Warsaw, Mysia 5 (Liberty Corner): Erection Act Ceremony

On May 21, 2002 at 12:00 a.m., Erection Act has been built into the foundations of the “Liberty Corner” office building at Mysia 5 street, future headquarters of the Polish Press Agency. The Erection Act was signed by: the Primate of Poland – Cardinal Józef Glemp, Jolanta Szymanek – Deresz – Head of the Chancellery of the President of the Republic of Poland, president of Warsaw – Wojciech Kozak, the Marshal of Sejm – Marek Borowski, and the Hosts of the ceremony: Mr Sven von der Heyden – president of Von der Heyden Group and Robert Bogdański – president of PAP. Blessing of the building under construction was done by the Warsaw bishop Piotr Jarecki.

“Liberty Corner” owned by Von der Heyden Group and PAP is being constructed at the place of former Censorship Office. The Censorship Office was demolished in autumn 2001, however, its parts will be used for decoration in the new office building.

Poznan: Andersia Property receives building permit!

”Von der Heyden Group is pleased to announce that on 12.07.02 the City Authorities of Poznan granted Andersia Property Sp. z o.o. the building permit to build a Class A Hotel/Office/Retail complex.

The start of the underground works is expected to be in spring 2003, 6 months later than originally thought. The developer took that decision in order to complete the negotiations with a Hotel Operator and potentially seek a pre-lease for the office area.”’

Lublin: VDHG terminates the Lease Agreement with SORAT Hotels for the Grand Hotel Lublinianka

Von der Heyden Group terminated the 10-year Lease Agreement with SORAT Hotels Sp. z o.o. as the Tenant did not comply with the conditions of the lease agreement signed on 6. February 2001. SORAT failed to pay its rental obligations for 3 consecutive months and did not meet other financial obligations under the Lease Agreement.

Von der Heyden Group has taken over the majority of the staff and is fully prepared to run the Hotel as of 1 September 2002. Agreements with all key suppliers have been entered into in order to guarantee a smooth transition and ensure that the guests of the Hotel will have at least the same as before level of service. The pre-bookings are stable for the coming months. The average Room Rate is around 105 Euro and the Owner expects an Average Occupation in the first year of operations of around 40-45 %.

Lublin: Spanish Evening in Grand Hotel Lublinianka

On September 24, 2002, a hundred-year-old Grand Hotel Lublinianka in Lublin welcomed the celebrities of the world of politics, business, culture, science and the media from the region. The Spanish Evening was the occasion to introduce Mr Javier Soria as the new director of the hotel.

The sounds of sevillianas and the flamenco show filled the walls of the hotel with joyful atmosphere, and the wine and specialties of the Spanish cuisine made the fiesta complete. The latest models of SEAT Ibiza and Alhambra. at the entrance to the hotel added another Spanish detail to the whole event. Mr Sven von der Heyden, the President of Von der Heyden Group himself was taking an active part in making all the guests feel at home and made sure everybody left the hotel with great memories of the evening.

Awards for Von der Heyden Group

The first Construction Journal Awards for Poland produced excitement, surprise and controversy in equal measure as the cream of the Polish real estate community applauded the event’s launch as a resounding success.

The four course dinner and awards ceremony, held at the Warsaw Marriott hotel in downtown Warsaw on Wednesday night (6th November 2002), saw the Von der Heyden Group celebrate an outstanding double success in winning the event’s two major prizes, the award for Best Overall Development as well the industry’s own ‘oscar’ for Personality of the Year 2002.

Grand Hotel Lublinianka was cited by the awards jury as ‘a truly brave development’, while the head of the same company, Sven von der Heyden, was honoured for ‘outstanding contribution to the development growth and profile of the real estate industry in Poland during 2002’. Kinga Koninska, who picked up the award on behalf of Mr von der Heyden, read out a statement saying that he was ‘very surprised and honoured to have been nominated and elected to be the Construction Journal Personality of the Year 2002, and even more really very moved’.

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Grand Hotel Lublinianka awards

PWC signs lease on PFC

Von der Heyden Group is pleased to announce our next letting at PFC. An international consulting company, one of the “Big Four” – PricewaterhouseCoopers have leased 492 sqm office space on the first floor in PFC and have joined the group of our Tenants.

