I don’t think we had time to boast that this year Olivia Centre is the main partner of LinkedinLocal Tricity. And here we are after the first meeting in the new partnership formula. On the 34th floor of Olivia Star, with a view of the entire Tri-City metropolis, a crowd gathered and in our opinion it was phenomenal.
From the very beginning, Olivia has been a business hub that is supposed to connect experts from various industries. LinkedIn Local plays exactly the same role. It’s the most natural collaboration you can imagine. And if you add a substantive program to it, there is nothing else to do but wait for the next edition.
Fantastic lectures have been given by Izabela Turczyńska-Buszan, a legal advisor who has been translating legal language into human language for entrepreneurs for 15 years, a Tedx speaker, a lecturer, and Agnieszka Wnuk, who deals with B2B marketing and cooperates with entrepreneurs on a daily basis in the field of consulting planning marketing and sales activities.
The networking sessions were led by Karolina Rymarczyk from O4 Coworking.
The hosts of the event were Wojciech Wołoszyk (organizer of Linkedin Local meetings in the Tri-City, Linkedin enthusiast and expert, lawyer and court expert) and Kacper Wołoszyk (co-organizer of the LinkedIn Local Tri-City event series since 2024). Congratulations!
First opinions:
“A phenomenal event, the bar jumped again, memories and impressions unforgettable. I will be happy to read the report. Thank you for an interesting conversation, great speeches and I am impatiently counting down the time until the next meeting.” (Mrs. Julia).
“It was a great event done at the highest level!” (Mrs. Ilona).
“Last night? Absolutely unique! I spent it, like many of you, on LinkedinLocal Tricity – an event that always combines content with a fantastic atmosphere. Meetings with you are always great energy, inspiring conversations and a specific dose of knowledge. It’s wonderful to see how our Tri-City community is growing stronger!” (Ms. Aleksandra)
LinkedIn Local is a grassroots initiative that aims to bring virtual connections from the LinkedIn platform to the real world. During the events, you will listen to many interesting lectures, but above all, it will be a time to meet new people and build relationships.
There are already rumors that the next meeting will take place in April, so… See you!
For the seventh time, Energa Obrót is organising the “Share the Heat” campaign. Of course, we are involved in it and we invite you to help. It has been known for a long time that only together we can do more! Pets – cats and dogs – need very specific help. Please read what we collect for the children under our care Pomeranian Foundation Brothers Minor and Foundation for Puppies Judyta, Tri-City Branch. We received letters from those organizations that indicated the greatest of the largest needs.
TIME AND PLACE OF THE MEETING:
Olivia Prime B | February 17 – March 2
WHAT DO WE COLLECT FOR DOGS?
KARMA:
Brit Monoprotein wet food with rabbit
Mleko dla szczeniąt Royal Canin Babydog Milk
Baltica Adult Senior dry food
Beef rumen
Beef ears
Pork ears
Lungs
CLEANING PRODUCTS:
Floor cleaners
Washing powders
Fabric softeners
Dishwasher tablets
Latex gloves in various sizes
Paper towels
Cloths/scourers
Cloths/cloths
WHAT DO WE COLLECT FOR KITTENS?
KARMA:
high-meat wet food (e.g. Gourmet Gold, Smilla, Dolina Noteci, Bozita, Winston Bio, Rafi czarna, Coshida Pure Taste, Maxi Natural, Brit)
BLANKETS, TOWELS, ACCESSORIES:
Blankets
Duvet covers
Towels
Messages
Kitten accessories
Litter: any type
Toys for cats
Scratching posts
CLEANING PRODUCTS
Dish soaps
Disinfectants
Paper towels
Dishwasher tablets
POMERANIAN FOUNDATION FRIARS MINOR
Animals have been with us since the dawn of time. By domesticating the animal, man has thus assumed responsibility for its fate. The goal of the Pomeranian Brothers Minor Foundation is to completely eliminate animal homelessness through educational activities, legislative changes and support for people working for animals. We spread the idea of respecting the right to a dignified life of animals alongside man.
– Since 2017, we have been fighting against animal homelessness, mainly cats, in the Tri-City and the surrounding area. We catch animals for castration to reduce the percentage of homelessness. We treat, socialize, love and look for new homes for our charges. Often, cats after traffic accidents, chronically ill or extremely exhausted end up under our wings. About 180 cats are waiting for a better life in our cat houses.” – says Ania from the Foundation. The Pomeranian Foundation of Friars Minor runs two shelters where it socializes and prepares homeless cats for adoption.
We are the voice of those who do not have a voice – so join us – we are waiting for your support.
