HOCHTIEF Development’s projected office complex gets a new name

The projected complex of six modern office buildings previously known as the Letňany Administrative Center has got a new name—OFFICE ISLANDS. The new name reflects the overall concept of the project, in which each building represents an individual island while also forming a part of a unified office complex that will offer both easy accessibility as well as a calm yet inspiring environment for tenants.

The initial letters of the six islands’ chosen names form the acronym “ISLAND”. The individual islands (Ithaca, Svalbard, Luzon, Andros, Niau and Dalma) represent the world’s diverse climates, ranging from arctic cold to tropical. The islands for which the buildings are named are located in various parts of the world and were selected so that the architects could work with particular themes and stories when designing the atriums and, to some extent, the interiors, thus giving each building its own individual character.

“With our new office project, we wanted to do something special and original by combining a high-quality administrative center with a unique and pleasant environment for tenants. We anticipate that Office Islands will become one of Letňany’s future landmarks,” says Peter Noack, managing director of HOCHTIEF Development Czech Republic.

Within its six administrative buildings, the Office Islands complex will provide approximately 68,000 square meters of modern office space. Office Islands will be located in the immediate vicinity of the Letňany subway station, an important transit hub in northeast Prague, and near the planned Prague outer ring, which in future will ensure effective transport accessibility to the city center and beyond. Construction is set to begin in the third quarter of this year, with completion of all phases planned for the second quarter of 2014.

Peter Noack is responsible for Czech Republic, Austria, Hungary and Romania.

Peter Noack (41) has been appointed Regional Manager for the Southeast European subsidiaries of HOCHTIEF Projektentwicklung GmbH. The jurist has worked in Prague as general manager of HOCHTIEF Development Czech Republic s.r.o. since late 2003. In 2009, he also took over the management of HOCHTIEF Development Austria GmbH and HOCHTIEF DEVELOPMENT ROMANIA S.R.L. His extended responsibilities will now include HOCHTIEF Development Hungary Kft. Noack will coordinate the companies’ activities throughout Southeast Europe.

Peter Noack studied law at the Johann Wolfgang Goethe University in Frankfurt. Prior to joining HOCHTIEF Development, he worked for seven years at Rödl & Partner in Nuremburg and in Prague. He is fluent in German, English and Czech, and proficient in French.

HOCHTIEF Development is expanding its activities to Prague 18. There the company will construct a group of six modern office buildings with a total rental area of approx. 68,000 square meters, directly beside the Letňany subway (line C). The construction launch is planned for the second quarter of 2010, the completion of all phases for the second quarter of 2014.

The Administrative Centre Letňany already has a valid zoning permit. All main parameters have been defined and can now be presented to future tenants. The overall design concept of the premises means that individually lettable units and buildings can be connected or separated variably, offering users maximum flexibility. A significant part of the project will be the green rest and relaxation zone extending between individual buildings, with a water feature and an integrated central square.

From now on HOCHTIEF Development will be fully responsible for the construction and letting of the project. As company Executive Peter Noack stated, “The Administrative Centre Letňany is an exceptional and very ambitious project. It will contribute to developing the promising Prague City District of Letňany.” HOCHTIEF Development Czech Republic has, for example, recently completed the twelve storey Trianon glass tower with a total of 19,540 square meters of office, catering, commercial and common space, of which more than 96 percent has been let.

Lease agreements signed by Pojišťovna České spořitelny and Kolkovna restaurant

The Trianon office and business centre by HOCHTIEF Development Czech Republic s.r.o. at the corner of Budějovická and Vyskočilova in Prague 4 would like to welcome our new tenants. From early May, 550 m2 of floor area will be occupied by the staff of Pojišťovna České spořitelny a.s. This tenant will move from the nearby street, Poláčkova. “A modern and attractive building as well as a competitive quotation – these were the main reasons behind our decision to move to Trianon”, said Mr Petr Zapletal, the General Manager of Pojišťovna České spořitelny who also added: “We considered it equally important to remain in our home location of Prague 4”.

