WBJ: Tell us about the Cavatina Group

Łukasz Żelezik: Cavatina Holding is one of the leaders in the commercial real estate market. The company’s operations are based on Polish capital and include a portfolio of projects with an area of 500,000 sqm. From the beginning of its operation in 2015, Cavatina has achieved incredible efficiency and dynamics of development, as evidenced by new projects in the largest Polish cities, such as Kraków, Katowice, Gdańsk, Wrocław and Łódź. Cavatina intends to develop over 1 million sqm of mixed space by 2025.

How many projects have been created since the company was founded? What investments are currently being implemented?

We strive to ensure that each of our buildings is unique in terms of architecture and utility. Cavatina has 24 completed projects and more are underway. All our projects are distinguished by quality and competitive prices. We are currently working on new projects located all over the country. The most interesting of them are located in the south and north of Poland. Palio Office Park – a multistage functional office and service complex – is located in Gdańsk, on the territory of the shipyard. Our Cavatina Hall project in Bielsko-Biała, which uniquely combines office and cultural functions, is also at the final stage of construction. In addition to office space, the facility will include a concert hall designed to the highest acoustic standard and a recording studio.

Cavatina builds office and commercial space throughout Poland. Is the company planning to enter new regions or the residential real estate sector?

The Cavatina Group has created a housing platform – Resi Capital. Our offer will soon include modern apartments for rent, intended for all people who do not want or cannot buy their own apartment, but are looking for a place to live. The Resi Capital offer will cover a wide range of areas (27-69 sqm), both studio apartments as well as two-, three- and four-room apartments. By the end of 2022, the portfolio of Resi Capital will enrich the real estate market with over 2,000 new apartments in such cities as Katowice, Łódź and Wrocław.

More than six months have passed since the Covid-19 pandemic hit Poland. How did the virus affect the Group’s operations?

Cavatina Holding cares about the continuity of investment projects in these difficult times. The company has maintained the current pace of construction projects and successfully implemented its commercialization and sales strategy for this year. Moreover, our dedicated team adapts the office space to the new reality, ensuring the safety and comfort of employees.

What are Cavatina’s plans for the last quarter of this year and the beginning of 2021?

Our new projects will be commissioned at the beginning of next year. They include Office Building C, located in the center of Katowice, which is part of the multifunctional Global Office Park complex, further projects in Kraków – the first stage of Ocean Office Park and the fourth stage of Equal Business Park. 

Moreover, in Gdańsk, the first stage of Palio Office Park will be put into use at the shipyard. The Cavatina’s flagship project – Chmielna 89 office building in Warsaw – received an occupancy permit at the end of June this year. Currently, ESTATE’s advanced finishing works are underway for office space on all floors. The largest financial institution in Poland will move into the building in December.

The group decided to finance an aid campaign – #Cavatina-Pomaga – for people most at risk from coronavirus infection. Tell us about it.

In recent difficult times, the company has focused on efficient operation but never ceased to pay attention to social issues. Cavatina Holding decided to finance the campaign for people most at risk of Covid-19 infection, allocating PLN 1 million for this purpose. Therefore, the “Fiducia” Foundation, whose main founder is Cavatina Holding, launched a campaign for the elderly in March. #CavatinaPomaga supports people for whom ordinary shopping can be dangerous by financing purchases made by volunteers, thus encouraging older people to stay at home.

A recent Washington Post report states that the way we work has changed and some changes may stay with us forever. In light of the technology that is available and is developing rapidly, remote work is becoming more and more popular. Do we still need office buildings?

Despite changing the nature of work to a hybrid or remote model, every company still needs headquarters and employees need space to integrate and exchange ideas. That is why Cavatina Holding has created a dedicated team that is responsible for the design of functional and safe offices, as well as the rearrangement of existing spaces. Cavatina Holding, out of concern for the safety of employees and their guests, decided to immediately implement solutions based on the international WELL Health-Safety Rating guidelines. Cavatina Holding ensures also, that all subsequent projects will be submitted to the WELL Health-Safety Rating program. The comfort, safety and health of all building users are of paramount importance to us.