It is a place that has become a response to the needs of “invisible” dogs – that is, those who find it difficult to find homes. The Tri-City branch takes care of senior dogs, anxiety dogs, those who have been through a lot, as well as adolescents who need to be taught how to be a dog in the human world. Of course, puppies too, because the judite style must also be marked by the sea.
– We accept them not to make them stay with us, but to change their lives. Our strength lies in temporary homes, where these pets learn what love, a couch, a leash, and normal everyday life are – say the girls from the Foundation, Marta and Kinga. – This is possible because part of our team has a behavioral education. Thanks to our work and the work of invaluable volunteers, we bring back wonderful, tailed friends to the world, who go to their own tailor-made families.”
In addition to rescuing puppies and dogs that are sick and disabled, the Judyta Foundationhelps dogs who are most difficult to help.
And this is happening right here – in the Tri-City Branch. So, Dear Friends, let’s help change the world!
Olivia Pulse – another investment carried out by the Olivia Home development company – offers turnkey apartments located at Olivia Centre. Poland’s largest business centre with its first residential premises will become a full mix-use project.
Olivia Pulse is a premium class apartment building with 245 apartments being prepared, designed for diverse groups of future residents. The facility is being built in the Gdańsk business hub, where several thousand people work on a daily basis, so the offer of long-term lease is largely addressed to employees of companies located in Olivia or visiting managers, supervising the work of teams of residents, as well as students of nearby universities and their academic staff. The premises will be available to managers delegated to branches for shorter contracts or implementing projects in the O4 Coworking space, as well as guests of conference spaces and participants of events in Olivia Star.
Olivia Pulse is being built not only near Olivia Centre, but also Alchemia and the university campus, a place where the most prestigious global brands have their offices, in a location distinguished by the resilience of business, the energy of young people working in the most dynamically developing enterprises, including those operating in coworking space, which is very popular.
The investment will be characterized by two zones: a four-storey part located directly at Grunwaldzka Avenue and a 13-storey tower rising above the podium, located in the background. Both parts will differ in their aesthetics. Part of the podium was designed based on inspirations from the architecture of Oliwa, and its external ceramic façade refers in its style to the expressionism of the brick Forest Sanatorium, located in the Naval Hospital complex in Oliwa. The upper part will be finished with a bright, noble material, allowing you to give the object lightness and freshness of style.
The areas of the premises range from 25 to 63 m.kw, and those on the ground floors have gardens with an area of 12 to 38 m.kw. On the fourth floor of the podium, there will be a public terrace, and most of the premises will have private loggias, balconies or terraces at their disposal. Each apartment is equipped with air conditioning, high-quality interiors (in 3 styles to choose from). On the ground floor of the building, there will be a space for meetings and joint work, as well as a service premises where services will be provided to the residents of Pulse, employees of Olivia Centre and residents of Oliwa. The investor is preparing the facility for BREEAM certification, which confirms the high quality of workmanship, the class of materials used and the construction process. The certification confirms the application of the highest standards of sustainable development and environmental protection in the facility and allows you to optimize running costs and fees.
Our offer is addressed to investors from Poland and abroad, whose intention is to supplement their investment portfolio with one of the best, strategic locations in Poland. Excellent location in the immediate vicinity of the largest multifunctional business centre in Poland hosting global brands, over 200 companies, the vicinity of an academic campus with the planned development of a rich sports infrastructure, excellent communication in the form of bus, tram, city and long-distance trains, and above all, synergy with Olivia Centre by providing all basic services located on site. The immediate vicinity is also a conference and restaurant center in Olivia Star, hosting 300,000 people a year, very often declaring their willingness to use the accommodation base. These advantages make the location unique not only for people looking for a reliable and maintenance-free product, but also for tenants as a place for long-term residence – says Ewa Nowicka, sales director and member of the management board of Olivia Home. We offer a premium product in the segment of investment apartments, a facility with access to a wide range of accompanying services, such as school, kindergarten, medical care, fitness center and many others, allowing not only to take full advantage of the comfort of living in the city center, but also of Olivia’s unique infrastructure.The residents of Olivia Pulse will have at their disposal, m.in. Olivia Garden, an observation deck with a panorama of the entire Tri-City, 12 restaurants and cafes, including the aforementioned restaurants awarded by the prestigious Michelin gastronomic guide, and parking facilities for over 2000 spaces.
Importantly, each apartment is offered for sale with full finishing and equipment. Buyers currently have three styles at their disposal: harmony, vital and life. Their design is the result of the work of architects of the award-winning architectural studio Design Anatomyin cooperation with the Olivia Home team. The studio’s portfolio includes over 200 thousand projects. m.kw. of offices, a viewing floor on the 32nd floor of Olivia Star, a conference space on the 34th floor, as well as numerous architectural and interior design projects located throughout the Tri-City. The price of the premises therefore includes not only the finishing of floors and bathrooms, but also their full furnishing with furniture, lamps and accessories in the rooms, as well as kitchen and bathroom furniture based on the design of recognized architects.
