Tag: BUSINESS

Lighting in the office – how to design to increase comfort and efficiency of work

Posted on by Katarzyna Halicka

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.

LeadWell. Conference for Team Leaders on November 7!

Posted on by Katarzyna Halicka

Business centers are most often associated with big business, daily rush and quarterly, semi-annual and annual plans. Centers are also associated with professionals who must be able to find themselves perfectly in these realities and achieve their goals. None other than team leaders are responsible for the company’s results, so they are the ones who have the greatest pressure: superiors on the one hand, and subordinates on the other, who also constitute a very diverse environment, and a manager should have the competence to manage such diverse groups of employees.

 

Team leaders are the most important group in any organization. They create its culture, it depends on them how those who actually perform tasks work and how they feel. According to recent research – a relationship with a boss is more important for mental health than a relationship with friends!

 

Still, many studies related to mental health and workplace sentiment focus on employees and much less on managers. The available data shows that being a boss is significantly physically exhausting and mentally taxing. Managing people is often overwhelming and can be a source of great stress. The research also shows that as many as 30% of people quit their jobs within 3 months of being promoted.

 

Meanwhile, happy leaders are a prerequisite for building teams consisting of happy subordinates. This means only one thing – leaders need and should be given time, it is worth developing, training and making them aware. Business centers, being a kind of hubs, gathering not only employees, but also numerous managerial staff, are an excellent environment for the exchange of experiences, skills and cooperation for the development of both professional groups. Just as employees share their insights, experiences, and ideas on how to deal with the realities of working in corporations on Internet forums or trainings, managers can also think about cooperation and exchange knowledge in the field of managing teams of employees. However, this happens much less often than in the case of employees.

 

“Like many areas of life, team management has undergone a major transformation in recent years ,” emphasizes Remigiusz Wojciechowski, Enterprise Support Solutions Leader at Bayer GBS. Founder of Bayer GBS Gdańsk. – This is due to the changes in the work model from strictly office to hybrid, as well as in connection with the entry of a new generation into the labor market – Genration Z, which has a fundamentally different approach to work than previous generations. These are challenges that managers must be able to meet, and they should also be accompanied by the volatility of the economic situation, as well as new challenges that we have not faced before, such as the greater use of artificial intelligence at work. These challenges require managers to constantly adapt their tasks to the changing reality and training to help develop new competences. In my opinion, it is very important to base your own development on interesting examples and experiences of other managers, also during workshops, where you have the opportunity to work side by side with leaders facing similar challenges.

 

Olivia Centre Gdańsk is the largest and most modern business centre in Poland. Its area is currently 175 thousand m.kw, and ultimately it will significantly exceed 200 thousand m.kw. Olivia’s largest residents are Amazon, Bayer, Capgemini, Energa, EPAM, Fujifilm, Lyreco, Medicover, Nike, Nordea, PwC, Ricoh, Sii, thyssenkrupp, which is why it is a unique community of practitioners who can cooperate for self-development and mutual competence support. It was only a matter of time until such a forum for the exchange of knowledge was created in Gdańsk.

 

– With this in mind, the idea of a new conference called LEADWELL, prepared by the O4 coworking team with Olivia Centre, was created – says Martyna Czarnobaj-Borowska, from the O4 Coworking team. – On the wave of the ubiquitous discussion about well-being, we decided to move away from the recurring free fruit, benefits or integration trips and focus on what is really important. On leaders and leadershiptags.

 

Olivia Centre is also the seat of the organizer of InfoShare and Infoshare Academy: Both of our projects give us access to a huge resource of knowledge about the current situation of managers, the challenges they have to face, as well as the changes that are sweeping through the industry – says Grzegorz Borowski, co-founder of InfoShare. Thanks to this, I am aware of the unique moment in which we all find ourselves and I am glad that a forum for the exchange of experiences between representatives of different environments and the possibility of cooperation is being created. I believe that such exchange and activity will allow each participant to build new competences and develop interesting methods of dealing with current challenges .

