Future-proofing through adaptive workspaces

Globalworth’s Anna Korwin-Kulesza discusses why the adaptive office ecosystem is the ultimate tool for businesses navigating today’s market uncertainty.

Interview by Morten Lindholm

WBJ: Could you outline your adaptive office ecosystem and the strategy behind it?

Anna Korwin-Kulesza: Today’s entrepreneurs and corporations alike are fundamentally pivoting their approach to the workplace, as their business reality shifts every quarter. They are no longer seeking a "headquarters for life," but rather a strategic partner capable of effectively de-risking their expansion. At Globalworth, we’ve moved beyond asking about floor space requirements; instead, we ask about the velocity of their growth.

Our strategy is a direct response to the market’s evolution toward a Real Estate as a Service model. At its core, we are transcending conventional lease structures to provide a dynamic business ecosystem designed to protect our tenants' growth.

One Place to Grow is a fully symbiotic interconnection between Globalworth’s portfolio stability and the agility of our serviced office brand, Ace of Space. Whether a company requires a single desk, a project-based module, or a traditional headquarters, they can find it under one roof with one partner. This synergy allows for seamless scaling and reorganization without infrastructure disruptions, or the need to sacrifice a prestigious business address. Flexibility is the foundation of resilience – this is the ultimate insurance policy for corporate growth.

Lumen & Skylight, Spektrum Tower are part of Warsaw’s skyline

How do you define the “perfect” office today, and how has that definition evolved over the past few years?

The vision of an ideal office has transitioned from external attributes toward deep-seated functionality and organizational agility, shifting away from prioritizing visible markers of prestige in favor of environments that prioritize true well-being, comfort, and performance.

For modern boards, the office is no longer viewed merely as a static line item on a balance sheet; it is a strategic asset for cultivating corporate culture and organizational resilience. This shift creates a triple win: for Boards, it serves as a powerful tool for integration and productivity; for finance, it offers cost-efficiency through optimized space utilization; and for teams, it provides a perfectly calibrated environment for both creative collaboration and deep focus.

In Globalworth’s One Place to Grow concept, the perfect office is one you never outgrow. It combines the stability of long-term leases with the flexibility of office-as-a-service solutions that adapt to changing needs. This allows companies to scale without constraints, optimize costs, and provide a better working environment. The perfect office is a trusted, scalable infrastructure that evolves with the business.

As a vertically integrated platform – from leasing through fit-out to community building – why is this so important?

It is perhaps our most significant competitive advantage. Globalworth is a long-term investor; we view each property across its entire lifecycle. Having an in-house Workplaces team – designers, cost estimators, and fit-out managers – means we create spaces that are aesthetically pleasing and operationally functional from day one.

For the tenant, this eliminates "operational friction." They speak directly to the owner. This means they benefit from institutional knowledge regarding the technical possibilities, constraints, and built-in systems of the building.

We provide the infrastructure and technology, like our GW App, to make the building as intuitive as a smartphone. When a tenant can scale or modify their space via a single point of contact, they can focus entirely on their core business rather than facility management.

Balancing cost pressures and ESG requirements, what are the top priorities tenants are focused on today?

Tenants are looking for cost efficiency that doesn't compromise their corporate responsibility. We operate on the principle that "The greenest buildings are the ones already built." Our focus on high-quality, mature assets in city centers is a conscious choice for the planet.

These buildings are fully modernized and certified at BREEAM In-Use Excellent or Outstanding, providing future-proofing and resilience at the highest standards. Furthermore, ESG is now heavily tied to talent attraction and retention. Tenants prioritize well-being, air quality, and community-building events because they need the office to be a "destination" that employees want to visit, rather than a place they are forced to be.

Ace of Space powered by Globalworth, serviced offices

How would you characterize current market momentum, and how is the market responding to your latest innovations?

The market is currently under significant multi-level stress and uncertainty. In this climate, our One Place to Grow approach serves as a vital safety valve.

We are seeing that serviced offices like Ace of Space are no longer just for startups. They have become a tool for corporate tenants as well.

Warsaw is a key market in your portfolio. What makes it particularly well-suited to your platform and offering?

Warsaw is a mature, high-octane market where the competition for talent is fierce. Tenants in Warsaw demand a mix of work, culture, and high-end amenities. Our platform thrives here because we offer a hyper-local ecosystem in central locations with premium, ESG-compliant space, along with the added "insurance" of Ace of Space flexibility. The office portfolio here, featuring icons like Warsaw Trade Tower, Spektrum Tower, Skylight & Lumen or Hala Koszyki make us the go-to partner for companies that view Warsaw as their growth engine in CEE.

ABOUT:

Anna Korwin-Kulesza has been with Globalworth since its entry into the Polish market over nine years ago, steadily expanding her responsibilities. She previously oversaw asset management and leasing in central and northern Poland. Now, she leads the integrated asset management and leasing platform for the entire Polish portfolio, covering 20 assets in six cities (totaling 580,000 sqm). With over 15 years of experience, she has worked at DTZ, Cushman & Wakefield, and Griffin Real Estate, and is also an author of industry publications.