In the eyes of the winners

“The sixth Eurobuild Awards Gala is now behind us. I hope that the gala, which has undergone something of a facelift and was presented in a new form in 2015, was popular with our guests. We would like to thank all the guests as well as the jury and the sponsors for their participation in the event and we congratulate the winners on their success,” says Katarzyna Matejuk, the director of the Eurobuild Awards. The jury of the Eurobuild Awards 2015, which consisted of 215 members, chose winners from across Poland and Central and Eastern Europe. The acquisition of a 66 pct stake in Echo Investment by Griffin Real Estate turned out to be The Investment Deal of the Year, CEE. Griffin was also named the Investor of the Year, CEE. The statuette for the Investment Agency Team of the Year in Central and Eastern Europe went to CBRE. The Office Developer of the Year in this part of Europe was Echo Investment, which also received the title of the Retail Developer of the Year, CEE. Panattoni Europe was named the Warehouse Developer of the Year for the fifth time. The jury also chose the best companies and facilities on the Polish real estate and construction market in 2015. These were: Alchemia II (developed by Torus) in the New Office of the Year category; Supersam (developed by Griffin Real Estate) in the New Shopping Centre of the Year category; CBRE in the Office Agency Team of the Year, Retail Agency Team of the Year, Poland and Property Management Company of the Year categories; Colliers International in the Warehouse Agency Team of the Year category; Bank Pekao (part of UniCredit Group) in the Financial Institution of the Year category – for the fifth year in a row; Dentons, which returned after a year’s break as the Law Firm of the Year; EY as the Tax and Financial Consultancy of the Year; Gleeds Polska in the Building Consultancy of the Year category; Spie Polska in the Facility Management category; Grontmij Polska as the Green Services Provider of the Year; while Skanska was considered to be the Real Estate Construction Company of the Year.

The Eurobuild Awards also features a popular choice awards section. The winners of the three categories were chosen in an electronic vote on the evening: the Architectural Design of the Year, the Real Estate Personality of the Year and the Outstanding Non-Business Achievement of the Year. Katarzyna Zawodna, the president of Skanska Commercial Development Europe, was chosen as the Real Estate Personality of the Year. Centrum Filmowe in Gdynia was considered the best architectural design of the year in Poland, while the Outstanding Non-Business Achievement of the Year was the 6th Charity Volleyball Tournament organised by JLL.

Encouraged by Małgorzata Kożuchowska, the ambassador of the ‘I Have a Dream’ foundation, the guests of the Eurobuild Awards 2015 gala were more than eager to contribute money towards the children’s charity. A six-litre bottle of wine donated by restaurateur and wine specialist Robert Mielżynski, who conducted the bidding together with Małgorzata Kożuchowska, was auctioned at over PLN 75,000. The generous benefactor this year was Robert Dobrzycki, the managing partner of Panattoni Europe. More than PLN 11,000 was also raised in the charity lottery. The dreams of the children who benefit from the foundation can now come true with the funds raised. The radiant host of the gala was Eurobuild’s editor-in-chief Ewa Andrzejewska, partnered by journalist and TV presenter Piotr Kraśko. And what do this year’s winners think about the 2015 Eurobuild Awards? Now we let them take the floor...

Retail Agency Team of the Year, Poland

CBRE

Magda Frątczak, retail director, CBRE

Beata Kokeli, the head of retail, CBRE

What do you think was the main reason for you winning the award?

Our team consists of people with great knowledge and experience, which they have gained while working on various retail projects. They are engaged, they think out of the box and they are our greatest strength, which has been appreciated by our clients.

What is your assessment of the whole year? And how do you think 2016 is going to be?

It was a unique year for us in every respect. The number of concluded transactions, new contracts and renegotiations was the largest in the entire history of our department. We have also launched two additional services lines: tenant representation and high street leasing. I hope this is only the beginning of the changes in our department. We can see that the Polish market is becoming more and more interesting for new tenants, but at the same time it will require investment in older generation centres. This is a job for an agency like ours.

For me, the Eurobuild Awards is...

a summary of the great amount of work we have done over the year and a reflection of our relationship with our clients at the same time. There would be no award without them.

Warehouse Agency Team of the Year, Poland

Colliers International

Maciej Chmielewski, partner, Colliers International

Tomasz Kasperowicz, partner, director, Colliers International

What do you think was the main reason for you winning the Eurobuild Award?

