Category: News

Excellent first half of the year in Olivia. We’re going for a record!

Posted on by Katarzyna Halicka

All the data indicate that Olivia will also go for a record in terms of signed lease agreements this year. In the first 6 months of this year alone, lease agreements covered more than m.kw 22,000, which, in the light of almost 40,000 leased space throughout 2021, allows us to forecast another good result for the whole of 2022. As a reminder, the entire Olivia is 175,000 sqm. GLA – is the largest office project in Poland.

 

In line with Olivia’s policy, the contracts include companies from very diverse sectors of the economy. This allows us to ensure a wide tenant mix, and thus room for cooperation between tenants of this largest business center in Poland. New residents include the finance, IT, consulting, transportation, HR, and even… Agricultural.

 

Among the new tenants of office space there are the largest and most innovative companies in the world, as well as start-ups that have been developing to become leaders in their segments over the years. Olivia’s new resident is Capgemini , a global leader in transformation and business management consulting with a group budget of €18 billion. Ultimately, up to 1000 employees will provide services in the field of operational tasks and data aggregation and analysis systems in its offices.

 

The new tenant of the space is also one of the most innovative companies in the world – the British Graphcore, which develops computing systems for artificial intelligence. The company has designed a processor called the Intelligence Processing Unit (IPU), whose architecture allows researchers to apply new methods and algorithms in the field of machine learning. Graphcore’s R&D center works directly with R&D units, universities, and companies around the world.

 

In the first half of the year, the clothing giant Nike opened its first technology center in Poland and the third in Europe, which will implement projects in Olivia in the areas related to data streaming, data processing and analysis, as well as technological innovations, which the American company will implement in brick-and-mortar stores in the future.

 

Olivia is conducive to the development of many companies from the IT sector, which makes it a real hub of this industry. In the earlier months of this year, companies such as Softserve, Acaisoft, and Sentila opened their offices in Olivia. The first one is one of the most dynamically developing companies in the industry, with headquarters in Austin, Texas and Lviv, Ukraine. They have been operating on the Polish market since 2014, currently employing about 1000 people, and their development is associated with new contracts m.in. FinTechs operating in Southeast Asia. Acaisoft has been on the market since 2015 and has its offices in two locations in Poland and California in the United States. Sentila B.V. is a company specializing in unique software solutions for financial markets and blockchain technology.

 

In Olivia’s newest building, in Olivia Prime, an office with a spectacular roof terrace will be taken over by the most dynamically growing recruitment company in the IT industry, i.e. Just Join IT. The portal created by her is visited by over 0.5 million Polish programmers every month. The same group also includes RocketJobs.pl and HelloHR.pl portals, which focus their recruitment activities in the marketing, sales, finance, engineering, HR, BI & Data and many other industries.

 

New tenants are also companies from the food industry: Polish Agro (member of an international group of 80 companies operating in 80 countries with a turnover of more than 4.4 billion euros) and MIK Food, specialising in the export, trade and import of fish and seafood from countries such as Iceland, Norway, the Netherlands, Indonesia, Vietnam and Chile.

 

Importantly, more than half of the contracts signed were contract extensions or space selection by Olivia’s existing residents. This confirms the high attractiveness of this office center on the Northern Polish market. O4 Coworking operating in Olivia is also breaking records of popularity. The reservation rate of shared spaces reaches 100% in each of the 4 buildings in which O4 has its offices. In the first half of this year alone, 32 companies joined O4 – traditionally, most of them represent new technologies and software, but among the new Residents there are also businesses related to interior finishing, rental of clothing and hygiene equipment, or energy production.

 

“We are pleased with both the number of new O4ians and the fact that the existing customers not only stay with us, but often grow and develop ,” says Marta Moksa, director of O4 Coworking. Thanks to the strong synergy with Olivia Centre, we have always We can find a much larger area for them – if they are ready for it. We are also very satisfied with the results of recent surveys conducted among our residents, which clearly show that being in O4 is much more than an office. Above all, it’s the people who make every job more bearable!”

 

“The first half of the year allows us to look at the whole of 2022 with optimism ,” says Maciej Kotarski, Commercialization Director at Olivia Centre. The Tri-City has been on everyone’s lips lately, and our partners often emphasize that their employees are very often thinking about moving to the Tri-City. The most frequently mentioned advantages are access to the sea and the beach, high-quality air, the vast Tri-City Landscape Park and extensive infrastructure, which makes the Tri-City simply a good place to live: the moraine hills surrounding the agglomeration allow you to develop your sports passions. The sea is a perfect stimulus for all kinds of water sports, and an extensive network of bicycle paths allows you to choose an eco-friendly way of commuting to work. We also draw from all this and run passion development clubs, perfectly integrating the Olivia community.

 

The Football League is starting! Register your company team

Posted on by Katarzyna Halicka

We’re back withOlivia Centre’s Football League. We know that there are football enthusiasts among us. And many of them! Therefore, we would like to invite teams from companies residing in Olivia to participate in this sports project.

 

 

Initial declarations of participation in the League should be sent to us by
7 September
to the following address:


komunikacja@oliviacentre.com


. In order to run the League, a minimum of 8 teams must participate in it.

 

 

Here are some highlights.

 

  1. The league will start in October.
  2. The entire infrastructure of the year-round football hall will be available

    at ul. Hallera 16/18 in Gdansk and professional judges.