The popular Kolkovna restaurant will open to the public on the ground floor of the building. The restaurant will offer 180 seats and a separate dining room. A breakfast menu will also be available from 7 to 10 a.m. at Kolkovna Budějovická. In addition to quality service, food and beverages, there will be interesting news for restaurant guests as well. In addition to a brand new loyalty Kolkovna Family programme, this news includes the opening of an account with monthly billing in addition to a free food delivery service in the Trianon building. “For the very first time, we have opened one of our restaurants outside the historical centre of Prague to attract guests from modern business centres in Prague 4, local inhabitants and guests who like to avoid travelling into the city centre”, said Jan Chaloupka, a member of the company management. The Kolkovna restaurant is scheduled to open in May this year.

WestendDuo building in Frankfurt embodies latest low-energy trends

HOCHTIEF Projektentwicklung (Project Development), parent company of the Czech branch HOCHTIEF Development Czech Republic, recently won honours for the Frankfurt-based WestendDuo office building: At the Expo Real property trade fair in Munich, the company received one of three Prime Property Awards for the project's ecological design.

The environmentally friendly design which persuaded the expert jury reduces the building's operating costs considerably thanks to various ecological features and measures. These include a geothermal heating system and the use of groundwater from deeper strata to cool the intermediate ceilings. In addition, the air between the two shells of the building's double façade has a cushioning effect. Another important argument in favour of WestendDuo was the positive green image impact the building has for the location.

In less than a month, on 14 November 2008, WestendDuo will also be granted a special award for ecological development, the International Award for high-rise buildings in the city of Frankfurt. The award will be officially presented at the historical Paulskirche church in Frankfurt.

“The green awards confirm that our concept of environmentally friendly projects is a step in the right direction and at the same time the trend receives more and more positive response in practice. An increasing number of companies realise that ecology is a value factor – and we can comply with their wishes“, says Rainer Eichholz, Chairman of the Management Board of HOCHTIEF Projektentwicklung. The ecological approach is part of the long-term strategy of HOCHTIEF Projektentwicklung and of its parent company HOCHTIEF Aktiengesellschaft.

HOCHTIEF is in the top league of companies developing low-energy buildings all over the world. In the USA, it is a leader in green building via its subsidiary Turner, as recently confirmed by Engineering News-Record's “The Top Green Contractors“ ranking. The Group also is a founding member of the German Sustainable Building Council (DGNB). The only German construction company to do so, HOCHTIEF has regularly published a sustainability report since 2005. The HOCHTIEF stock is one of only a few German shares to be included in the Dow Jones Sustainability Index.

HOCHTIEF Development Czech Republic actively deals with the issue of green building in all projects it currently prepares. To reduce operating costs and energy consumption, the company carefully selects suitable methods. This includes, for example, the use of heat from the ground, solar panels and passive protection from sun rays – inevitable elements of low-energy buildings – and efficient use of natural light. The projects are prepared with a view to future international certification.

In Praha 4, Kavčí Hory, HOCHTIEF Development Czech Republic is preparing a residential project comprising some 430 flats. The buildings are within walking distance from an underground station and in harmony with the need to reduce car traffic in the area. At the moment, the approximately 3-hectare site is built up with makeshift buildings, and covered with concrete and asphalt. In future, there will be many more green areas with large-capacity rainwater tanks which will be used for watering the vegetation. Plans are to also install heat pumps in the buildings for the purposes of heating and cooling.

Česká spořitelna signs lease contract for 12 500 sqm

New leasing success for HOCHTIEF Development Czech Republic in Prague 4: Česká spořitelna signed a leasing contract over five years for 12 500 square meters of the Trianon building. Besides office space the bank will use 2 300 sqm of the space to open a branch.

Česká spořitelna signed the lease contract for a period of 5 years. The lease relationship for the offices will start in March and for the branch in April of next year.

“Trianon is a natural choice for us, also because the relationship of Česká spořitelna to this location has already lasted for a number of years and is connected to its undisputed advantages of accessibility and public facilities. Also from the perspective of qualitative requirements, Trianon corresponds to the standards that the bank expects for its employees and clients,” stated Dušan Baran, the Vice-Chairman of the Board of Directors and first deputy of the Chief Executive of Česká spořitelna.