In our opinion our next victory in the Eurobuild Awards competition was determined by sticking to the old ‘client first’ principle. Our team pays a great deal of attention to the accurate recognition and full satisfaction of our tenants’ needs, thanks to which they return to us and recommend our services to others.

What is your assessment of the whole year? And how do you think 2016 is going to be?

We consider 2015 to have been very successful for our team at Colliers International and for the entire warehouse market. On the one hand we registered a record high demand for warehouse and production space from tenants, of around 3 mln sqm; on the other hand, developers have been drawn to this growing market and have started many speculative projects. The warehouse market has started to grow vigorously again, which allows us to go into 2016 with great optimism.

For me, the Eurobuild Awards is...

a prestigious industry event, which cannot be missed!

Office Agency Team of the Year, Poland

CBRE

Łukasz Kałędkiewicz, the head of the office agency, CBRE

What do you think was the main reason for you winning the award?

In 2015 the real estate law team at Dentons advised in nearly 30 transactions, including the largest and the most important ones, such as the acquisition of TriGranit’s portfolio in Poland and the CEE region by TPG Real Estate, the sale of the office portfolio by Skanska Property Group i.e. a total of five key projects on the shopping centre market, the value of which exceeded EUR 200 mln each. We are extremely pleased with the fact that our colleagues from the real estate market and our clients have recognised our involvement in the Polish market once again.

What is your assessment of the whole year? And how do you think 2016 is going to be?

All the forecasts predict that 2015 will be another record year in terms of the total volume of transactions on the real estate market in Poland. There’s nothing to indicate that this very positive trend will change next year. As a lawyer working mainly in the retail space sector, I am very pleased that after a relatively quiet previous year, investment activity on the shopping centre market has livened up considerably and investors are interested in such properties again.

For me, the Eurobuild Award is...

something more than just an award. It is a sign of the recognition our team has been consistently enjoying among clients and business partners for many years.

Financing provider of the year, Poland

Pekao

Marek Koziarek, the managing director, structured financing and commercial property department, Pekao

What do you think was the main reason for you winning the Eurobuild Award?

That’s a question for the jurors. But I personally think that the overall shape of Pekao’s activities was significant: our consistently strong capital position that has allowed us to actively provide credit for the property sector, to be involved in large investment projects that were important for the property sector and to continue to be an always present player in the sector. Still, the jurors probably also appreciated the fact that thanks to our cautious and sensible management Pekao is not affected by the serious problems that impact the bank environment today.

What is your assessment of the whole year? And how do you think 2016 is going to be?

It was a very difficult year. The excess of capital on the market accompanied by the lower availability of investment product, while the increase of competition among banks resulting from the declining financial results of the bank sector, has all moved financing conditions to the regions, which represents something of a warning signal for Pekao. At the same time, the demand for new space on some markets is not justifying the high supply being delivered. It is more difficult to finance real estate projects in such conditions and we are becoming more cautious. This year a very strong factor will be the new capital requirements for Polish banks, which are now starting to work, with the new asset tax and proposals for franc-denominated loans. All of these will have an impact on the availability of credit, banks’ openness to risk and the price of debt. The first few bankruptcies of Polish financial institutions have not helped in terms of the perception of financing. I think that it will be a difficult year.

For me, the Eurobuild Awards is

a celebration of the property sector, an opportunity to have a pleasant meeting with a large group of people and the chance to make someone’s dream come true.

Tax and Financial Consultancy of the Year, Poland

EY

Anna Kicińska, partner EY, leader of EY Real Estate Consultancy Group, CSE region

What do you think was the main reason for you winning the award?

This year we had the pleasure of working on projects for some of the largest investors and participants of the real estate market. Our involvement included multi-aspect support and consultancy in key transactions. We are extremely pleased that we have been appreciated for the results of our work.

What is your assessment of the whole year? And how do you think 2016 is going to be?

This year was a very intensive time for us and the entire real estate market – and the next year is also likely to be interesting, particularly considering the fact that Poland and other countries in the CEE region enjoy continuous interest among investors.