  3. Matches will be played on Wednesdays and Fridays.
  4. A team must have a minimum of 5 players (four players in the field and a goalkeeper) and a maximum of 20.
  5. Cost of participation in the League: 2500 PLN.

 

Our Olivia Football League has already had 9 editions. In the last season of the League , 17 teams played matches! They were followed by as many as 144 games, which took up 7200 minutes of play. There were 1607 goals scored by licensed football referees, who were “headed” by Kamil Kalinowski.

 

In the “Grande Finale” of the season, the defending champions CityFit and the Dream Team Indestructible Energa competed. After an extremely exciting match, DTN Energa won 5:3, causing a surprise and winning the third championship title in its history.

 

Let’s relive it!

 

Sport after regaining independence

Posted on by Katarzyna Halicka

Independent Poland 1918-2022

 

Regaining independence by Poland was not only an opportunity, but also a challenge. All areas of everyday life had to be rebuilt, or even created from scratch: the economy, the armed forces, culture, science. There is also a new aspect: sport. This field quickly began to provide us with emotions and reasons to be proud.

 

When Poland returned to the world map after 123 years, Polish sport was not in a very good place and form. Within the borders of the reborn state, there were only a few clubs, m.in. in Łódź, Poznań, Warsaw and Lviv. (The colours and name of the latter, Lechia Lwów, are referred to by Lechia Gdańsk, founded in 1945). Poland’s regaining of independence in 1918 was the proverbial “spark” resurrecting Polish sports activity. Sports associations were quickly reactivated, and new ones were formed. Polish sport was to return to the international arena as soon as possible. The independent government even planned to accept an invitation to the Olympics, which was to be held in 1920 in Antwerp, but due to the approaching hostile Bolshevik army, our country’s participation in this event was canceled. For the first time, Poles officially took part in the Olympics 4 years later, in Paris. It was from the French capital that they brought their first Olympic medals. Silver medals in Paris were won by track cyclists: Jan Łazarski, Franciszek Szymczyk, Tomasz Stankiewicz and Józef Lange. Adam Królikiewicz, on the other hand, won the bronze medal in equestrianism.

 

In the interwar period, the Polish national football team was formed. They played their first match against Hungary in 1921, unfortunately lost 1-0. The coachof the white-and-red team was Major Józef Szkolnikowski, one of the founders of the Polish Football Association. Archival reports show that the Poles were close to a draw. One of our best players, Wacław Kuchar , did not take advantage of a situation in which he could have scored into an empty goal – instead, he bent over the Hungarian goalkeeper who had been fouled a moment earlier…

 

Archery, fencing and horsemanship. These three sports were very popular in the Commonwealth. Historians have often referred to these fields as “Polish”. The interwar period was also marked by the flourishing of sportRailwaymen, postal workers and military personnel competed in the competition. Events were organized to activate the population and encourage physical activity. The “Run Along the Borders” or the bicycle race around our country were very popular. Outstanding sports results were awarded State Sports Badge. By the outbreak of World War II, it had been captured by approx. 800,000 people, and it was available to women from 16 years of age and men from 14 years of age.

 

Fig. State Sports Badge

 

Muniu, the best striker of the interwar period

According to many experts, the best striker of the interwar period was Leon Sperling. He came to Cracovia from Jutrzenka Kraków. In the colors of “Pasy” he played 381 matches and won the title of Polish Champion three times. He played 16 matches in the national team, and made his debut in the first historic match of the Polish national team against Hungary. Sperling was also one of the few Poles who competed at the 1924 Olympic Games in Paris.

 

Józef Kałuża wrote about Sperling “An excellent left-winger, a top-class technician, a great individualist. Similar in style of play to Mielech – he was inferior to him in speed, but he beat him with the maneuverability of his movements and the quality of his shot.”

 

Henryk Vogler added: “A tiny left-winger Sperling, called Muniu, who was able to manoeuvre his opponents so cleverly with his dribbling that the whole audience cackled with laughter.”

More

Fig. Leon Sperling, National Digital Archives, public domain

Halina Konopacka, a precursor of fashion for women’s sport

It is not without reason that she is called the “first lady of Polish sport”. Konopacka won the title of Polish champion as many as twenty-six times – and in various disciplines. She was an excellent athlete – she set records not only in the discus throw, but also in the long and high jump, javelin throw and shot put. She also played tennis and handball, and skied…

 

On July 31, 1928, Halina Konopacka won the first Olympic gold medal for Polish. She threw the discus at a distance of 39.62 meters, setting a new world record. It was an extremely moving moment, as Dąbrowski’s Mazurka was performed in Amsterdam. When the gold medalist returned from the Olympics, she was received by the Poles with great enthusiasm. Crowds gathered along her route, she was showered with flowers, and a congratulatory telegram was sent to her by the President of the Republic of Poland, Ignacy Mościcki.

 

Konopacka started her sporting adventure with skiing and it was only a coincidence that she found herself in the athletics section. As many as 7 times she became the world record holder in discus throw, as well as the 56-time Polish record holder, contributing to the popularization of sport among women.