The premises are offered together with lease management agreements, run by a company from the Olivia Centre group, which will deal with their promotion, rental, administration and ongoing servicing, and its team will consist of experienced property management managers from the Tri-City market, Olivia Centre group and Olivia Home, which currently manages the PRS building in Gdańsk Zaspa developed with one of the world’s largest companies in the construction industry, Kajima Properties.
By offering turnkey apartments in the premium segment, we want to provide investors with the highest possible level of comfort, taking on the burdensome finishing works of all premises. Based on many years of experience of our staff in the field of commercial facility management, but also PRS, including our own Facility Management service and security department, we are able to provide the highest level of professional operator care. Our intention is to provide a maintenance-free product, hence all obligations related to the current lease, administration, maintenance and renovation and replacement works of the premises remain our responsibility. What is extremely important, we provide constant and direct access to a wide and diverse group of tenants, including, above all, business and conference tenants – says Ewa Nowicka.
The construction of Olivia Pulse has already begun, and the planned date of acceptance of the premises is the 3rd quarter of 2026. The new investment will ensure the comfort of living in a 5-minute city, where all the necessary functions will be available to residents in just 5 minutes. Living in the building at Olivia Centre, due to its central, strategic location, offers easy access to many attractions of the Tri-City, also thanks to easy public transport connections, including tram and bus stops, Fast Urban Railway and Pomeranian Metropolitan Railway. It is also close to the platforms of express, regional and Pendolino trains in Gdańsk Oliwa. A short distance away is also the Tri-City Landscape Park, loved by lovers of recreational and competitive sports, and Olivia Beach is only 2.5 km away in a straight line. No less important is the proximity of the University of Gdańsk campus, where 25,000 students are students. People. This represents an excellent location potential for investors who buy an apartment with a view to a future place to live for their children while studying, but also for those who are thinking about buying a long-term rental for students of a nearby university.
The direction of the project’s development is to create a place not only for work and quality leisure – emphasizes Bogusław Wieczorek, the representative of the management board of Olivia Centre. The construction of Olivia Pulse for our project means a completely new level of service that we provide to our residents and the closure of the buckle that signifies the fully multifunctional nature of Olivia. We want to be part of the city, a place to live, work, entertain and spend quality time in comfortable, perfectly designed and well-thought-out spaces. The idea of a 5-minute city where all services are available in one place is the next step we are taking, still thinking about bringing high value to the city and its residents. I am convinced that with this project we will once again prove that Olivia is an important part of the development plans of the city and the region, introducing a new quality to the services and quality of life of our agglomeration.
Olivia Prize is a competition with traditions! For the fifth time, we will award companies, teams and individuals whose interesting ideas change the world. The near one and the one far. It has been known for a long time that Olivia employs creative people, full of passion, innovative ideas and a big heart, so important in social and charity campaigns. The Olivia Prize competition was created to appreciate and emphasize the outstanding activity of Residents who are involved in various fields. Seeing how much you are doing, we have changed our competition categories a bit. So now think back to 2024 and remember how much you have done. And, of course, submit your projects, your people, your companies to the competition! The form is simple!
This year, we will award prizes in three categories:
Olivia Impact – for economic or business undertakings carried out by the Resident’s company or entities from its group.
Olivia Harmony – for social or ecological projects carried out by the Resident’s company or entities from its group. This category is under the honorary patronage of the United Nations Global Compact (UNGC).
Olivia Everyday Hero – for an individual, employee or associate of a Resident, for social or ecological involvement.
There will also be two special prizes:
Olivia Connect – for business environment institutions influencing the Resident or entities from his group.
Olivia Hero of the Future – for a young scientist associated with a Tri-City university, who can demonstrate success in the field of R+D or commercialization of research results. This category was under the patronage of the Fahrenheit Union of Universities.
The Olivia Prize 2024 jury will consist of:
Moksa Marta (O4 Coworking),
Sylwia Mrozowska (Univentum Labs),
Jolanta Szydłowska (GFKM),
Grzegorz Borowski (Infoshare),
Paweł Jemioł (Nordea),
Mateusz Kusznierewicz,
Remigiusz Wojciechowski (Bayer).
The contest is exactly for you! Do you have doubts? Check out the results of previous editions:2020, 2021, 2022, 2023.
You have until March 16 to apply.Click and apply for the competition! The official announcement of the results will take place on March 27 during a ceremonial gala.