For me, the Eurobuild Award is...

a prestigious distinction and we feel proud and happy to have won the prize again as EY was considered to be the tax and financial company of the year in Poland. We are happy that our knowledge and results of our work have been appreciated by clients and jury members. We thank our teams very much and now feel even more motivated

Property Management Company of the Year

CBRE

Piotr Karpiński, the head of retail asset services, director, CBRE

What do you think was the main reason for you winning the award?

CBRE has continued to develop its asset services division since 2006. Currently we manage various kinds of asset with a total area exceeding 800,000 sqm with a team of almost 90 people. In 2015 alone we have taken on twelve new projects. This has been noted by clients and major real estate players. Together with our other service lines, such as retail leasing, office agency, building consultancy and capital markets, we perform as one platform. The synergy of services and working as one team constitutes our great advantage and value.

What is your assessment of the whole year? And how do you think 2016 is going to be?

2015 was a very busy year. We are aware that CBRE has crossed a special line, and now with our team, capacity and supportive agency we are able to undertake any property management challenge. We have opened the 46,000 sqm gla Sukcesja shopping and leisure centre in Łódź, we have refurbished Galeria Kazimierz in Kraków, and taken on almost 100,000 sqm of industrial and office assets. It was a busy and a very good time for the CBRE asset services team. It needs to be stressed that this would not have been possible without the superb team that stands behind me. This year should be as intensive as the last. We already know that some new property management contracts are ahead of us, both in the office and retail segments. I aim to deliver the promise I made when receiving the award: we are going to repeat the success next year!

For me, the Eurobuild Award is...

a unique and important recognition of CBRE’s asset services performance, position and results. The fact that the voting is done by so many great market leaders makes us proud of what we achieved so far. Thank you.

Sebastian Biedrzycki, associate director, the head of office and industrial asset services, CBRE

What do you think was the main reason for you winning the award?

There is no doubt that this award was due to the devotion and hard work of real estate enthusiasts that we have in the CBRE asset services family. I am confident that our activity on the market, the number of new contracts won last year, but first and foremost the quality of the services that we are delivering, has been recognised by our clients and the jury members. Furthermore, thanks to the support and close cooperation between the different CBRE service lines, we have been able to create one stop shop of real estate services for our clients.

What is your assessment of the whole year? And how do you think 2016 is going to be?

We had a really dynamic and successful year 2015, winning new contracts, expanding the business and bringing new professionals to the team. Thanks to this we are full of enthusiasm and going full steam ahead as the year begins. Still, there is plenty to be done and we have new ideas and global solutions that we will be implementing for our clients’ benefit. The competition is strong, which is why we will be constantly aiming to convince our current and future clients about CBRE’s way of seeing the property management service. I am confident that this great award is another step towards expanding the idea of flexible PM services on the market. For sure we will not be resting on our laurels.

For me, the Eurobuild Award is...

a confirmation that the road we have set out on at CBRE is the right one. This is simply a fantastic award and recognition of the team’s performance and the quality that CBRE delivers. For me personally, that feature is the most important aspect of our service. As I am always saying to my co-workers, the property manager does not have to know everything, but needs to be proactive and persistent to efficiently resolve even the most difficult issue, because this is precisely what distinguishes the professional property manager from a simple building administrator.

Green Services Provider of the Year, Poland

Grontmij Polska

Jacek Trojnarski, director, Grontmij Polska

What do you think was the main reason for you winning Eurobuild Awards?

First of all, it was the large number of projects the company participates in as well as our successes in terms of the number and levels of BREEAM certificates acquired. Tenants have great confidence in us and appreciate the quality of our services.

What is your assessment of the whole year? And how do you think 2016 is going to be?

It was a good year, another in which we developed the scope of our services in Poland. We optimistically look forward to the next and the subsequent years.

For me, Eurobuild Awards is...

a distinction that strengthens the position of the companies recognised on the commercial property market. In the case of Grontmij it confirms the success of our ‘Green by Design’ motto.

Facility Management Company of the Year

Spie Polska

Artur Tomczyk, CEO, Spie Polska

What do you think was the main reason for you winning the award?

