?ód? counts on innovative services for business

For a few years ?ód? has been developing in a very dynamic way. “Factory halls, once vibrant with textile industry, now serve to create modern business and service centres. The pace of changes now taking place in the city is unique in the whole Europe,” Krzysztof Witkowski, President of the Board of Virako, says talking to PropertyNews.pl.

?ód? strongly counts on BPO/SSC sector. A business bull’s eye or a great risk?

Krzysztof Witkowski, President of the Board of Virako: I perceive innovative services for business as the right direction. Employment growth in this sector in ?ód? is one of the highest in Poland. Service industry creates attractive jobs, and educated people, instead of leaving the city or the country, choose to stay in ?ód?, they enter the job market here, build their careers and make a life.

?ód? is a university centre, which equals an access to well-educated staff...

The potential of ?ód? attracts foreign investors like a magnet. They appreciate the city’s university infrastructure and want young, talented Polish people to work for them, which is why so many companies with foreign capital open or enlarge their branches here.

The availability of highly qualified human resources, of ambitious and talented people, who speak many languages and are ready to face any challenge, stimulates the service sector. And the development of ?ód? transport infrastructure contributes additionally to increasing the city’s chances to win new investments and continue its economic growth.

In short: ?ód? has a potential. How it affects the office space market?

The pace of changes now taking place in ?ód? is unique in the whole Europe. We should clearly state that the city has been developing in a very dynamic way for a few years already. Factory halls, once vibrant with textile industry, now serve to create modern business and service centres. ?ód? attracts new international companies, enterprises already active here employ more and more personnel, which results in a demand for innovative office spaces.

According to JLL’s data, the supply of such spaces in ?ód? amounts to almost 375 thousand square meters, the demand has been very good in recent years, and only 5.8 percent of existing office space is available at once. This is the lowest indicator among main markets in Poland and a huge opportunity for new, offbeat office space projects.

The city of character?

?ód? can boast of rich and turbulent history, and also industrial traditions, which made the city as it is nowadays. It’s true, of course, that the old textile industry collapsed, but it does not mean that it has vanished for good - it is still present here, just at a much smaller scale. On the other hand, abandoned industrial buildings, old halls, plants and warehouses, gradually gain new roles and functions. There are still many buildings left to be adapted anew and our company saw their potential a long time ago. Our ?ód? roots are of great help here. We know ?ód?, we understand its nature, we come from here, our headquarters, our business are here.

How does Virako take advantage of opportunities offered by the city?

We turned the former Henryk Wegner's Factory of Motors into a modern office building, while preserving its post-industrial character. I speak of the Faktoria Business Center. Now we have another flagship project, Monopolis - in the area of the old Monopol Wódczany vodka distillery, dating back to 1902. A business centre that ?ód? has never seen.

What will make Monopolis so unique?

Apart from office spaces ensuring most comfortable work, a space will be created for important cultural events, leisure and relax. A place open for everyone, gathering many citygenic functions.

We should put emphasis on our history and tradition, pride ourselves on them, especially as we undoubtedly have reasons for it. Our company has always found this idea very close to its heart, which is why we approached the past of this location with great respect and decided not only to get to know it well, but also to make ?ód? residents interested in it. Therefore Monopolis will host a museum dedicated to the history of the former Monopol Wódczany vodka distillery and to people who worked there.

Furthermore, we find it very important to expose the post-industrial character of this place, to create open space, organise as much greenery as possible and harmoniously combine historic architecture with modern solutions.

source: https://www.propertynews.pl/biura/lodz-stawia-na-nowoczesne-uslugi-dla-biznesu,58909.html