“I’m happy that PwC housed its regional headquarters in the PFC building. It’s always good to do business with a proved and reliable partner”, said Mr Peter Driscoll.

“I am particularly happy to have gained PwC as a tenant once again. I believe that one of the reasons PwC selected the Poznan Financial Centre is because of the trust we have developed with them over the years. PwC outgrew their headquarters space in our building at ul. Nowogrodzka 68 in Warsaw and we worked together to agree terms of an early surrender of their lease agreement. I would like to think that the service we provide as a landlord and our willingness to work with our tenants contributed to PwC’s decision to occupy space in our building in Poznan”, said Mr Sven von der Heyden.

Poznań Financial Centre, with its total space of 32 000 sqm, is located in the city centre and offers the highest quality office space. We have already met the top requirements of other prominent Tenants, including Bank Zachodni WBK SA Polkomtel SA, Dresdner Bank Polska SA, Arcelor FCS Commercial Poland Sp. z o.o., Provident Polska SA.

Olympic Gods Banquet at Liberty Corner building

We are pleased to announce that on the 24th of June 2003 a presentation of the Liberty Corner building for top commercial agencies and the press took place. The banquet was enjoyed by more than 100 guests, attending who were entertained by the famous Polish satirist Krzysztof Piasecki. In his speech he referred to the period where the original building standing in the very same location accommodated the censorship offices. The presentation was hosted by the owners of the building Mr. Sven von der Heyden and Adam Trybusz Executive Managing Director of Von der Heyden Group. Greek style decorations have graced reception hall of the building. Decoration was prepared with architectural details of the ancient times.

The Liberty Corner-office building, which was finished in June 2003 is located in heart of Warsaw, at the corner of Bracka and Mysia Street within close proximity of Trzech Krzyży. LC is the first office building in Poland designed without columns, ensuring extra natural light, and providing more flexibility for the space planning. Building offers a state-of-the-art telecommunications system, 4-pipe air conditioning system with possibility of regulation on each floor separately as well as possibility of opening windows, Building Management System (BMS) – to control and monitor all the engineering services. High standards of finishes including windows made of height cedar wood, walls finished in highs quality of marble create the comfort and elegance.

Tenants include the Von der Heyden Group (340 sqm), and Knight Frank Nieruchomości (360 sqm ), and in the nearest future Polish Press Agency (2,575 sqm ). Currently available office space comprises of 4,765 sqm and 50 parking places.

First Anniversary of Grand Hotel Lublinianka

On July 18 the Grand Hotel Lublinianka in Lublin celebrated its first anniversary. Despite the holiday season, the celebration was attended by many friends and partners of the hotel, who were having a great time till late at night.

The event was hosted by Jacek Borkowski, who entertained the guests with the songs from the repertoire of Frank Sinatra. The dancing couple of The Salsa Kings gave a stunning and lively performance of Latin American dances and encouraged the audience to learn salsa and have a go at the dance floor. The comedian show of the famous Lublin based “Ani Mru Mru” satirical group added up to the jolly spirit of the evening. The elaborate buffet and the wide variety of drinks, the 4 tier cake and a lucky draw for the guests made this special evening complete.

The hotel’s first anniversary was also the occasion to make the official presentation of the new General Manager. Hiren Prabhakar took over the post from Javier I. Soria-Torres, and he made a commitment “to provide a high standard of quality and service that guests can experience in hotels anywhere in the world”. He also invited the citizens of Lublin to food promotions at the “BelEtage” Restaurant, to “take advantage of the rich culinary heritage of Poland with an international fusion”.

The owner of the hotel and the President of the Von der Heyden Group, Sven von der Heyden, announced the new management with the IBB Hotels from Spain, represented at the anniversary by its President, Damian Llull.

General Opening of Liberty Corner building

We are pleased to announce that on 26. of November the Grand Opening of Liberty Corner building took place.

The evening was hosted by the owner and developer of the building Mr. Sven von der Heyden and Adam Trybusz, Executive Managing Director of the Von der Heyden Group.