Spie Polska has been present on the Polish FM market for nearly twenty years. Over the entire period it has been undergoing constant and stable growth, as can be seen by the increasing of the number of loyal tenants and property portfolios. We have achieved this thanks to our clear and fixed strategy – focusing on the client’s needs with an emphasis on technical issues. Taking into consideration the dynamic growth of the market and the influx of technical innovations, we offer the support of our specialists to clients and in special cases we can count on the fifty years of experience of our German branch as well as the more than a hundred years’ technical history of the Spie SA concern. Also, our non-business activity is a significant element: participation in conferences, development and educational programmes, which allows us to understand problems better, co-create the market and educate as well as acquire new staff. To sum up, the award is the result of our work for clients and the market – and their satisfaction has been expressed by the jury’s verdict.

What is your assessment of the whole year? And how do you think 2016 is going to be?

Each year to come is expected to be special, difficult or a breakthrough one, while the passing year is assessed subject to the extent the achieved results correspond to the goals that were set. So for Spie Poland, 2015 was another successful year and 2016 is a year of new goals and challenges as well as opportunities for further development, together with the market and our clients. For the real estate market, 2016 is likely to be a time of further growth for regional markets as well as in the demand for warehouse and office space (because of the allocation of investment), but it will also be a time of numerous legal changes which will have a considerable impact on the direction of development.

For me, the Eurobuild Awards is...

a particular meeting place for the entire real estate market. It is now the sixth edition time it has been held. The programme has developed significantly over the years, while it has gained strong recognition and market position. The increase in the number of categories and jury members speaks for itself. That is why we consider receiving the ‘FM Company of the Year’ award from such a distinguished jury to be a sign of recognition. It is a source of pride for us, but also a huge obligation for the future.

Building Consultancy of the Year, Poland

Gleeds

Tadeusz Jachowicz, CEE regional director, Gleeds Europe Holding and director, Gleeds Polska

What do you think was the main reason for you winning the Eurobuild Award?

Our victory was mainly determined by the knowledge and dedication of our employees. Clients have noted that we put a lot of heart into every project we are entrusted with. The team of Gleeds Polska is well-integrated, they can cooperate with and help each other, which is of great significance in professional life.

What is your assessment of the whole year? And how do you think 2016 is going to be?

In 2015 Gleeds had its 130 anniversary, which we celebrated by raising GBP 170,000 for charity across the world. 2015 was a another ryear of growth for the compan’s further development, with a 30 pct increase in staff levels, which was supported by the corresponding growth in the company’s turnover. The global results of Gleeds International broke our record results for 2007/2008. We are planning to develop further and this is what we will be concentrating on in 2016. We do not just want to be larger, but also better and better – and so we are constantly striving for perfection. As far as the market forecasts are concerned, I am calm. Both the macro and microeconomic factors for Poland are promising, while investors’ decisions are more cautious and preceded by thorough analyses, which can be seen with the ncreasing demand for due diligence services and technical support, particularly at the early stages of project implementation. So I envisage quiet and balanced growth across the sector. I also hope that 2016 will be full of new, surprising, challenging and spectacular projects, which we will be able to support in terms of implementation.

For me, the Eurobuild Awards is

an extremely prestigious award, but also a great event that allows us to meet the most important representatives of the entire real estate industry in one place. The award, which we received at the Eurobuild Awards gala for the third time, is a great distinction for us and motivates us to develop our company further.

Investment Deal of the Year, CEE

Indirect takeover of 65,99 pct of Echo Investment’s portfolio a Griffin's fund

Maciej Drozd, vice-president of the management board, Echo Investment

What do you think was the main reason for you winning the Eurobuild Award?

I think that the jury of Eurobuild Awards did not have any doubts this year when it came to choosing the winner in this category. The acquisition of Echo Investment’s controlling stake by Griffin Real Estate was a spectacular event for the Polish and Central European commercial property market. The transaction is a prominent example of the investment activity of Griffin Real Estate, but it is worth emphasising that over the last 24 months Griffin invested equity in excess of EUR 500 mln in its projects.

What is your assessment of the whole year? And how do you think 2016 is going to be?

2015 was very hard working and full of significant events. We have a new year ahead of us and new challenges. I think that 2016 will also be full of interesting developments.

For me, the Eurobuild Awards is...

The Eurobuild Awards is not only an important competition and prestigious event, but also an opportunity to meet other representatives of the sector and look back on the year.

Dorota Wysokińska-Kuzdra, senior partner, Griffin Real Estate

What do you think was the main reason for you winning the Eurobuild Award?