 

Fig. Halina Konopacka, National Digital Archives, public domain

 

 

Archery World Championships

Archery was a discipline in which Poles could claim the status of pioneers. It was popularized by Mieczysław Fularski and Apoloniusz Zarychta. Fularski and Zarychta began to organize competitions, which met with great interest among Poles. Soon the Polish Archery Association was established. Poland hosted the first World Archery Championships in Lviv in 1931.

 

Olympic Twenty

Polish Olympians won 20 medals in the interwar period. The achievements of the Poles included three gold medals (Halina Konopacka, Janusz Kusociński, Stanisława Walasiewicz), six silver and eleven bronze. We won all the medals at the Summer Games; the first medal in winter was won for Polish only after the war by Franciszek Gąsienica-Groń (Cortina d’Ampezzo, 1956). Fencer Adam Papée, who took part in all the Summer Olympics of the interwar period, can be considered an Olympic veteran. Papée was a two-time bronze medalist in team sabre (1928, 1932).

 

Learn more

Gdynia – a city from the sea

Ignacy Mościcki. How did the king of nitrogen become president?

 

 

Origin:

https://muzhp.pl/pl/c/1142/pierwsze-polskie-zloto-olimpijskie

https://dzieje.pl/ksiazki/sportowcy-dla-niepodleglej

https://dzieje.pl/content/wprowadzenie-2

https://pl.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lechia_Lwów

https://cracovia.pl/aktualnosci/cracovia/siedemdziesiata-rocznica-smierci-leona-sperlinga/

https://pl.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mecz_piłkarski_Węgry_–_Polska_(1921)

https://muzhp.pl/pl/c/1142/pierwsze-polskie-zloto-olimpijskie

https://niepodlegla.gov.pl/o-niepodleglej/popularnosc-sportu-w-ii-rp/

https://sportowcydlaniepodleglej.pl/sport-ktory-wyprzedzil-niepodleglosc-o-kulturze-fizycznej-w-ii-rzeczypospolitej/

Gdynia – the city from the sea, where Poland begins

Posted on by Katarzyna Halicka

Independent Poland 1918-202

 

On 23 September 1922, the Sejm of the Republic of Poland passed a law on the commencement of the construction of a seaport in Gdynia. When we look at the photos of this great port city from the beginning of the 20th century, we can see a modest village, with a few large summer houses, where there are not even paved roads. Some historians note that if the Sejm had not adopted the law on the construction of the port, Gdynia would have been simply a seaside holiday resort today. However, the fate of Gdynia changed dramatically at the end of World War I. The seaside city neighbouring Gdańsk became one of the most important social and economic initiatives of the Second Polish Republic.

 

Gdynia’s landscape at the beginning of the 20th century is not only holiday villas, but also fishermen’s huts and farms. This is what Marcelina Kulikowska said about Gdynia “The houses are mostly single-storey, brick and clad, tiled or thatched. On the street, you can see fisherwomen carrying large baskets made of woven baskets on their backs. […] Several women carry bundles of flounder tied in their hands.” At the beginning of 1920, thanks to the provisions of the Treaty of Versailles, Poland gained access to the Baltic Sea, which had been lost earlier. The 140-kilometer coastline was mostly places without infrastructure or industry. Gdansk, which at that time was not within the borders of the reborn Polish state, was a complete port city. The Commonwealth, on the other hand, badly needed a port.

Fig. Construction of Gdynia, 1925, NAC

Tadeusz Wenda, an experienced engineer, came to Pomerania with a mission to mark out a place where a modern military port would be built, and he chose a village called Gdynia. Then the authorities conducted a census in Gdynia, according to which Gdynia in 1921 was inhabited by 1268 people. Five years later, when Gdynia was granted city rights, there were about 12,000 inhabitants, while just before the outbreak of World War II, 127,000 people lived in Gdynia.

 

Fig. Tadeusz Wenda, NAC

In 1923, President Wojciechowski officially opened the port, and a few months later the first ship, the “Kentucky”, sailing under the French flag, arrived at the port.

 

Until 1926, the export of goods through Gdynia amounted to 404 thousand tons, while in 1938 it was 7414 thousand tons. It accounted for nearly 50% of Poland’s foreign trade. As a result of World War II, the city did not suffer as much as Gdańsk, but the port of Gdynia and the shipyard were destroyed. However, the inhabitants of Gdynia suffered the most, as they were deported to concentration camps or resettled, and of course many also died at the front. After the “liberation” of the city in 1945, people returned to Gdynia, looking for places to start their lives anew. However, it was not only the inhabitants who decided to “set a course” for Gdynia, but also the inhabitants of Warsaw, Vilnius, Lviv and Poznań. After the war, the port of Gdynia became the largest repair base for the Polish naval fleet. In 1951, the first ship named “Melitopol” was launched in the port.

 

Fig. Gdynia, 1935, NAC

December 1970, the time when the shipyard workers of the ports of Gdynia and Gdansk rebelled against the people’s government, a puppet of the USSR. This event remains to this day as one of the most tragic, as a consequence 45 people died and 1165 were injured. There were also joyful days of rebellion and hope in August 1980, when Solidarity was born. Gdynia is currently home to the second largest seaport in Poland in terms of transshipments. The port specializes in container handling. It is considered by specialists to be the most versatile port on the Polish coast. It is also the main passenger port of the Tri-City.

