the complex will consist of nine office and service buildings, which along with the surrounding, extensive garden will be located on a plot of seven hectares. Completed in early November, the first phase of the project, under which three office buildings and a pavilion restaurant were built, provided almost 37,000 m2 of the planned 110,000 m2 of leasable area. Effective architectural solutions, efficient HVAC systems and LED lighting in buildings will provide a comfortable working environment. The garden with relaxation, sport and work zones with access to Wi-Fi constitutes the added value. Business Garden also offers a range of additional amenities for tenants. In the first place a canteen will be launched, and in the near future, among others a kindergarten and a medical centre. The complex, which is developed by Vastint Poland, is subject to the LEED Platinum certification procedure.

Vastint closes its first purchase of land investment in Katowice

16 | 11 | 2016

Vastint Poland has signed a preliminary agreement for the purchase of a plot of more than 9,000 m2 at Piotra Skargi in Katowice, where the Hotel Silesia has been deserted since 2006. The developer is planning to demolish the existing building and to develop a complex of modern office and hotel buildings.

“At the moment we have agreed on the prerequisites of the purchase with the private owner of the plot. We expect the transaction to be closed by the end of 2017. This is Vastint’s first acquisition Katowice, but I believe that there will be more transactions. We are interested in purchasing more land in the city, and further strengthen our position in the local market,” says Roger Andersson, Managing Director Vastint Poland.

Construction is forseen to start in 2018.

Vastint Poland completed first phase of Business Garden Wroclaw

14 | 11 | 2016

Vastint Poland has completed the first phase of Business Garden at Legnicka Street in Wroclaw and have now received a permit of occupancy. The new investment consists of three office buildings and a restaurant pavilion, surrounded by a big garden. In total 37,000 of the planned 110,000 m2 of leasing area were completed.

Business Garden Wroclaw is located in Fabryczna district within an area surrounded by the streets of Legnica, Dabrowki and Jaworska, in close vicinity to the shopping and entertainment centre Magnolia and the railway station Mikolajow.

With the planned target of nine office and service buildings, the first three were put into operation. Six-storey office buildings, sited on a common base of the underground garage, are designed as modular H-shaped buildings. The leasing space of one building is 10,700 m2, while the other two, connected by a shared catwalk, is 25,900 m2. The space between the buildings has a carefully planned garden, which includes relaxation, sport and work zones with access to Wi-Fi.

“The implementation of visual and functional design principles of the landscape architecture was divided into three stages of investment. It should be emphasized that most of the attractions have already been created, so our tenants can take full advantage of “green infrastructure” from the outset. The sport fields for badminton and basketball, beach volleyball playground filled with sand and a track for playing boules are at their disposal”, informs Marek Ulanecki, Leasing Manager Vastint Poland.

The complex will offer a number of additional amenities for the tenants. At first a canteen will be opened. The restaurant pavilion, with an area of approximately 1,000 m2, is located in the vicinity of the office buildings, at the intersection of the two main pedestrian streets in the central part of the garden. Along with development of the next stages of the project, the range of services will be enriched according to the needs and suggestions submitted by the tenants. The immediate plans include the opening of a kindergarten and a medical facility.

Key architectural and technical solutions implemented in Business Garden provide a comfortable and pleasant working environment. Water-saving systems, energy and control of the internal environment, and carefully selected construction materials meet the objectives of LEED certification. The ambition of the developer is to obtain a LEED Platinum certificate for three buildings.

“The first tenants will move into the complex in the spring of next year. It is a very successful project and I am confident that it will be highly rated by the future users. Looking at the interest from potential clients, both present in Wroclaw and those considering entering the local market, the decision to start implementation of the next phase of the project at the beginning of 2017 seems reasonable. We are planning three more office buildings, including the highest building in the complex with a height of 55 meters”, says Roger Andersson, Managing Director Vastint Poland.

Moxy Munich Airport achieves LEED Gold

19 | 10 | 2016
Moxy Munich Airport has been awarded LEED Gold by the U.S. Green Building Council. A standard of LEED Gold, or higher, is being sought for all further Moxy hotel projects. LEED is the most widely used green building rating system in the world. LEED certification provides independent verification of a building’s green features, allowing for the design, construction, operations and maintenance of resource-efficient, high-performing, healthy, cost-effective buildings. LEED is the triple bottom line in action, benefiting people, planet and profit. For further information on LEED see http://leed.usgbc.org/

Find out more at Vastint Hospitality website

Vastint leases 18.500 m2 in Rivierstaete Amsterdam to WPP

13 | 10 | 2016

Vastint Netherlands has concluded a lease with WPP, the world’s largest advertising and marketing services company, for around 18.500 m² of office space in the Rivierstaete building in Amsterdam. This means that the formerly white building along the Amstel river, well-known for its striking design by Hugh Maaskant, is now two-thirds let. The building is being renovated and is expected to be delivered to WPP at the end of 2017 for their fit-out.

Rivierstaete

Under the motto ‘setting the new standard’, Rivierstaete is being completely renovated and transformed. The building is being given a brand-new interior and exterior, according to a design by Roberto Meyer of MVSA Architects. Glass facades will make the building transparent and light, taking full advantage of the views over the Amstel. This effect will be further enhanced by the outdoor terraces being created on various floors and the extra ninth floor on the rooftop which will increase the total floor area of the building to 30.000 m².