The acquisition of Echo Investment was certainly one of the most spectacular transactions on the commercial real estate market in recent years. Apart from the transaction with Echo, we also had under our belts the purchase of the Green Horizon office complex in Łódź and Raiffeisen Business Center in Warsaw. We are continuing to invest in student halls of residence – a segment that has significant potential. Our Student Depot subfund has now added another property – the Salsa halls in Łódź.

What is your assessment of the whole year? And how do you think 2016 is going to be?

If we add the purchase of the 65.99 pct stake in Echo Investment to the market statistics, which presently do not include it even though according to many analysts it should be there, it will show that 2015 was a good year. We are continuing to look at individual transactions, even though our focus is on investing in and the development of various platforms, as well as investing in areas currently undervalued by the market at this time or unnoticed on a broader scale.

For me, the Eurobuild Awards is...

I will repeat it one more time – it is one of the most important events in our industry.

Warehouse Developer of The Year, CEE

Panattoni Europe

Robert Dobrzycki, CEO for Europe, Panattoni Europe

What do you think was the main reason for you winning the Eurobuild Award?

2015 was unique for us – we not only celebrated our 10th anniversary, but also announced our entry onto the Romanian market. We always try to do well whatever we do in order to feel satisfied with the results along with the tenants. This probably translates into the quality of our presence, our range, activity and reputation. I think that the above elements could have had an impact on the verdict of the jury, who certainly also took into account the hard data on the leasing levels as well as the numbers, volumes, the variety and the significance of the projects carried out.

What is your assessment of the whole year? And how do you think 2016 is going to be?

We have witnessed a strong revival among clients and tenants on the demand side. Of course this could also be observed in the previous year, but not on such a large scale, as the e-commerce side has been very active and the strength of its operations has been consistently increasing. This has translated into an improvement in the investment mood across Europe. Companies that have equity are looking for investment possibilities in commercial properties: both office and industrial, including warehouses, in Poland and elsewhere. This is certainly the result of the phenomenon of the growing e-commerce sector, thanks to which industrial facilities have gained popularity. To sum up, in 2015 we observed: strong demand from tenants, investment activity on the capital side and falling vacancy, as well as the growth of the e-commerce sector as the dominant trend. Meanwhile, for Panattoni Europe the year end has brought about significant changes: we have modified our strategy and made it more expansive in Germany – a market we are strongly focusing upon. We are much more active than before, which is reflected in the many contracts we are signing, such as with Jago AG, Faurecia, BLG Logistics and Huwald Liebschner.

For me, the Eurobuild Awards is...

one of the most important awards in the real estate industry and proof that anything you do should be done with passion.

New Warehouse of The Year, CEE

Panattoni Amazon BTS Airport Prague

Pavel Sovicka, the managing director Czech Republic & Slovakia, Panattoni Europe

What do you think was the main reason for you winning the award?

The main reason for winning the award is that the Panattoni Europe team in the Czech Republic has managed to negotiate and construct the largest logistics premises ever built in the history of the Czech Republic. In addition, I can confess that this project has taught us and our representatives in the Czech Republic that it is important to pull on the same rope, otherwise none of this would have happened. The projects brought about a number of benefits, such as creation of more than 2,000 permanent and an additional 3,000 seasonal jobs. I am very proud that the logistics hall received the highest score, 76.8 pct, in its International BREEAM certification and a grade of ´Excellent´ for completed new buildings.

What is your assessment of the whole year? And how do you think 2016 is going to be?

Last year was the most successful time for the Panattoni Europe team in the Czech Republic since 2007, when this division was established. We have constructed new premises for Kion Group and forklift truck production for several brands including Linde and Still. We have completed a turnkey for Portuguese client Simoldes Plásticos to supply automotive spare parts to Škoda Auto. In addition, we have opened a number of new industrial and logistics parks around Prague and in western part of the Czech Republic, close to German border, such as Panattoni Park Cheb. This park has been our the fastest growing complex in the last six months and we have managed to sign long term leases with production company BWI and DHL, the global leader in logistics services. We are also in negotiations with various other clients for space in this location. To sum up, I can only say that our team is going to have to work as hard as it did in the last few years to achieve similar goals in 2016. We will keep providing our clients with excellent services, and the neighbouring cities, suburbs and communities with new employment opportunities and the other related benefits that come with every new construction.