The award ceremony will take place on March 27 on the 34th floor of Olivia Star. The gala program includes a lecture by Dr. Jacek Sokołowski, author of the book “Transnation” – a broad analysis of the evolution of the political system in Poland, with particular emphasis on the formation of a new middle class.
Jacek Sokołowski, PhD
Born in 1975, he graduated from the Jagiellonian University in 2000; in 2005 he defended his doctoral dissertation at the University of Heidelberg, and since then he has been combining legal practice with academic work. Interests: economic analysis of law in the context of collective decisions in private and public law, law-making in empirical terms, behavior of parliamentary groups, judiciary as an element of the political system. Author of, among others: Selected aspects of the functioning of the Sejm in the years 1997-2007 and co-creator of the ISQAL database system for quantitative analysis of parliamentary votes.
This year we are initiating a new series entitled “Olivia on the trail”. Maybe we will be able to reveal to you places you don’t know yet? In any case, we will show them, suggest what is worth seeing and, hopefully, encourage you to get to know them.
First of all, we will use the suggestions of hiking routes that you will find in our album “Oliwa off the trail” (did you know that we developed and published such an album together with Tomasz Strug, a councillor of the Oliwa district?). This is a unique publication, Oliwa seen through the eyes of its lover and long-time resident, Tomasz. An amazing, extremely interesting guide to unknown places and stories not fully told was created. The album can be found in the lobbies of all our buildings, so we invite you to take a look at its pages.
Tomek Strug’s texts are illustrated with beautiful photos. Here are their authors: Iwo Ledwożyw, Dawid Linkowski, Aleksandra Majewska, Tomek Strug, Sebastian Wilczewski and Krzysztof Bednarski, Daria Boba, Zbigniew Czajka, Izabela Dembkowska, Krzysztof Hewelt, Iwona Karpińska, Agnieszka Suchodolska-Wamka and Beata Zarach from the Oliwia Photography Club.
As part of good neighbourly cooperation, the project of the map of Oliwa was made available to us by the City Initiative Association. Its author is Adam Świerżewski.
And as an encouragement, a few words from the introduction (by way of introduction):)
“Oliwa is a unique district, a kind of time machine. From ultra-modern or almost futuristic places, in a few moments we can move to the past and taste the best that past generations have left behind. Of course, the first associations with Oliwa are the most important icons for centuries: the “Pomeranian Wawel”, i.e. the Oliwa Cathedral, the Abbots’ Palace and the legendary Oliwa Park. Further connotations are the ubiquitous greenery and magnificent buildings, created over the last three centuries. Unlike the destroyed Main and Old Town in Gdańsk, Oliwa gives a sense of authenticity. It is also determined by lesser-known buildings, quiet streets and a huge number of details and signs connecting us with the past. I invite you to discover the “unusual” Oliwa, located off the tourist trail.”
In the first episode of our series “Olivia on the trail” we invite you to visit the Water Forge in the Valley of Gravity (route in the album: “Forest and Water”)
The Water Forge is a still functioning souvenir of the golden times of industrialization of Oliwa based on the waters of the Oliwa Stream. The forge, called the “hammer house” because of the two large hammers working in it, was mentioned for the first time in written sources in 1597. It was built in a deep depression, below the dam damming the waters of the merging Oliwa and Prochowy streams. It worked continuously until 1948.
The wooden building consists of two parts. They were erected on both sides of the Oliwa Stream and the roofed pier. Inside there are three antique water wheels. Two with a diameter of 4 meters drive quarter-ton hammers, the third wheel with a diameter of 3.1 meters drives eccentric shears – a guillotine. The hammers can reach speeds of up to 250 strokes per minute. In the mid-nineteenth century, the forge processed over 186 tons of iron per year. One blacksmith was able to forge about 1000 studs (nails of the time) during the day.
The forge has been a branch of the Museum of Gdańsk for several years. Occasional steel forging demonstrations are organized there. However, it has happened in the last two decades that larger orders were carried out here, thanks to which the hammer mill worked as it did centuries ago. The fence of the nearby Schwabe Manor, known as the “Dwór Oliwski” hotel, was built in this forge.
Since the Middle Ages, as many as 24 plants commonly known as mills have operated on the Oliwa Stream. These were: forges, grain mills, sawmills, powder magazines, fulling mills where cloth was made, breweries or even mills for grinding bones or wood bark.
Several hours filled with workshops, discussions, lectures and networking. The LeadWell 2024 conference organized by O4 Coworking attracted a hundred managers and team leaders who wanted to expand their competences in the area of management and leadership. The event was aimed not only at providing practical knowledge, but also at creating a space for the exchange of experiences, mutual inspiration and the development of skills necessary for effective team management in a dynamically changing world.