Rivierstaete will be a sustainable asset upon completion; Vastint aims for energy label A and a BREEAM Very Good certification. The building is expected to be delivered at the end of 2017, after which WPP, following a fit-out period, will move into Rivierstaete.

Upon its completion in 1973 Rivierstaete was particularly noteworthy because of its size; it was the largest office building in Europe at the time. Nowadays it is the location and accessibility that are particularly special; along the Amstel on the edge of the Rivierenbuurt district, close to the A10 and A2 motorways and within walking distance of Amsterdam Amstel railway station.

Cees Gehrels, General Manager Vastint Netherlands: “WPP, the largest communications services company in the world, is a fantastic lessee for Rivierstaete. WPP was also particularly attracted, just as we were at the time, to the magnificent transparent design by Roberto Meyer and the opportunity to create a high-quality working environment. We have every confidence that the remaining 10.000 m2 will be let in the very near future”.

About WPP

WPP is the world’s largest communications services group with billings of US$73 billion and revenues of US$19 billion. Through its operating companies, the Group provides a comprehensive range of advertising and marketing services including advertising & media investment management; data investment management; public relations & public affairs; branding & identity; healthcare communications; direct, digital, promotion & relationship marketing; and specialist communications. The company employs over 200,000 people (including associates and investments) in over 3,000 offices across 113 countries.

Two further Moxy Hotels open in Germany

03 | 10 | 2016
After the opening of Moxy Munich Airport earlier this year, Moxy Frankfurt Eschborn and Moxy Berlin Ostbahnhof have opened their doors for the millennial travellers. Vastint Hospitality has handed over the properties to Nordic Hospitality AS, a franchisee of Marriott International. Vastint Hospitality is the property owner and developer. Vastint Hospitality was established in January 2012 to create long term value by developing and investing in hotel properties and student properties across Europe. Currently its focus is on acquiring sites for hotel development in France, Germany, the United Kingdom, Italy, Netherlands, Belgium, Austria and the Nordic countries. Vastint Hospitality is located in Amsterdam, the Netherlands. Please click on the following link to visit the Marriott News Center for the full press release: http://news.marriott.com/2016/09/moxy-berlin-marriott-internationals-bold-experiential-hotel-brand-opens-heart-modern-capital-known-culture-cutting-edge-museums-galleries-nightlife/  http://news.marriott.com/2016/08/moxy-hotels-debuts-eschborn-franfort/ 

Find out more at Vastint Hospitality website

Vastint sells Coengebouw in Amsterdam

29 | 09 | 2016

Vastint Netherlands B.V. has transferred the ownership of the Coengebouw. The Coengebouw was no longer in line with Vastint’s domestic and international portfolios. The proceeds will be reinvested, with some going towards new acquisitions.

The Coengebouw

The striking office building located at Kabelweg 37 in Amsterdam has undergone a number of alterations in recent years, including a restyling of the general areas, the addition of a coffee bar and the introduction of the COEN business centre, which thanks to its success has since been extended. The building, with a total of approx. 19,800 m², is virtually fully let.

Location

The Coengebouw is a genuine landmark and its location, along the city side of the A10 ring road, is particularly favourable. It can be readily reached by car and public transport. Sloterdijk railway station is within walking distance, the bus stops literally at the door and Amsterdam City Centre is just eight minutes away by car.

Vastint buys three office buildings in Amsterdam Zuidoost

14 | 09 | 2016

Vastint Netherlands B.V. has acquired the ownership of the ‘Tricity’ office buildings in Amsterdam Zuidoost. The agreement is for three office buildings and a car park for 275 cars. The buildings, with a total floor area of 20,000 m2, are situated on Hullenbergweg.

Tricity is ideally situated alongside the A9 and A2 motorways and is also readily accessible by public transport. Atlas ArenA, the successful multifunctional office complex and also a project of Vastint Netherlands, is just five minutes away.

Cees Gehrels, Managing Director Vastint Netherlands: “Tricity is a superb redevelopment project which is a perfectly in keeping with our Dutch portfolio, in which we focus on buildings to which we can add value. We therefore intend to carry out a thorough renovation to create a modern, multi-tenant office building with similarly modern facilities.”

 

Vastint Hospitality acquires land in Sophia Antipolis, Southern France

09 | 09 | 2016
Vasint Hospitality has acquired a parcel of land in the business park Sophia Antipolis in Southern France. Situated northwest of Antibes and southwest of Nice, Sophia Antipolis is the very first technology park which was established in Europe. It houses primarily companies in the fields of computing, electronics, pharmacology, science, research and biotechnology. The property is located at Route des Lucioles and is being surrounded by corporate offices and university buildings. The intended Moxy development encompasses a minimum of 140 keys.

Find out more at Vastint Hospitality website

New structure of Inter IKEA Group

24 | 06 | 2016

Up until May 2016, Vastint was part of the Inter IKEA Group of companies. Since then the structure of Inter IKEA Group has changed and the business has been divided. Vastint is now part of Interogo Holding AG.

There are now two separate groups with separate holding companies, boards and management:
– Inter IKEA Holding B.V. in the Netherlands is the holding company of the IKEA related business.
– Interogo Holding AG in Switzerland is the holding company of the investment businesses focusing on two main areas: Property Investments through Vastint Holding B.V. and Financial Investments.

Both groups are owned by Interogo Foundation.

The purpose of the change is to enhance business focus and efficiency. In addition to enhancing business focus, the change will also increase simplicity and transparency towards our stakeholders.

For more information about Interogo Holding AG, please visit www.interogoholding.com.