 

Some of them had their origins in working-class circles. The post-war generation experienced the tragedy of the bloody events of December 1970, when the Gdynia shipyard workers, just like the Gdańsk shipyard workers, rebelled against the people’s government on behalf of the entire nation. It was the most tragic event during the pacification of workers’ protests on the coast by the communist authorities. As a result, 45 people were killed and 1165 were injured. Gdynia remembers them. There are two monuments in Gdynia dedicated to the victims of December 1970. There were also joyful days of rebellion and hope in August 1980, when Solidarity was born.

 

Learn more

Ignacy Mościcki – How the King of Nitrogen Became President

Sport after regaining independence

 

 

 

Origin

https://www.gdynia.pl/o-gdyni/historia,3571/na-poczatku-bylo-marzenie-br-historia-gdyni-w-pigulce,365280

https://niepodlegla.gov.pl/o-niepodleglej/gdynia-perla-ii-rzeczpospolitej-historia-miedzywojennego-portu/

https://ftp.port.gdynia.pl/pl/o-porcie/historia-portu?showall=1

 

Tri-City Sailing League 2022 is over

Posted on by Katarzyna Halicka

The 2022 Tri-City Sailing League is over. For the third year in a row, the League championship goes to the resident of Olivia Centre. At the same time, it is the second time in a row that the champion is the consulting company PwC.

 

Balex Tri-City Sailing League is a combination of sports competition with training and business aspects. Each round of the regatta is accompanied by theoretical training and practical training. In addition, the crews have yachts at their disposal almost throughout the season, so they train intensively between regattas. This format of the project means that the business environment has the opportunity to integrate, develop competences and group motivation in the waters of the Gulf of Gdańsk, which is a unique distinguishing feature on the map of Polish.

 

In this year’s edition, the weather conditions were good and we managed to hold all the planned races during 5 regattas. The general classification after the 2022 season included the results of as many as 30 races. Between the regattas there were also 5 group training sessions, which served to improve the competence and knowledge of the participants, as the majority of the regatta is attended by amateurs. In total, over 60 people took part in the regatta.

 

In the fight for victory, the crews of Dynatrace, Hear Studio and PwC Poland fared the best, for which for the second year in a row there were no strong ones. The vast experience of the skipper of this team, Borys Malinowski, who has been competing in the league in various teams for five years, meant that the impressive league cup will remain at the PwC headquarters in Olivia Centre for another year.

 

– I’m very happy that we managed to defend the title, especially looking at the amount of training that the competitors did. With us, experience and swimming in the league format paid off, so the cup stays with us. One more win and it will be ours forever – says Borys Malinowski, helmsman at PwC, with a smile.

 

It is worth noting that the first two teams – Dynatrace and Hear Studio – are newcomers to the competition, but their level of commitment was huge and they quickly matched or even surpassed the skills of other crews. Especially the attitude of the helmsman of the Hear Studio crew was admirable, as he commuted to Sopot from Warsaw for training almost week after week. As a result, he went from last place in the first round to an excellent second place. This shows that a sailing adventure awaits everyone, and the formula of integration and motivation on the water is a perfect solution for the development of your own contacts and your own business.

 

This is the third time in the history of the regatta that the crews of Olivia Centre have won it. This is the result of the constant presence of sailing enthusiasts on the water as part of the Olivia Yacht Club project – an informal club of water sports enthusiasts, gathered around Olivia and the main promoter of the club, Maciej Kotarski. Olivia Yacht Club is a project that was created together with the Olympic gold medalist Mateusz Kusznierewicz, and among the instructors there were also medalists of the Polish, European and world championships, so the adepts of water sports had the opportunity to develop their passions under the supervision of professional sailing staff.

 

“I am bursting with pride that I was able to take the first step in this spectacular chain of victories as the helmsman of the Olivia Centre crew in 2019. It should be added that we were trained for 2 years by the amazing Mateusz Kusznierewicz, who was the captain of the crew, and we always had a professional navigator on board. Remigiusz Wojciechowski from Bayer Global Business Services Gdańsk, Bartłomiej Glinka from Omida S.A. were also regular members of our team. Michał Krzepkowski from EPAM Polska and a professional navigator Mikołaj Staniul – says Maciej Kotarski, who is also the director of commercialization of Olivia Centre.

 

– The Bay of Gdańsk and its values are one of the most important distinguishing features of the Tri-City, which attracts people from all over Polish to the sea like a magnet. – emphasizes Bogusław Wieczorek, Plenipotentiary of the Management Board of Olivia Centre. – It would be a sin not to take full advantage of it, which is why for years in Olivia we have been trying to integrate the business environment around sailing, and not only in the season, and it must be admitted that there are fewer cruises in the season. The sea and the bay have meant that Gdańsk has been on the rise for years. Companies are increasingly moving their headquarters here. Moreover, it is easier for employers to recruit professional staff from other parts of Polish not only because of professional prospects, but also because of the high quality of life, and access to the beaches, sea and mountainous forests of the Tri-City Landscape Park is one of the key reasons why research shows that the happiest Poles live in the Tri-City – adds Bogusław Wieczorek.

 

 

About Olivia Yacht Club

 

The third edition of the Oliwa Neighbourhood Budget has ended!

Posted on by Katarzyna Halicka

Another pool of money goes to the inhabitants of Oliwa. We have completed the third edition of the Oliwa Neighbourhood Budget.