LeadWell’s great strength was the workshops conducted by practitioners. Among the twelve proposals, there was a space to talk about building a team based on shared values, time for training in providing effective feedback, for advice on building your own brand on LinkedIn or taking care of your well-being.
In addition to the substantive sessions, the conference also offered a number of opportunities to establish new contacts. The final networking meeting in Olivia Garden fostered a relaxed atmosphere. Such decompression after a day full of inspiration was an ideal opportunity to exchange impressions, establish relationships and informal conversations.
“When I read Leadwell’s agenda, I grabbed my head. Three rooms, and in each of them not one, nor two, nor three, but four (after all, O4!) workshop sessions, plus two lectures and two discussions, networking and afterparty. It is probably impossible that it will work. And yet! Diversity, relaxed atmosphere and many, many smiling people, drawing value by the handfuls are the best proof of this.” – Natalia Florek from Personal Branding sums up the conference.
Welcome to LeadWell Meetup
The LeadWell conference will return in the fall of 2025. In the meantime, we invite you to open a NEW LEADWELL CHAPTER with Olivia and O4 Coworking.We invite you to free LEADWELL MEETUP events! If you want to be a better leader and be effective on a daily basis, join! The January unique meeting is addressed to team leaders, managers and people responsible for team building.
Why?
You will gain practical knowledge directly from leaders.
You will learn new tools and ways of management.
You will take part in debates and workshop sessions.
You will meet representatives of many companies and different industries.
You will exchange experiences in a community of managers facing similar challenges as you.
In the worst case, you will learn something interesting and meet great people.
At best – you will become part of a great community and join the process of building leadership competences.
What’s on the agenda of the meeting?
3 lessons from LeadWell: key takeaways from Marta Moxa from O4 Coworking that every leader should know and a few words about the LeadWell Academy.
Debate “Do leaders suck?”: a conversation about authentic leadership, focused on responsibility, communication, self-awareness and relationships. The challenges of a modern leader will be discussed without unnecessary sugarcoating by Ewa Sowińska, ESO Audit Partner, ESG Mentor; Ewa Szabuniewicz, Human Capital Expert; Bartłomiej Brach, Founder Brighlight and Paweł Korycki, Vice President of SprzedajFirmę.com
BYOP Workshop – Bring Your Own Problem: talk, integrate and develop your network in the form of thematic and networking tables.
By attending the event, you also have a chance to win a seat at the LeadWell Academy and Conference.
The Bayer Group’s office in Olivia Centre in Gdańsk has been recognized by the editors of Property Design as one of the most interesting and modern in Poland.
The design by Design Anatomy combines a modern approach to workspace with local heritage. Not only does it functionally support the work of teams, but it also tells the story of Oliwa – one of the most beautiful districts of Gdańsk. The colors of the office refer to the greenery of the Tri-City Landscape Park, surrounding the Olivia office center, and to the reddish red brick tiles of Oliwa tenement houses. What is more, the entire project was created in the spirit of less waste, perfectly fitting into the new strategy of friendly workplaces (Bayer Next Normal Office Concept), which Bayer is implementing globally.
Office in the Spirit of Less Waste
The implementation of the project in the spirit of less waste allowed not only to optimize the costs of office modernization, but also to minimize the negative impact of the entire rearrangement process on the environment. What distinguishes this type of project? Maximum focus on reducing resource waste, the use of modular structural elements, precise space planning, multifunctionality of rooms or optimal use of existing infrastructure, e.g. partition walls, ceilings, ventilation systems.
Flexible and Welcoming Spaces
In the Bayer office, the open space has been divided into smaller, intimate zones, which is conducive to effective communication and cooperation. Private offices have given way to flexible, public rooms that allow you to meet a variety of needs – from intense work to moments of relaxation. The following were designed, m.in:ilent rooms – for focused work in silence,elax rooms – places of regeneration, and even snooze rooms – where you can, just like that, take a nap.
Comfort and Functionality
Design Anatomy has introduced numerous amenities to improve the comfort of work, m.in. wall panels and openwork partitions separating individual zones or carpets with high acoustic parameters. The restaurant has become more flexible and user-friendly. Greenery was also taken care of; Numerous plants appeared in the office – in pots and even… phone booths.