The Eurobuild Awards is...

For me, the Eurobuild Awards and especially the award we have received for new warehouse development, represents recognition of what we have achieved not only in last twelve months, but most importantly in the last ten years on the European industrial real estate market. More than 600,000 sqm of industrial premises have been completed in the Czech Republic. Our business relationships with clients in Poland and Germany are flourishing – and without satisfied customers this award would not have been achievable.

Investor of the Year, CEE

Griffin Real Estate

Dorota Wysokińska-Kuzdra, senior partner, Griffin Real Estate

What do you think was the main reason for you winning the Eurobuild Award?

I think that our success is mostly down to our investment strategy or rather the lack one. We are an opportunistic investor, who quickly and effectively takes advantage of market opportunities. Furthermore, like a few companies in our sector, we combine competence and expert knowledge of the real estate market and the corporate private equity market. We are not scared of even the largest projects. We look for opportunities and properties that allow us to be pioneers. We buy when nobody else is doing it. We are interested in transactions that are not always the obvious ones because we are able to look at them in a broader scope and connect them with other areas of our activities. I think that our strong activity and non-standard approach to the real estate market had a strong impact on the jury members, and led to us winning at the Eurobuild Awards.

What is your assessment of the whole year? And how do you think 2016 is going to be?

The end of the year was full of large transactions. The most powerful investors have strengthened their position on the market. We expect that the investment volume in 2015 will be considerably larger than that of 2014. 2015 was a good year for many players. But 2016 is also expected to be dynamic. Investors will want to take advantage of the winning streak on the market. At a time of low interest rates, properties seem to be the only reasonable alternative in terms of investing money. The question is whether there will be enough transactions for everyone. The regions are continuing to develop well, not just traditional regional cities such as Kraków, Wrocław and Katowice, but there is also strong demand for modern office space in Gdańsk and Łódź. In 2016 Griffin is planning to close a few transactions which we are currently working on.

For me, the Eurobuild Awards is...

one of the most important events in our sector, bringing together not just the leading mid-level and top management staff, but also acknowledged experts in their field. We feel that the five awards [jointly with Echo Investment – editor’s note] we have won are not only a record for the entire competition, but first of all a sign of the appreciation of us and our work this year and in previous years. I would also like to congratulate the other winners and all the nominees. We hope and strongly believe that we will provide the sector with more reasons to vote for Griffin in the next Eurobuild Awards.

Retail Developer of the Year, CEE

Echo Investment

Marcin Materny, director of Echo Investment’s shopping centre department

What do you think was the main reason for you winning the Eurobuild Award?

I think that our victory as the Developer of the Year was due to the number of projects we’ve carried out and the fact that this year was a very active period for us.

What is your assessment of the whole year? And how do you think 2016 is going to be?

2015 has been a very busy period for us. We opened Galeria Sudecka in Jelenia Góra and the second stage of Outlet Park Szczecin. At the same time, we started the redevelopment of the interior of Galeria Echo in Kielce and Pasaż Grunwaldzki in Wrocław. We have completed the design work and are just about to start the construction work on Galeria Echo Katowice, the extension of the Galaxy centre in Szczecin and another stage of Outlet Park. 2016 is likely to be every bit as intensive – we will start the construction of a new section of Galaxy and a new project in Katowice. We will open the new interior of Pasaż Grunwaldzki and complete the third stage of Outlet Park, while a Leroy Merlin store is to be opened next to Galeria Sudecka in Jelenia Góra. I am convinced that our partners and clients will appreciate our efforts.

For me, the Eurobuild Awards is...

Oh well, it is simply a great event!

Office Developer of the Year, CEE

Echo Investment

Rafał Mazurczak, director of Echo Investment’s office and hotel department

What do you think was the main reason for you winning the Eurobuild Award?

The award is confirmation of our exceptional activity in the office sector recently. In 2015 we completed three large projects – A4 Business Park II in Katowice, West Gate in Wrocław and Park Rozwoju II in Warsaw. At the same time we are nearing the completion of Q22 – the largest, tallest and most expensive office project in the history of our company. There are also projects in Gdańsk, Kraków, Łódź and Wrocław. So it seems that hard work has paid off and we can enjoy the Developer of the Year title and a nice statuette today.