“We consider it a big success that four months before the completion of the building, a significant part of Trianon is occupied by such a renowned tenant. Česká spořitelna is a strategic partner for us from the perspective of its focus and position on the Czech market. Currently, intense discussions are taking place with other companies regarding leases, and therefore we believe that we will be able to announced more names very soon,” said Peter Noack, Managing Director of HOCHTIEF Development Czech Republic.

Trianon is being built on the corner of Budějovická and Vyskočilova streets in Prague 4 and will offer 18 500 square meters of leasable office space. The completion of the building is planned for December 2008, and, in addition to Česká spořitelna, another tenant has already been confirmed – the company TNS AISA also signed a lease contract for 5 years.

The building will be opened at the beginning of the next year

Construction of administrative and commercial centre in Prague 4, which will complement Budějovické Square, has moved to its final phase.  

“Construction works go according to the plan, and therefore we expect Trianon to be opened within the announced deadline, that is at the beginning of 2009”, said Peter Noack, executive manager of HOCHTIEF Development Czech Republic s.r.o.

Trianon is being built on the corner of the streets Budějovická and Vyskočilova in Prague 4 and will offer 18 500 square meters of modern office space. On the ground floor of the building there will be shops and restaurants that will serve not only the occupants of the building, but also citizens living near Budějovické Square and to other visitors to this location.

Trianon has been designed by a renowned Prague architect’s office Pata & Frydecký Architekti. Office area has been designed to be variable, so it will be possible to choose either the so-called open space or closed offices with all facilities. For easy moving around and orientation in the building the occupants will have 6 high-speed lifts and 2 representative entrance lobby areas at their disposal.

If we look at the building from outside, we can see it has a distinctive twelve-floor cylinder-shaped glass corner tower, which is connected to an eight-floor longitudinal block and four six-floor wings that are positioned perpendicular to it. A part of the building will also be three-floor underground parking garages with 298 parking places. More parking places for visitors of the premises will be located directly in front of the building.

The owner of Trianon is the investment fund Union Investment Real Estate AG (previously DIFA).

The office and shopping centre Trianon in Prague 4, whose development was started last year in summer, has its first tenant. The company TNS AISA, providing complex services within marketing research, has signed a contract on future contract of lease in Trianon for 5 years. Employees of the company will start working Trianon on 1 March 2009 on the area of 2.700 square meters.

“Trianon represents for us the perfect combination of high quality, excellent accessibility by transport and close distance from the city centre. Trianon is also competitive from the side of costs,“ says director of the company TNS AISA, Marek Boguszak.

“We are glad, that during this early period of building-up, such an attractive tenant as TNS Aisa has decided for your project“ says company executive of HOCHTIEF Development Czech Republic s.r.o., Peter Noack.
TNS AISA is the second company with which the developer, the company HOCHTIEF Development Czech Republic, has signed a contract of lease lately. In July, next year, the company Wüstenrot moves into another project of the company developed in Prague 4, the Kavčí Hory Office Park.

Trianon is being developed on the corner of Budějovická street and Vyskočilova street in Prague 4 and will have 18.500 square meters of office spaces to lease. On the ground storey there will be shops and a restaurants which will be used not only by the occupants of the building but also by citizens leaving in the vicinity of Budějovické square and those who will visit this locality. It is planned that the building activities will be completed at the end of the next year.

Trianon was designed by a renowned Prague architectural office Pata & Frydecký Architekti. The office spaces are designed as variable and therefore it will be possible to choose either an open space or closed offices with all furniture and equipment. Occupants of the building will be able to use 6 high-speed lifts and 2 impressive entrance halls.

When looking from outside a twelve-storey glass tower of a cylindrical shape is the dominant of the building, this tower is adjoined by an eight-storey longitudinal block and four six-storey wings perpendicular to this block.

The owner of Trianon is Union Investment Real Estate AG (originally DIFA).

HOCHTIEF Development Czech Republic has been granted a building permit for the Trianon project in Prague 4. As stated today by the company’s executive Peter Noack, construction works will commence in the second quarter of 2007. With the sale of Trianon to Union Investment Real Estate AG, all the groundwork is now in place for the fast completion and subsequent commercial use of this demanding office project.