 

Projects in the field of neighbourhood integration, public recreational infrastructure and creative workshops for children are the projects that received funding from this year’s edition of Olivia’s neighbourhood budget, the results of which were announced on 15 September during the Olivia Festival.

 

The Oliwa Neighbourhood Budget (OBS) is an initiative to support projects important to the residents of Gdańsk Oliwa. Since 2019, residents of the district, educational institutions and public benefit organizations have been submitting their ideas for the development of Oliwa – the place where the Olivia Centre is also located. OBS was established on Olivia’s initiative, but its fund also includes one of the Gdańsk councillors, a local cultural animator Andrzej Stelmasiewicz. All previous editions of the neighbourhood budget have made it possible to co-finance projects with a total value of nearly PLN 50,000. Golden.

 

In this year’s edition of the Oliwa Neighbourhood Budget, a wide variety of projects were submitted, which covered areas such as integration, physical activity and education. Their initiators were both local social activists, scientists and residents of the district joined in groups.

 

The jury, consisting of councillors of the Oliwa district, teachers, cultural creators, local entrepreneurs and representatives of the Olivia Centre, decided to co-finance three projects: Sportowy Gaj, Neighbourhood in the Gate and Puppet Making Workshops. The first one involves the installation of publicly available physical exercise equipment on the premises of Primary School No. 35, providing training equipment for both the school’s students (during lessons) and other residents of Oliwa during non-school hours. The second one involves the organization of integration meetings in the autumn and winter period, providing an attraction for the youngest residents of the district, seniors, as well as guests from Ukraine who have settled in Oliwa. The third project that received funding is a puppet making workshop for a puppet theatre, which will take place in the Oliwa Library, Primary School No. 35 and the First Social Primary School at ul. Polanki 11 in the period from September 2022 to May 2023.

 

  • Sportowy Gaj is an infrastructure project submitted by Primary School No. 35 with Sports Departments in Gdańsk Oliwa.

 

  • Neighbourhood in the gate – a project submitted by Aniela Zienkiewicz, councillor of the Oliwa district, and Maja Grabkowska, social geographer, assistant professor at the Institute of Socio-Economic Geography and Spatial Management of the University of Gdańsk.

 

  • Puppet making workshops dedicated to the youngest inhabitants of Oliwa. It is an open art project aimed at children of early school age, which will be carried out periodically in the Oliwa Library, schools and a temporary home for Ukrainian children and their mothers at ul. Wita Stwosza 23.

 

“This year’s edition of the Oliwa Neighbourhood Budget was full of very well-thought-out and well-prepared projects ,” says Bogusław Wieczorek, Olivia Centre’s plenipotentiary, a member of the jury of the Oliwa Neighbourhood Budget. – During the jury’s deliberations, we had to devote a lot of time to discussing their importance for the local community, because, as every year, we wanted to co-finance projects that were diverse in their nature, and at the same time important for the residents of Oliwa. I believe that, as in previous years, this year’s selected projects will be noticed by the residents and will significantly contribute to meeting their needs.

 

 

Polish White Cross

Posted on by Katarzyna Halicka

Independent Poland 1918-2022

 

In 2018, 100 years have passed since the establishment of the Polish White Cross, an organization of important importance during the interwar period. The founders were Ignacy and Helena Paderewski, who lived in the United States for many years.

 

During World War I, the most important thing for the Paderewskis was to help Polish soldiers fighting in Europe and their relatives. The Paderewskis were strongly associated with Polish organizations, which turned into the Polish Central Rescue Committee. Despite their great involvement, they still wanted to help Poles, so they founded a new organization with similar ideas and activities to the Red Cross. The Red Cross was active in many countries, helping those in need. In Poland, there were far-reaching plans to create the Polish Red Cross, but the formalities turned out to be more important than help, due to the fact that Poland did not exist, it was under partitions. And it was this that inspired the couple to create the Polish White Cross. At the turn of January and February, at the Gotham Hotel in New York, a resolution was passed to establish an aid organization. The headquarters were moved to Chicago, and branches in Canada were established.

 

The hallmark and symbol of the organization is a white cross on a red field. It was used on banners, postage stamps, paramedics’ uniforms, official writings, and even on children’s toys. The Polish White Cross lit a spark of hope for regaining independence. At the same time, the president of the United States was Woodrow Wilson, who included in his peace program that it was necessary for an independent Polish state to be established. In 1917, the Polish Army was formed in France, and shortly thereafter, the m.in. Thanks to Ignacy Paderewski, nearly 25,000 Poles living in the United States joined its ranks. Many of them could not even speak their native language, but they left anyway to be under the command of gene. Józef Haller to fight for an independent and free Poland.

 

Fundraising to help Poles was organized in various ways, but the most popular was the sale of dolls specially sewn for this occasion, which are still called “Mrs. Paderewska’s dolls”. Helena Paderewska, with the help of Stefania Łazarska, a renowned painter, began to activate artists all over the world to create artistic projects of applied art. Stefania Łazarska, together with Maria Mickiewiczówna, the eldest daughter of Adam Mickiewicz, founded the “Polish Artistic Studio” (AAP – Ateliers Artistiques Polonais) and started producing rag dolls. The idea turned out to be a great success. The first “Polish” doll was personally designed by Łazarska and made of materials cut from the artist’s clothes. French stores, having learned how many well-known Polish artists were involved in their production, responded with great interest. In a short period of time, there was a surprisingly rapid increase in doll sales. Twenty artists started their work, and after a few months 50 people were already producing Polish rag dolls and wooden toys.