I am the Olivia Centre and Friends Christmas card. Yes, I admit, I am one of a kind. The idea of me was already born in the autumn. Not too early, not too late. Just in time for me to be created with care, tenderness, concern for those who will receive me and for those who have influenced my form…
As you know, Christmas is not about me, and certainly not about presents, although the children would probably disagree with me. It is about being together, thinking of others, those closest to us and those a little further away, and caring for the stray wanderer who might knock on our door on Christmas Eve. After all, we don’t leave an additional tableware for nothing…
When the Christmas balls, birds, angels, Santas, bows and ribbons were ready, everyone sat down at the big table in Olivia to decorate the symbolic Christmas spruce trees. Then, a talented elf transferred them into a graphics programme so that they could surround the Christmas manger… So, I can boldly say that my Christmas trees are dressed like no other. In closeness. Together. Exactly as Christmas should be…
I hope that when you receive me, whether in the traditional or e-version, I will be able to amaze and touch you, reminding everyone that the most beautiful Christmas is coming, that special time when we feel most strongly that, after all, being together is the most precious thing…
I remain for you as I am, carrying the good news
and wishes for a wonderful Christmas full of love and joy.
~ Your Christmas Card from Olivia and Friends
Together at Christmas…
On Christmas Eve in our homes, we gather with our loved ones around the Christmas tree, waiting for the first star… And at Olivia it is not any different. First, we made Christmas tree ornaments, then we decorated Olivia’s Christmas tree together. It was the centrepiece of the Christmas Charity Variety Fair and the Olivia Choir Concert with the most beautiful Christmas carols… We came together sharing joy, hope and the belief that the coming Christmas will bring only the best. Read more…
Thus, during this Christmas time, but also every day after, let us be kind to each other, care for each other, think of each other with tenderness, careness and attentiveness. We invite you, meet our Friends and be willing to share the goodness…
Meet our Friends
Sprawni Inaczej Foundation
It is an open and socially committed team dedicated to people with disabilities and their environment. The Foundation’s aim is to maximise the independence of its charges and to support their families. “Through rehabilitation and therapy, we discover and develop the capacities of our charges enabling them to work purposefully and usefully. Our actions are driven by respect, solidarity and responsibility”.
Association for People with Parkinson’s Disease and Degenerative Brain Diseases and ParkOn Carers
The association provides activities for people with degenerative brain diseases and their carers. ParkOn’s areas of activity include health protection and promotion, social care and support, increasing access to treatment, and activating patients and their carers to include them in society. “We are convinced that a holistic approach to rehabilitation is the most appropriate course of action.” – say representatives of the Association.
The Zeroban Social Cooperative is a social enterprise that combines activities for the professional and social integration of people at risk of exclusion with practical activities and education for the environment and sustainable development. “We are a social economy entity, meaning that we run a type of business that focuses on helping people and communities rather than just making money. The aim of social economy companies and organisations is primarily to create the common good – helping disadvantaged people, caring for the environment, supporting local communities.”
Lighting in the office space is an issue that is often assigned secondary importance, limiting its role almost exclusively to aesthetics. Meanwhile, it has a direct impact on ergonomics, atmosphere, as well as employee comfort and productivity, not to mention the impact on the aesthetics of the office space.
Daylight – still an absolute “must have”
Daylight is the main factor supporting the natural circadian rhythm of humans. Ensuring the right amount of it in the workplace translates into improved efficiency, reduces eye fatigue and has a positive effect on overall well-being. It is also important that a large amount of natural light in the office space significantly reduces energy consumption.
Workplace lighting is regulated by relevant standards and regulations Health and safety – says Anna Branicka, Leading Architect at Design Anatomy. In the light of these regulations, it is necessary to provide natural lighting for each workstation for a permanent work station of more than 4 hours.Studies show that employees with access to natural light are 15% more productive and experience less eye strain. It is also worth noting that the Daylight Factor index, which describes how well natural light reaches the interior of a building, is one of the criteria for BRREAM certification. All this means that nowadays, when designing offices, the aim is to maximize access to natural light.
Functionality and comfort
In most offices, the comfort of daylight cannot be ensured, so more and less commonly available solutions come to the rescue, which can also be helpful in ensuring healthy and comfortable working conditions. The choice of light colour and intensity should primarily take into account the type of tasks performed by employees and the time of their implementation.
The selection of optimal lighting requires a skilful combination of several types of light, such as general, task and decorative lighting – says Magdalena Kluba, Senior Team Leader, Interior Design Department at Iliard Architecture & Interior Design. It is important to provide the right amount of light at the worker’s workstation, which can prevent eye strain and improve concentration and productivity. The choice of light color is also important. Lighting that is too cold can cause a feeling of coldness and distance, while lighting that is too warm can reduce concentration. Neutral light, with a color temperature between 4000K and 5000K, is ideal, providing comfort and adequate brightness of the space.
