ABB to move to Monopolis in Łódź

The leading technology company has just signed an agreement with Virako for the lease of over 1,400 sqm of space. Following Clariant, ABB is another Swiss company to recognize and select this prestigious location in Łódź. The office space of the first phase of the investment is now fully leased. Experts from JLL represented the landlord in the transaction, while the tenant was supported by Corees Polska consulting agency.

Monopolis is a unique complex whose redevelopment, carried out by Virako (a developer company with experience in the area of revitalization), includes the renovation of the old historical buildings of the Vodka Monopoly distillery from 1902, which was once the third largest factory complex in Łódź. This unique project, conducted in the very centre of Łódź, combines office, service and cultural functions along with a wide range of cafes and restaurants. The M1 building, which ABB will move into, is a state-of-the-art, post-industrial building located in the central part of the complex. It has three floors which offers over 7000 sqm of office space. As Krzysztof Witkowski, the President of the Management Board at Virako Sp. z o.o., and investor of Monopolis, says: “We are very pleased that the office space lease rate in stage one of Monopolis now stands at 100%. Even more so as ABB, a leading worldwide brand, which is widely known and has been appreciated in our city for years, joins Clariant and Digital New Agency as a tenant of Monopolis”.

The new location will serve as the office for expert teams which provide specialist services to ABB in Europe and the rest of the world. “We are very pleased that our company will occupy office space in such a prestigious place. The location is one of the most important symbols of the industrial heritage of Łódź, a city with which ABB has associated with for over three decades”, comments Tomasz Wolanowski, CEO of ABB Sp. z o.o. “We are implementing the ABB WorkPlace2020 strategy in the new office, which means the space will be open to all, regardless of position, and divided into zones, e.g.: for group work, individual work in silence, and relaxation. When we were deciding on the location, we focused on the comfort of our employees. That is why the Monopolis complex, with its great location and rich service offer, caught our eye from the very beginning” – he adds.

‘We are pleased that ABB has once again entrusted us with advising on the lease of a large office space in a prestigious location in the city centre’, says Marek Ciunowicz, CEO at Corees Polska. “It is a real feather in the cap for us and is proof of the high quality of services that we provide”, he adds.

Monopolis is one of the most technologically advanced revitalization projects in the modern history of Łódź. In total, the multi-purpose complex will offer over 24,000 sqm of modern office space located in four buildings: one historic (M1) and three newly built (M2, M3 and M4). At the same time, with the next 5400 sqm, the complex will perform a number of city-forming functions, offering a wide range of services and inviting residents to various cultural events. Apart from office space, there will also be a kindergarten, a swimming pool, a theatre, restaurants and cafés, a children's day care centre, an exhibition gallery and a museum devoted to the history of the former Vodka Monopoly distillery. The entire complex of almost 30,000 sqm will be implemented in three stages. The first, based on the location’s historical tissue, has just been delivered to market. The second stage is now being implemented, with the third due to be completed in 2023.

The popularity of Monopolis continues to grow. The project is well-known throughout Poland and the world. This is illustrated by the complex’s nomination in the mixed-use category for the MIPIM Awards 2020, a prestigious international real estate competition. Monopolis is the only finalist from Europe and joins the other three nominees from Shanghai, Bangkok and Montreal.

“Monopolis is one of the most eagerly awaited and recognizable investments in the city and is a new showcase for the changing landscape of Łódź. The office space of the first phase of the complex has already been fully leased, with the construction of the next stages to begin soon. I am convinced that ABB’s employees will feel great in the renovated areas of Monopolis, which apart from their unique architecture, have much more to offer”, comments Łukasz Dobrzański, Head of JLL Office in Łódź.