 

In March 1915, the puppets were presented to Helena Paderewska, gaining her recognition and a promise to take care of the fate of these “children of emigration”. In the summer of the same year, Paderewska left for America, after which she requested that her puppets be sent to New York. After receiving a shipment of 1000 dolls, she presented these artistic designs to her American friends. In America, they were called “Madame Paderewski’s Dolls”.

 

 

American artists, writers and critics liked the puppets and their mission, and they expressed it in numerous, richly illustrated articles and American magazines. The demand for these dolls grew so much that the entire colony of Polish artists in Paris at that time was exclusively engaged in the production of dolls, ensuring a steady income. However, it should not be imagined that the sale went smoothly and was easy. Helena Paderewska personally presented this “child of Polish emigration” to those interested, and many of the funds that contributed to this noble cause were the result of her dedication and perseverance. U.S. auctions raised $25,000, selling about 10,000 dolls. Doll prices ranged from $4 to $15. The atelier in Paris was a place of refuge for all sorts of people – university professors, newspaper workers, lawyers, blind and mutilated soldiers, children. All have found bread and shelter until “better times” come. “I am very happy ,” Ignacy Paderewski told his wife, “thatbecause of these dolls, the flower of Polish youth is able to survive and the lives of many Polish children have been saved.”

 

Today, Helena Paderewska’s famous dolls can be seen at the Polish Museum of America in Chicago. The permanent exhibition dedicated to Ignacy Jan Paderewski presents three dolls, including one dressed as a nurse of the Polish White Cross. All of them are an expression of the idea of helping the Polish society, Helena Paderewska’s passion and the involvement of the Polish American community in the organization of this help.

 

 

Learn more

Gdynia – a city from the sea

Sport after regaining independence

Ignacy Mościcki. How did the king of nitrogen become president?

 

 

 

Source:

http://pck.malopolska.pl/64-czy-wiesz-co-to-byly-lalki-paderewskiej/

https://niepodlegla.gov.pl/o-niepodleglej/polski-bialy-krzyz/

 

 

Pinktober timetable

Posted on by Bogusław Wieczorek

The first(s) win!

Around the world, October is recognized as Breast Cancer Awareness Monthpeople struggling with the disease. The distinctive pink ribbon, the international symbol of the fight against breast cancer, lit up Olivia Star’s façade on the first day of the month and will shine again twice more: on October 15 and 31. Once again, we want to remind the residents of the Tri-City about life-saving prevention.

 

On behalf of the Energa Group Volunteers and the Orlen Foundation, we would like to invite you to participate in educational events and events supporting people affected by cancer, as part of the “First Ones Win!” campaign. You can show your support by participating in the pink ribbon run, prevention workshops, or sewing pillows for women undergoing chemotherapy. Together we can do more!

 

Pink Ribbon

14.10. | Olivia Centre patio | 11:00

It is a symbolic march with which we want to express solidarity and support for people affected by breast cancer. Among our Residents there are also oncological patients. Let’s show that we keep our fingers crossed for them and support them with warm thoughts!

 

Each participant of the march will receive a pink ribbon, symbolizingall over the world fight breast cancer and a sweet, pink cupcake. During the event, bras will be collected, which will be handed over for recycling, and the funds obtained will support the activities of the “Support at the Start” foundation and the Polish Amazons Social Movement association.

 

Let us know you will!

Educational workshops

19.10. | Olivia Sky Club | 10:00 – 16:00

We invite you to a free workshop with Lidia Dyndor, known in the media as “OnkoFitka Lidka”. The educator will conduct workshops on breast prophylaxis and self-examination. During the 1.5-hour meeting, participants will have the opportunity to work with the use of special, proprietary suits for learning how to examine breasts. – A lot of women don’t get tested because they don’t want to find anything. During trainings I try to demystify it. We examine ourselves not to find something, but to make sure that everything is fine – says OnkoFitka Lidka.

 

Book your place today:

First round of workshops 10:00 – 11:30

Second round of workshops 2:00 p.m. – 3:30 p.m.

Film screening

19.10. | Olivia Sky Club | 11:45 – 12:15

Apreview of the film “On Time Before Breast Cancer” by the Pink Butterfly Association operating at the Gdańsk UCK

Sewing heart pillows

19.10. | Olivia Sky Club |

12:30 p.m. – 1:3 p.m

. 5

You don’t have to be a master tailor to join in sewing. You don’t have to have a whole hour – you can just drop by for a moment. The materials will already be partially prepared, and the task of the participants will be to complete the filling and finish the pillow with thread. The shape of these unique pillows is not only symbolic, in addition to comfort, the pillows support the convalescence of patients after mastectomy. All sewn hearts will be given to patients oncology during chemotherapy.

Photography Exhibition

On this day, the Sky Club (Olivia Tower, 12 p.) will host an exhibition of photographs depicting women undergoing treatment and those who have won the fight against cancer. The exhibition was organized as part of the “Feel Yourself” campaign, encouraging women to self-examine their breasts. One of the protagonists of the exhibition is our guest, educator Lidia Dyndor.