Mr. Piotr Bałtroczyk, a famous polish TV presenter was the host of the evening.
The banquet was enjoyed by more than 170 invited guests, amongst were investment partners, contractors, investment banks, representatives media, and ambassadors.

Liberty Corner, a modern A-class office building is located at the corner of Bracka and Mysia St. within close proximity of Trzech Krzyży Square.

The building was completed in June 2003.

LC is the first office building in Poland designed without columns, providing more flexibility for the space planning. The highest standards of finishes create a feeling of comfort and elegance.

Occupiers include the Von der Heyden Group, Knight Frank, and in the nearest future the Polish Press Agency.

Currently available office space comprises of 4,765 sqm and 50 parking places.

Warsaw: Welcome new Tenants in Liberty Corner and Prima Court!

Von der Heyden Group, developer of Liberty Corner and Prima Court office buildings in Warsaw, is pleased to announce newly signed lease agreements. The following companies have chosen the very centre of Warsaw for their headquarters:

In Liberty Corner:

1. Instituto Valenciano de la Exportacion, IVEX S.A. – Valencian governmental institution for the promotion of companies and products of the Valencian Community in foreign markets and attract foreign investment. Liberty Corner is IVEX’s second largest office in the world;

2. Nicolas Neumann – Nicolas Neumann Interiors Sp. z o.o. is a Polish subsidiary of a reputable German interior design office and retailer. The company has a long established history of cooperating with well known producers of furniture, textiles and house commodities such as Kroncke, Lambert, Fendi, Marktex and many more. Although most of the clients originate within southern Germany, with its main office in Gmund am Tegernsee near Munich, the Polish company has been established in recognition of the growth potential of the Polish market. The company in Poland offers interior design and planning services as well as advice and sale of quality furniture and accessories.

Liberty Corner is situated in the very centre of Warsaw, at the corner of Mysia and Bracka Street close to the historical Plac Trzech Krzyży. In the immediate vicinity one can find the Warsaw Stock Exchange, international embassies, ministries and other government buildings as well as a Sheraton Hotel.

Liberty Corner was finished in June 2003 and it’s the first office building in Poland designed without structural columns, ensuring extra natural light, and providing more flexibility for the space planning. The building is designed in two independent parts. One section has been recently sold and serves as the headquarters for the Polish Press Agency (2,500 sqm). The second building is designed as a stand-alone space that is ideally suited for the office seat of an international organization.

Liberty Corner offers a state-of-the-art telecommunications system, 4-pipe air conditioning system with a separate floor by floor regulation as well as possibility of opening windows, and an advanced Building Management System (BMS)- to control and monitor all the engineering services. High standards of finishes including high windows made of Canadian cedar wood, walls finished in highs quality of bottocino marble create the comfort and elegance.

Apart from the above new leases, Tenants include also the Von der Heyden Group (187 sqm), and Knight Frank Nieruchomości (360 sqm). Knight Frank Nieruchomości has been involved in securing finance for the project and is the leading agent of this project.

Currently available office space comprises of 4.300 sqm and 44 parking places.

In Prima Court:

1. BPP Professional Education Sp. z o.o. – one of the biggest training business professionals company in Europe set up in London thirty years ago. It employs over 2000 people and has an annual turnover of over GBP 100 millions. It specializes in training courses for ACCA, CIMA and CIM;

2. HY Investment Polska Sp. z o.o. – a subsidiary of UK based HY Investment, Ltd. HY Investment is the vital local point for the margin trading services provided by the Henyep Financial Group. HY Investment and the Henyep Financial Group, have together over
55 representative offices all over the world and provide service to the main financial world centers;

3. Sanchez Computer Associate Polska Sp. z o.o. – An American company, a global leader in developing and marketing scalable and integrated software and services that provide banking, customer integration, brokerage and wealth management solutions;

4. DKV Euro Service Polska Sp. z o.o. – a subsidiary of a German company operating throughout Europe since 1934, a market leader in cashless fuel cards and other expert services for transport sector companies. It employs over 400 people and has an annual turnover of
2 billion EURO;

5. Grifols Polska Sp. z o.o. – a subsidiary of a Spanish pharmaceutical company, it provides consultancy services in running business and management;

6. First Public Relation Sp. z o.o. – FIRST Public Relations was set up in 1990 and is the oldest PR agency on the Polish market. It serves mostly large corporations and provides them with comprehensive, long-term communication strategies which include, among others, media relations, internal communication, and crisis communication. It is the only Polish PR agency with its own EU office and it belongs to two international PR networks: Eurocom Worldwide and International Public Relations Network.