On a piece of land covering approx. 8.000 m² and situated on the corner of Budějovická and Vyskočilova streets HOCHTIEF Development will build an office and retail complex with an area of approx. 23.000 m². In the upper floors of the building, 18.500 m² will serve as office space which can be flexibly divided according to occupants’ requirements. The shops and restaurants on the ground floor will be available both to the building’s occupants and the local residents and visitors, thus integrating the complex into the surrounding community. Trianon will also feature three-storey underground garages providing 298 parking spaces. More parking spaces for visitors will be available in front of the building. The convenient location of Trianon is enhanced by its excellent accessibility by transport, with direct connections to the D1 motorway, the Prague ring road and urban transport.

The office block is scheduled for completion in December 2008.

The Trianon building project was designed by the renowned Prague-based studio Pata & Frýdecký Architekti.

Even though the construction is yet to start, Peter Noack says that the project has already attracted a significant interest from potential tenants. Therefore, HOCHTIEF Development and Union Investment Real Estate expect to sign first lease agreements by the end of this year. ”Prague 4 ranks among the most important office space markets in the Czech capital, showing the lowest office space vacancy rate (3%), compared to other districts of Prague, which guarantees the success of the Trianon project“, adds Dr. Frank Billand, a member of the board of directors of Union Investment Real Estate AG.

By buying the company that owns the land, Union Investment Real Estate has added the Trianon project to its open-ended real estate fund UniImmo: Europa (formerly DIFA-GRUND). In addition to Trianon, the Prague portfolio of Union Investment Real Estate AG, includes a 49% interest in the Technopark Pekařská building, which was also developed by HOCHTIEF Development Czech Republic. Furthermore, it holds a 49% interest in the multiple award-winning "Danube House" situated in Prague’s River City and designed by Kohn Pedersen Fox.

With completion scheduled for June 2008, the project was sold before the construction commenced.

HOCHTIEF Development Czech Republic s.r.o., a subsidiary of HOCHTIEF Projektentwicklung GmbH, Essen, lays foundation stone for the Kavčí Hory Office Park, Prague 4, on 10 October 2006. Managing Director Peter Noack, HOCHTIEF Development Czech Republic s.r.o., underlined the importance of the future office complex, saying: “Prague 4 is an attractive location, which has been already chosen by numerous companies as their headquarters. We are sure that with the sophisticated architecture and park vegetation, the Kavčí Hory Office Park will add to the architectural charm of this growing area of the city. Thanks to its extremely easy traffic access, Kavčí Hory ranks among the best office locations that can be currently found in Prague”.

It is envisaged that the Kavčí Hory Office Park will be developed on an ap-proximately 20,000-sqm site in the vicinity of the junction of Pujmanové and Na Hřebenech II streets. Designed by Michal Gabriel, Master of Engineering and Academic Architect, the office complex will cover a gross floor area of 43,000 sq m.  With a comb-shaped pattern, the building has a connecting wing perpendicular to four wings with six or eleven storeys. In addition, about 700 parking places will be available on the underground levels of the development. The construction work will be supervised by HOCHTIEF VSB a.s.

The projects as a whole was sold to Europolis CE Holding GmbH before the construction commenced, with completion scheduled for June 2008.

HOCHTIEF Development Czech Republic (formerly known as HTP ČR), a subsidiary of HOCHTIEF Projek-tentwicklung GmbH, Essen, has been operating in the Czech Republic since 1997. In the second year of their existence, the company commenced construction of the first office scheme in Prague, Hadovka Office Park. What followed in 2000 was construction of further office space in the Technopark office scheme, Pekařská St, Prague 5. Both the projects were purchased by Europolis Real Estate Management s.r.o. HOCHTIEF Develop-ment Czech Republic is currently developing another two projects at an investment level of approximately €124 million. One of them, the Trianon building, Budějovické Square, has been already sold. The investor in the mentioned project is Deutsche Immobilien Fonds AG (DIFA).

HOCHTIEF Projektentwicklung has been developing, conducting and selling real estate projects on both domestic and international markets since 1991. Focusing on offices, hotels and special properties in city centres and adjacent areas, the company is a leader among German developers operating in these seg-ments and concentrating on city centres. The company’s new products are retail and logistic properties. The aim is to sell projects to a final investor as soon as possible. HOCHTIEF Projektentwicklung does not build their own real estate portfolio.