Tests in a mobile vehicle

25.10. | Olivia Centre (Parking C) | 9:00-19:00

A modern mobile vehicle will be erected in car park C in Olivia Centre, in which every woman who has been registered in advance will be able to undergo a specialist and quick examination. We invite ladies over 35 years of age and younger – ladies under 35 years of age only with a referral from a doctor. The number of places is limited. Prior registration is required at: 885 599 600.

 

We cordially invite you not only to participate in our events, but above all to take care of your health and that of your loved ones!

Olivia Centre has published its first ESG report

Posted on by Katarzyna Halicka

If the real estate market, following the example of the youth “word of the year”, were to create its ranking of the hottest topics of 2021, then Environmental, Social and Corporate Governance, or ESG, would be a concept that would be at the forefront. Despite the fact that it is mentioned in all cases during every industry conference and in numerous publications related to the real estate market, only 33% of market representatives prepare reports defining their good practices in the field of environmental and social policy management, and only 11% of companies make them available to a wide audience. Olivia Centre has just been included in this small group, as it has published its first summary of initiatives in line with the ESG policy.

 

Olivia Centre is the largest business centre in northern Poland and one of the largest in Central and Eastern Europe. It consists of 9 buildings located in the heart of the Tri-City agglomeration. In recent months, Olivia has been developing projects focusing on four key areas, which allowed for the effective implementation of the assumed development strategy. These areas are: sustainability and environment, communication and stakeholder outreach, community focus, and safety. The report prepared by us fits perfectly into the long-standing policy of the entire Tonsa Group (the owner of Olivia Centre), based not only on maximizing returns, but also on focusing on social benefits and care for the natural environment.

 

 

Ecology

– We are aware of the responsibility resting on our shoulders towards the region, the country and the ecological planet from the perspective of a sector that has a significant impact on shaping trends and good practices on the market. – says Agata Kwapisiewicz, ESG Officer at Olivia Centre. “We know that the process of building new properties and maintaining them for many years is of great importance for the climate. This importance has been highlighted, among others, in the report “Responsible investments. ESG in the real estate market” by ThinkCo from 2021, according to which the construction sector is responsible for about 30% of greenhouse gas emissions globally and consumes about 40% of energy. That is why putting people and the environment at the centre of thinking about real estate is our most important task.

For this reason, among others, 2021 was announced in Olivia as the Year of Ecology, during which numerous ecological initiatives were launched. Each decision was based on care for sustainable development, a positive assessment of the impact of the company’s operations on the natural environment, and a focus on minimizing the carbon footprint. For example, all of Olivia’s office buildings meet the strict requirements set by the building certification systems BREEAM and WELL. In addition, each of the actions taken is intended to contribute to the achievement of the ambitious objective of by the end of 2025, 50% of the electricity consumed in Olivia Centre came from renewable sources. The Tonsa Group’s commitment to reducing its carbon footprint is also related to its focus on cooperation with local business partners, who are the as many as 99% of Olivia’s co-operators. The analysis of the activities carried out so far has also made it possible to change the policy in the field of waste treatment. As a result, the amount of metal and plastic waste was reduced by as much as 26%, and residual waste by 24%. On the other hand, the amount of glass sent for recycling increased by 16%. As the first office center in Poland, we implemented Tork PaperCircle – an innovative service for recycling used paper towels. This type of waste management has an important dimension. Thanks to its implementation, the reduction of CO2 consumption generated in connection with paper production reaches 40%. Now exactly 100% of the towels are recycled and can be reused.

 

Stakeholders

Olivia has been implementing a number of projects for years, thanks to which it can be considered a leader in the field of involvement in the local community. The solutions we implement are analyzed at the planning stage in terms of the expectations and needs of various stakeholder groups. They are based on social participation and are often carried out with the participation of the inhabitants of Gdańsk, including the Oliwa district.

 

“We also try to talk about the district in an interesting, non-standard way, promoting Oliwa and bringing its history closer. In a series of original films entitled “Oliwa As You Don’t Know It” we showed extraordinary places in Oliwa and extraordinary people who create the atmosphere and history of this place. – says Bogusław Wieczorek, Plenipotentiary of the Management Board of Olivia Centre. – With a view to the dynamic development of the district, we co-financed local initiatives as part of the Oliwa Neighbourhood Budget. As part of the project, we financed the Christmas Festival in Oliwa, the Oliwa Recreation Station, physical activities for people affected by Parkinson’s disease and many other important initiatives.

We cooperate with numerous organizations to stimulate entrepreneurship and optimal development of modern cities. Among them are the Employers of Pomerania, the City of Gdańsk and the Gdańsk University of Technology. Among the joint initiatives, it is worth mentioning, for example, the scientific project CRUNCH. Olivia Centre is implementing it (under the aegis of the Gdańsk University of Technology) in an international consortium. The presentation of the project took place at the Venice Biennale.

 

In Olivia, there is a group called Obywatelk, which implements a number of local social initiatives. As part of it, a collection of computers and laptops for children from Pomeranian schools was organized to ensure the possibility of remote learning during the Covid-19 pandemic and to counteract the digital exclusion of children who previously did not have computers. Together with Caritas of the Archdiocese of Gdansk, the members of the Social Activist group took care of the elderly by providing them with m.in. food and Easter packages. Throughout the pandemic, Olivia financed and delivered protective clothing and lunches to employees of two hospitals in Gdansk. Olivia’s community is an active, integrated group that is not only a market differentiator of the Gdańsk facility, but is often recognized by residents as an important factor influencing the satisfaction and sense of fulfillment of their employees.