What is your assessment of the whole year? And how do you think 2016 is going to be?

2015 was a period when the role of quality and functionality of new projects became even more important. The market is becoming more and more saturated; however, the best projects can still expect interest from tenants. I suspect that 2016 will not bring about any sudden changes, the market will continue to head in a similar direction.

For me, the Eurobuild Awards is...

not only a chance to win laurels, but also an excellent way to summarise the state of the commercial real estate market.

Investment Agency Team of the Year, CEE

CBRE

Sean Doyle, the head of the capital markets department, CBRE

What do you think was the main reason for you winning the award?

I believe we won because we truly have an exceptional team of experts who are committed to delivering the highest standards to our clients. Each and every member of the team has an in-depth knowledge of the market and is totally focused on understanding and meeting our clients’ needs. We are passionate about what we do and this is reflected in our work and in the loyalty we have from our key clients, who have strong relationships with all the members within our team and trust in their expertise.

What is your assessment of the whole year? And how do you think 2016 is going to be?

While volumes have remained comparable to the previous year, the general interest in the market has increased across all sectors and broadened with the major challenge being the lack of core product available to buy, which has translated into significant yield compression. 2015 saw a number of new investors enter the market in all sectors and this is a trend we expect to continue. We do not believe the political changes will have a negative impact on the attractiveness of Poland as a market, although it is a question we are increasingly having to face at present as investors struggle to get their heads around the implications for real estate. I am bullish about the volumes for 2016, in large part due to the ‘big ticket’ transactions and portfolios that will likely trade next year.

For me, the Eurobuild Awards is...

one of the best awards ceremonies in the region and certainly one of the most transparent and fair in terms of how the voting is done. It is also one of the best parties of the year.

Architectural Design of the Year, Poland

Gdynia Film Centre

Zbigniew Reszka, architect, founder of Arch-Deco

What do you think was the main reason for the victory of Gdynia Film Centre at the Eurobuild Awards 2015?

The reason for the victory is that it is a very bold project, it has an uncompromising shape that complements coastal architecture. The project combines a few independent elements: the Gdynia Film School, a car park under pl. Grunwaldzki and a narrow-gauge mountain railway to Kamienna Góra – Gdynia’s green enclave. The building references Gdynia very characteristic modernistic style and at the same time is thoroughly modern, complementing the area of the city while counterbalancing the monumental Music Theatre nearby. The grounds of the school, its green terrace and the top of Kamienna Góra provide a unique view onto the panorama of Gdynia and Gdańsk Bay. The atmosphere of the nearby city beach is emphasised by the green area of pl. Grunwaldzki, where the publicly available deckchairs and blankets allow residents and tourists to relax. The leitmotif of the building, which is featured indoors and outdoors, is the colour red – a tribute to the worlds of film and festivals, which regularly use the colour during movie galas including: the Oscars, the Golden Lions, and so on.

What is your assessment of the whole year on the real estate market? And how do you think 2016 is going to be?

In 2015 there will be a great construction boom for public projects, cultural facilities, office and residential buildings, thus the decision to expand our offices, extending the area and improving our working conditions. Because I am an optimist, 2016 should not be any worse; however, there are certain concerns on this point.

For me, the Eurobuild Awards is...

For Arch-Deco it is a special and prestigious distinction, even more so taking into consideration the fact that it was awarded as the result of voting among specialists who, as everybody knows, can often be very strict and critical in their assessments.

The Real Estate Personality of the Year

Katarzyna Zawodna

Katarzyna Zawodna, the president of Skanska Commercial Development Europe

What do you think was the main reason for you winning the Eurobuild Award?

Even though the personality award is an individual prize, I believe that this great honour constitutes the crowning of the long-term, highly intensive work of the entire team I work with on an everyday basis, the mentors who instructed me, and the excellent business partners whom I have the privilege of learning from all the time. It is thanks to all these people that Skanska and myself are where we are. The fact that so many colleagues have voted for me is first of all confirmation of our good relations. The long-term achievements of Skanska’s team in Poland also played an important part. This year we sold five projects, including a record transaction involving the sale of a portfolio of buildings in Kraków and Katowice to the Niam fund. We have also started the construction of five new projects, including Generation Park. This is why in my opinion the entire team of Skanska Property Poland deserves this award and I would like to thank everyone once again.