Due to the diverse needs of employees, the time of day or the amount of daylight resulting from a given season of the year, the most commonly used solution in office spaces is the implementation of systems that allow for the regulation of the color and intensity of light. As Anna Branicka notes: Adjustable office lighting offers a wide range of adaptability options to meet a wide range of needs. We are eager to reach for solutions that allow us to change the color temperature, thus referring to the natural change in the color of natural light, which calms or stimulates the body. The solutions should be intuitive and easy to use, and allow users to individually adjust the lighting conditions at their workstations. Improperly selected or placed lighting can cause both physical discomfort (eye pain, tearing) and mental discomfort (drowsiness, irritability or fatigue).
Properly designed lighting carries an important aspect, which is shaping the atmosphere in the office space, which directly affects both the well-being of employees and the perception of the workplace itself.
Properly selected light can make the office be perceived as friendly, modern, dynamic, or on the contrary – calm and conducive to concentration – says Magdalena Kluba. Na przykład, oświetlenie z możliwością regulacji intensywności pozwala na dostosowanie nastroju przestrzeni do pory dnia czy charakteru spotkania. Coraz popularniejsze są również biura, które korzystają z dynamicznych systemów oświetleniowych, symulujących naturalny cykl światła dziennego – od ciepłego światła poranka po chłodniejsze odcienie popołudnia, co pozytywnie wpływa na rytm pracy i samopoczucie pracowników.
The latest technical solutions allow the lamps to be used for one more function: influencing the acoustics of rooms. When designing the office in Olivia Centre for Just Join IT, Design Anatomy used lamps with increased acoustic parameters, which, combined with spray acoustic plaster, ceilings with appropriate parameters, as well as panels hung over workstations, allowed for a significant reduction in the level of noise and reverberation in the rooms.
Design and style
When talking about lighting in office spaces, its aesthetic function cannot be overlooked. The right choice of lighting is able to create a space that, in addition to the aforementioned improvement in efficiency and well-being, is attractive to the eye and in which you simply want to be. For this purpose, architects use a number of treatments and types of lighting systems.
Interior designers more and more often put emphasis on the appropriate selection of lighting fixtures, which not only provide appropriate working conditions, but also complement the whole,” says Anna Branicka. Lampy, jako elementy dekoracyjne, mogą być wykonane z różnorodnych materiałów, które dodatkowo wzbogacają estetykę wnętrza. W nowoczesnych biurach często spotykamy oświetlenie wykonane z metalu, szkła, betonu czy drewna. Każdy z tych materiałów wnosi do przestrzeni inną energię – metal i szkło dodają wnętrzu industrialnego, nowoczesnego charakteru, podczas gdy drewno i tkaniny mogą ocieplić przestrzeń i nadać jej bardziej organiczny, naturalny wygląd. Warto również pamiętać, że odpowiednio dobrane oświetlenie może subtelnie nawiązywać do stylu wnętrza – od minimalistycznych, geometrycznych form, przez klasyczne, eleganckie żyrandole, aż po ekstrawaganckie, artystyczne instalacje.
Magdalena Kluba also draws attention to the important role of additional lighting: An important complement to the interior can be spot lighting – directional lights, such as table or floor lamps, allowing for more precise illumination of specific work areas. It adds coziness to the interior and creates a more personal atmosphere. Currently, LED technologies have also become a standard in offices, not only because of their energy efficiency, but also because of their ability to adapt to various needs. LED lamps allow you to create interesting visual effects, such as hidden light sources that optically enlarge the space, or colorful accents that introduce dynamics to the interior.
Trends in office lighting
Modern offices are increasingly focusing on an innovative approach to lighting, which is designed to both improve working conditions and emphasize the unique character of the space. Currently, three strengthening trends can be observed on the office market. As Magdalena Kluba notes: Human-Centric Lighting are lighting systems that adjust the color and intensity of light to the natural biological rhythms of humans. This type of lighting supports employee productivity, improves their well-being and affects better sleep. At the same time, in the era of increasing environmental awareness, lighting is becoming an important element of sustainable office design. Energy-saving technologies such as LED, as well as the use of natural daylight through large glazing, are becoming standard. A popular trend is also the integration of lighting with smart building systems, which automatically adjust the intensity of light depending on the amount of natural light.
Mateusz Szczeciński, architect at Design Anatomy, also draws attention to the ever-growing popularity of the DALI (Digital Additive Lighting Interface) system, which was created in cooperation with companies such as m.in. Philips, Helvar, Osram and Tridonic at the turn of the 20th and 21st centuries. The main advantage of DALI is the central management of the lighting of the space, along with the integration with natural light to save energy. The system increases safety and convenience, but also enables the detection of the presence of people and allows for the integration of lighting with other building systems, including BMS. Thanks to the wide possibilities of individual adjustment of lighting parameters to the requirements and preferences of the user, it gives the possibility of freely arranging lighting scenes depending on the needs. This means that we can have several lighting options prepared in one room – strong light for a meeting at the top, dimmed light for presentations on a projector or atmospheric light for watching movies or relaxing in free time.