 

A number of projects carried out in Olivia have their origin in the community of residents, which is part of the decision-making process regarding the solutions prepared in the centre. The most important result of this cooperation is the commissioning of Olivia Garden. It is an exotic garden with an area of 740 m2 and a height of 9 meters, with a mezzanine of more than 100m2. The garden was planted with 4,000 plants representing more than 150 species. In 2021 won an award in the CIJ Awards Poland competition, in the Best Interior/Exterior Design category, and in 2022 the European Property Award. The aim of the project was to create a space thanks to which you can relax, calm down and rebuild inner harmony, which is extremely pleasant among such a large number of delightful plants, reaching up to 11 meters. The space of Olivia Garden complemented the concept of a modern centre, open to employees and residents of the Tri-City, where the needs of stakeholders are treated as a priority.

 

Olivia is still being developed in the spirit of a multifunctional and friendly centre. In addition to office space, a number of services are available here, m.in. a medical center, a pharmacy, a hairdresser, a kindergarten, a primary school, a high school, 8 restaurants and cafes, an exotic garden, a bakery or a fitness club. At the top of the tallest building, Olivia Star, there is a public viewpoint loved by locals and tourists, restaurants run by Paco Perez – winner of 5 Michelin stars, and an event and conference center. This makes it a friendly and accessible place for the entire local and international community.

 

Safety

The report also includes a report on the steps taken to ensure the safety of residents and visitors to the centre. The department responsible for ensuring the safety of the facility consists of 75% certified paramedics, and all of Olivia’s employees and associates have been trained in health and safety and first aid. The WELL Health & Safety Rating certificate, obtained in 2021 and confirmed a year later, confirmed that Olivia Centre is the safest place to work in the world, as Olivia met all certification criteria in 100% in all 25 categories analysed. No other business center in the world has climbed to this level of security. Such a result is a proof of the highest quality of services provided and solutions implemented. A unique solution implemented by us is air ionization. This process is used in the most prestigious facilities of the world, which includes m.in. The White House, Harvard University or the Presidential Palace in Abu Dhabi.

 

“We have been and are aware of the need to build and maintain our buildings sustainably. – emphasizes Maciej Grabski, investor of Olivia Centre. –We know that the irresponsible use of natural resources and energy is ethically, financially and ecologically costly. In the coming year, we intend to develop this area by focusing on the evolution of our goals and objectives in the field of sustainable development, which are commonly divided into three spheres – environment, society and corporate governance, which together form ESG. The ESG priority is to further structure and systematize our activities in terms of sustainable development, and the challenge for the next 5 years is to maintain the status of Olivia Centre as a safe, healthy and friendly work and leisure environment, regardless of the changes affecting the working lives of people around the world. All our activities are carried out in accordance with the law and in accordance with the current trends and directions in business, which we also set. We are an integral part of the Tri-City and make a significant contribution to the regional business and economy. Olivia attracts investments and provides jobs. But that’s not all. It also organizes numerous cultural, social, sports and other active leisure activities. The purpose of the report is to give stakeholders an overview of our impact on the local economy, environment and society.

Methodology

The report is based on the international GRI reporting standards and the TCFD (Task Force on Climate-Related Financial Disclosures) guidelines for climate disclosures.

 

– Tonsa developed it despite the fact that it is not obliged to prepare a non-financial report, but taking into account the expectations of stakeholders and legislative changes, including the CSRD Directive, it has already decided to prepare a sustainability report. This decision is based on the desire to communicate openly with our stakeholders and to identify important aspects related to the environment. On the other hand, the use of objective standards and guidelines will allow them to be compared with the market. says Bogusław Wieczorek.

 

 

Download the full 2021 ESG report
Download the full 2021 ESG report

Work and chill at the Work & Chill Station in Olivia Star!

Posted on by Katarzyna Halicka

We invite you to the first floor of Olivia Star. It is here that we have prepared a fantastic space for you, where you can chill and work.

 

Subdued colors, comfortable sofas, armchairs, and even chaise longues (yes, yes!) are something for those who value casual comfort. For traditionalists, we have tables, desks and chairs. Everything is beautiful, tasteful, elegant and ergonomic.

 

You can just sit here (to relax), you can lie down (because why not), you can work (sitting, lying down or lying down), you can meet a contractor here, you can talk about something as a team. And by the way, you can drink excellent coffee here! There is an express, but self-service applies.

 

We have prepared the zone together with our Resident, Nowy Styl.

 

All employees of companies located in Olivia Star move around the building with access cards, so they can freely enter (or drive) to the first floor of this mega zone. Employees of companies from other Olivia buildings go to the reception desk as usual to pick up their access card to the first level of Olivia Star. In other words, the access rules adopted for all Olivia buildings apply here.

 

Enjoy!

 

 

PS. remember that this is not the only space in Olivia where you will feel work-life balance. We constantly invite you to Olivia Garden, which is green all year round, Linden Avenue (while it is still beautiful autumn) or to the Olivia Star Observation Floor. If you work at Olivia Prime, you can always take a breather on the roof terraces or take advantage of the last days of sunshine by sitting in the loggias.