International caterer rents 4,100 m² at EUROPA-CENTER Flow in Frankfurt
Almost a year and a half after the foundation stone was laid for the 37,000 square metre office and commercial building in Gateway Gardens, the major project at Frankfurt Airport is entering the home straight. The EUROPA-CENTER property group has now presented the building ensemble to the public for the first time at a celebratory event - and also announced its name.
Work on the gleaming white façades of the EUROPA-CENTER real estate group's most important project to date will be completed this year, with completion of the property in Frankfurt am Main scheduled for autumn 2022. However, around 100 guests - including numerous project partners and representatives from the property sector - were already able to gain their own first impression of the office campus at Amelia-Mary-Earhart-Strasse 11-13 in the Gateway Gardens future quarter at a kick-off event entitled ‘First Insight - Excellent View’. At the get-together on the ground floor of the main building, the developer and property owner from Hamburg not only provided further details on the progress of the project, but also presented the property's new model office. The festive highlight of the event was the unveiling of the building's name. A 120 m² banner was lowered from the building for the presentation. In future, the building campus will be called Flow, thus emphasising the aesthetics of the sweeping, flowing façade shape designed by KSP Engel, but also expressing the mobility and balance between work and life that the future-oriented development site at the airport offers.
Ralf-Jörg Kadenbach, CEO of EUROPA-CENTER Immobiliengruppe: ‘It makes me very happy that, after the cancellation of a real ceremony to mark the laying of the foundation stone a year and a half ago due to the pandemic, we can now come together to experience this sophisticated property live at one of Germany's most dynamic future locations. If Flow is completed on schedule next year, future users can look forward to a new home that combines modern space, an ecological overall concept, high-quality facilities and innovative services at a location that offers the best accessibility and established infrastructure.’
Interior work has begun
In 2019, the go-ahead was given for the construction project with 31,500 m² of office space and 800 m² of retail and restaurant space in the centre of the DGNB Platinum-certified district. The shell of the ensemble with campus-like open spaces between the building sections was already completed in early summer and the façade now shows how Flow will present itself on site in the future. The interior work on the property with its 14 floors above ground has also recently begun. Deputy board member and overall project manager Andreas Jantzen explains: ‘The work progressed quickly in all trades. The construction of the basic fit-out, in particular the fire protection walls and, for example, the sanitary walls, was completed quickly. Finally, the hybrid ceiling sails for heating, cooling and ventilation were installed. Overall, everything went according to plan and we were able to successfully complete the building in autumn 2023.’
Model office shows ‘inner life’
Guests at the event were able to get a first taste of what EUROPA-CENTER Flow will look like inside once it is completed by visiting the new show office. On a total area of 330 m² on the 1st floor of the main building, equipment features are presented as well as space concepts ranging from house-in-house solutions with their own reception to individually connectable spaces. Details such as digital wayfinding, an app-based parking space and e-rental car booking system and underground car park access via QR code/licence plate recognition also illustrate the innovative approach that EUROPA-CENTER is pursuing with the property. Particular attention was also paid to sustainability in the design, from heat recovery in the ventilation system and rainwater utilisation to green roofs and central changing rooms and central shower rooms to promote bicycle mobility. The property is already DGNB Gold certified.
Important strategic step for EUROPA-CENTER
EUROPA-CENTER will act as a long-term portfolio holder for the future tenants with its own on-site property management staff and will therefore be able to take care of the tenants' concerns in the long term.The new construction project is also an important strategic step for the Hamburg-based property group, which will be celebrating its 50th anniversary in 2022.EUROPA-CENTER is on a growth trajectory both nationally and across Europe, having developed 26 buildings to date, including in Hamburg, Berlin, Bremen, Essen and Barcelona, totalling almost 400,000 m² of space, and is planning to construct two further buildings in Eschborn as a follow-up project to EUROPA-CENTER Flow following its completion as part of its expansion in the Rhine-Main region.