Prima Court is a cosy A class office building (rentable office area of 4.173 sqm) with an underground car park and a private courtyard with a garden which is exclusively for tenant’s use. At Prima Court you can find there an exceptionally elegant lobby with an extensive reception area. Flexible space can be easily divided and the building is finished to a high standard to provide extraordinary comfort.

Prima Court is located in the heart of Warsaw at Nowogrodzka 68 Street.

Currently available office space comprises of 2.287 sqm and 47 parking places.

Poznań: A ground breaking ceremony at Andersia Tower!

On May 25th 2004, there was a ground breaking ceremony at Andersia Tower in Poznań. It is the first investment in Poznań after Poland’s accession to the European Union. Andersia Tower is a joint venture between the City of Poznań and the Von der Heyden Group which successfully completed and let Phase 1 of the development at Plac Andersa – the Poznań Financial Centre.

Phase II named Andersia Tower will be a mixed-use development comprising 44,000 sqm of office, hotel, and retail space. The lower floors will be used for a ****deluxe hotel with 171 rooms, retail outlets and a conference centre. The upper floors of the Andersia Tower will be designated as class A office space and the top floor will feature an exclusive restaurant with a terrace on the roof. A romantic dinner 90 metres above the ground complete with an observation deck and superior panoramic views of Poznan is bound to be a memorable experience. The building will offer a swimming pool, a fitness club, saunas and steam baths for those preferring more active forms of leisure. The total cost is estimated at approximately USD 53 million.

Phase III – the surrounding retail complex will comprise an additional 36,000 sqm of space that will connect both the Andersia Tower and the PFC. The entire development will be linked by a large two-storey underground car park. The developer’s intention is to create a new city centre teeming with life both during and after working hours. The total cost is estimated at approximately USD 29 million.

The entire development will be built using state-of-the-art technologies and will conform to the strict standards of intelligent facilities. In addition, when completed the Andersia Tower, being more than 100 m high, will be the highest building in the city.

Construction works started in May 2004 and completion of the Andersia Tower is scheduled for 2006/2007.

Our Partners in Andersia Tower project:

– Pracownia Architektoniczna Ewy i Stanisława Sipińskich Sp. z o.o. – architects
– PRC Architekci Sp. z o.o. – interior desiners
– Knight Frank Nieruchomości – property advisor
– Grupa Inwestycyjna Probuild Sp. z o.o. – project manager
– Warbud S.A. – general contractor for underground construction works

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Andersia Tower – Akt Erekcyjny

Irish Embassy in Liberty Corner!

Von der Heyden Group, the developer of Liberty Corner, an A class office building in Warsaw recently voted ”Building of the year 2003” by the Polish Association of Civil Engineers and Construction Technicians, the Ministry of Infrastructure and the General Office of Building Control, is pleased to announce the signing of another lease agreement. The Embassy of Ireland has chosen Liberty Corner for it’s headquarters. The lease term is 10 years.

Von der Heyden Group would like to express gratitude to the Ambassador Mrs Thelma M. Doran, and Mr Conleth Brady, Third Secretary for their trust and productive involvement to reach an agreement in record time.

Sven von der Heyden said: “We are very proud to have gained another superb Tenant for our building, as it confirms the highest quality of space and security offered by Liberty Corner. I believe that this transaction will certainly give Liberty Corner the necessary push to fill the building up until summer 2005”. He added: ”it is an honor to house the Embassy of Ireland, in particular given our already existing strong links with the Irish business community in Poland”.

The Lease Agreement was signed on September 9, 2004 and occupancy is scheduled for December 15, 2004. The total leased office space is 672 sqm which represents one full floor.

Visit Liberty Corner on net: www.libertycorner.pl