What is your assessment of the whole year? And how do you think 2016 is going to be?

Everything points to the fact that 2015 will be another record year on the office property market, facilitated by the dynamic growth of the Polish economy. Poland is maintaining its leading position in Central and Eastern Europe, but it is clear to see that investment activity has also been growing in other markets of the region. We have noted the growing tenant activity in cities such as Bucharest and Budapest and can see that they are increasingly participating in transactions on the investment market.

The market forecasts for 2016 are also giving us grounds for optimism. With the current low interest rates it is difficult to find a better type of investment than properties. Regional cities have even more chance for success. as they are playing an ever more important role in the office market. Our experience from the last few years shows that top class products carried out in the regions, with long-term leases signed by recognisable international brands, are now much more attractive to the funds that would not have previously ventured outside Warsaw or Prague.

For me, the Eurobuild Awards is...

a very important and prestigious event for the property market in our region, and an opportunity to meet the most important and the most inspiring people in the real estate sector to discuss the trends and prospects for the next following year. It is a chance to review the most important initiatives and projects – and to appreciate the top professionals from the real estate sector in Poland and Central and Eastern Europe.

Non-Business Achievement – JLL Beach Volleyball Tournament

6 Charity Real Estate Beach Volleyball Tournament

Tomasz Trzósło, the managing director, JLL Poland

What do you think was the main reason for you winning the Eurobuild Award?

This question should be answered by the people present at the gala who voted in this category, but what counted was probably the fact that it is an event that is meant to help children and involves many companies from the commercial property sector in Poland, including the majority of our competitors. I am very glad that the beach volleyball tournament has become such an event for the property market, which the entire sector participates in and contributes money to charity. I would like to thank all the companies who participate in this event together with us and help to raise more and more funds for people in need every year. Because of this, the ‘Non-Business Achievement’ award is, in our opinion, a distinction not for JLL but for the entire real estate sector.

What is your assessment of the whole year? And how do you think 2016 is going to be?

It was a good year on the commercial property market in Poland. The strong developer activity was accompanied by strong demand, particularly in the office and warehouse sectors. The investment market had excellent results in the retail property segment, which involved sales with a value of over EUR 1.7 bln. The influx of capital into the office markets in main cities apart from Warsaw is an interesting trend. I do not expect any revolution to take place in 2016 – I’ expecting stability and a consistent approach by developers, tenants, banks and investors.

For me, the Eurobuild Awards is...

one of the most important events on the commercial property market in Poland. In my opinion the most precious of the awards are those decided by the audience during the gala – such as the ‘Non-Business Achievement’ award and the ‘Personality of Year’ categories. Voted on during the event they are a spontaneous expression of appreciation from the hundreds of real estate experts present at the gala.

Most investor-friendly city

Bydgoszcz

Edyta Wiwatowska, the president of the management board, Bydgoszcz Regional Development Agency

What do you think was the main reason for you winning the Eurobuild Award?

I think we won because we have been consistently sticking to our policy of supporting investment in our city. This involves investors who are only looking for new locations as well as entrepreneurs who are already operating in Bydgoszcz and extending their production plants, offices and branches. This includes the work of the mayor and the services that report to him, the Bydgoszcz Regional Development Agency as well as many other institutions participating in the investor service process – such as the courts and law firms, among others.

What is your assessment of the whole year? And how do you think 2016 is going to be?

Every year Bydgoszcz has more to offer for business. In the near future, thanks to the modernisation of the S5 national road, the town will become an important location on the logistics and warehouse map of Poland. Two investors from this sector are currently applying for building permits and are planning to carry out projects in 2016. We are also in intensive negotiations with others. Bydgoszcz has a unique location and also has quite a large number of plots within its boundaries that can be developed. Thanks to this the industrial sector has continued to grow in the city. Several large office projects are also set to get underway this year – a response of the market to the rapid development of the BPO and IT sectors in our town.

For me, the Eurobuild Award was...

an honour awarded as a result of a public vote, perfectly complementing Bydgoszcz’s coming top in the World Bank’s ‘Doing Business in Poland 2015’ survey. We would like to thank all the people who voted for us and invite you to come to Bydgoszcz.