Near the Olivia Centre, the Tri-City club of classic car enthusiasts ended its automotive season. 150 vehicles gathered near the largest business center in Poland, emphasizing that Olivia is a place open to everyone, but also a space for the integration of a strong community that pursues its passions in several interest clubs.
Classic design is not only about beautiful architecture, interior design or accessories that give them a special character. These are also vehicles whose beauty delights and adds a touch of nostalgia, because when admiring vehicles from the 50s, 60s and even 30s, it is difficult to resist the impression that such beautiful vehicles are no longer produced. Art-deco-inspired vehicle lines, chrome accessories, prioritisation given to aesthetics over production costs or aerodynamics are symbols of car design from the old era. And yes, such vehicles are definitely not seen too often on the streets today, not only because there are fewer and fewer of them, but also because their collector’s value is growing and their owners are less and less likely to take the risk of going out on crowded city streets. However, there are occasions that bring together classic car enthusiasts in one place, regardless of the risks and weather conditions.
The end of the season of classic vehicles is one of such reasons, especially since it was held for the first time in Oliwa – at the legendary Olivia Hall and Olivia Centre, and one of the organizers and patrons was the largest business center in Poland. The event also had its good spirit – Wojciech Daniszewski – a lover of classic vehicles, an employee of Olivia’s IT Department on a daily basis, whose commitment allowed the event to move to a new location. Olivia Centre is not only a fantastic place to work or run a business, it is also people with passion and space to pursue their interests – says Wojciech Daniszewski. As a long-time promoter of the culture of classic motoring in the Tri-City, I am extremely pleased with the fact that thanks to the newly established passion club, which is Olivia Classic, we had the pleasure to refresh the formula of one of the largest classic car rallies in the country, which is “Ending the Season Classically”.
The rally became an event inaugurating the activity of a new passion club in Olivia: Olivia Classic, i.e. a space connecting lovers of classic cars. This is yet another such initiative, allowing employees who work in one place to develop their interests. Olivia develops projects supporting the integration of company employees and during this time it has become not only an office center, but also a place that effectively strives to build a strong, integrated community. The club of automotive enthusiasts joined the sailing club, photography enthusiasts, filmmaking and numerous sports clubs, but also such unconventional projects as the Olivia Centre Choir, art lovers, plant care enthusiasts or a group of social activists involved in numerous aid projects for seniors, the poor and refugees.
As Wojciech Daniszewski emphasizes, the event crowning the season in the vicinity of the prestigious Olivia Centre business centre was a bull’s eye: Despite the capricious weather, Olivia’s car parks hosted over 150 road veterans from various automotive eras – from iconic cars of the 90s, through monuments to the People’s Republic of Poland, such as the well-known Fiat 126p or FSO Warszawa, to the Mercedes W136 produced since 1936. I am convinced that every car enthusiast has found something for themselves. In addition to beautiful cars, which we do not see in city traffic every day, the event saw numerous competitions with prizes, stands of rally partners, a food court with delicious snacks and a discussion panel with a participant of the iconic Dakar Classic rally. Seeing the enthusiasm and interest among Olivia’s residents, as well as automotive enthusiasts of the past era from all over Pomerania, we are already planning the next meetings of the Olivia Classic passion club, which we are preparing for next spring.
Projects involving the employees of Olivia Centre are a strategy that has been implemented for years, aimed at using and expanding the potential of the community of 15 thousand employees who work in Olivia on a daily basis. These projects have proven their value more than once both for the residents of the Tri-City, when, for example, during the pandemic, they organized help for dependent people in shopping, walking dogs or preparing Christmas gifts, but also bring exceptional value to the residents themselves.
Surveys conducted among managers of companies from Olivia allowed us to see a significant impact of this project on restoring stationary work and motivating their employees. As Dawid Glamowski, Director of the Resident Relations Department at Olivia Centre, emphasizes, the research has confirmed that the attendance in offices definitely increases on days when special events are held in Olivia, organized for employees, and their connection with the workplace is strongly dependent on the number of initiatives in which they participate. Projects such as ambassador clubs at Olivia Centre are a key element in building strong and lasting relationships with our residents ,” says Dawid Glamowski. Today’s market trends and corporate requirements emphasize creating a work environment that supports inclusion, passion development, and community building, which increases employee engagement. Initiatives like this allow us to not only meet these expectations, but also to stand out as a place that supports both the professional and personal needs of our residents.
Fig. Maciek Zieliński