 

The project is an opportunity to use the knowledge of many practitioners and an opportunity to exchange experiences in the form of joint workshops. Perhaps it will also be a hint on how to build a community in the business center, not only at the level of employees, but also of the management staff, who benefit from being present in this or that facility. Such initiatives can also benefit employees, whose supervisors will gain new competences and will be more aware of market transformations and their related needs in the field of personal development.

 

Olivia residents have a whopping 33% discount on tickets! You can ask for a discount code here: eventowniao4@oliviacentre.com

The conference will take place on November 7, and all the details can be found on the leadwell.pl website

See the conference program

 

 

 

Poland’s largest business centre with a new ESG report

Posted on by Katarzyna Halicka

The Sustainable Development Report is a description of the approach and summary of the implemented practices in the field of social relations management, corporate governance and environmental policy in the largest enterprises in the country.
Its publication is related to the transparency of activities, as well as the desire to inspire the business community to raise the standards of conducting business activities.

 

The Tonsa Group, which owns Olivia Centre, has presented its ESG report for the third time.
The document contains an exhaustive catalogue of the group’s activities for the implementation of social, business and environmental goals, understood as sustainable development, respect for the highest standards in the field of ecology, relations with stakeholders and the public and business environment.
The current report is based on an impact materiality survey conducted on more than 250 representatives of Tonsa Group stakeholders.
The study allowed us to verify mutual influences and update the data presented in the report in relation to previous years.

 

Despite the fact that office space constitutes the vast majority of Olivia’s space, the center has been developing its service, educational, health, entertainment, sports and cultural functions for many years.
By providing functions that are important to residents and employees, it strives to have a positive impact on the environment and its coherence with the concept of sustainable, 15-minute cities. Every year, more and more green areas appear in its area and a number of publicly available cultural, educational and entertainment events are carried out.
These events expand the activities of the facilities to include afternoon and evening hours, supporting the development of mix-used functions and implementing functions important for the district and city in which Olivia Centre operates.

 

– Supporting stable, sustainable and inclusive economic growth We have created space for the activities of 100 companies, employing 15 thousand.
people, and another 150 business entities are developing their activities in the O4 Coworking – says Maciej Grabski, Managing Director of the Tonsa Group.
– N your activity has a positive impact on economic growth; not only directly, but also indirectly – by influencing the development of many entities related to us.
In doing so, we primarily support local suppliers.
Many of them are our regular business partners, which is a proof of trust and stability in many projects implemented in Olivia.

Sustainability has been identified as an integral part of the Tonsa Group’s long-term strategy.
Olivia also joined the global community striving to implement the 17 Sustainable Development Goals and the largest global initiative bringing together sustainable business – the United Nations Global Compact (UNGC).

 

The priorities adopted by Olivia included: implementation of tasks and impact for sustainable economic growth, creation of sustainable cities and communities, striving for climate neutrality, circular economy, protection of water resources and energy saving.
Olivia also supports the development of new technologies and ecology.
A number of solutions have been developed to support the use of zero-emission means of transport for work, such as changing rooms, showers, scooter charging areas and lockers for their storage, covered parking spaces, and the use of Olivia’s amenities is possible thanks to a smartphone application.
Olivia is also involved in global campaigns promoting ecology and sustainable transport, such as the International Earth Day, World Bicycle Day, World Car Free Day and the World Day for the Protection of the Baltic Sea, taking place as part of the World Water Day, announced by the UN.

 

The buildings have also been equipped with systems to increase the level of safety, health care and pollution monitoring.
It was the first in the world to equip air handling units with air ionizers that purify the air in buildings from fungi, viruses and allergens.
Thanks to the solutions used to monitor and analyse actual data on resource consumption and based on the international Greenhouse Gas Protocol A Corporate Reporting Standard, the carbon footprint of buildings is analysed.
In addition, all buildings are periodically subjected to detailed, individual analyses of compliance with the Paris Agreement and the global pathway to limit global warming to 1.5°C.
For this purpose, the CRREM (Carbon Risk Real Estate Monitor) tool adapted to best practices in the field of sustainable development is used.
Olivia’s activities are also based on the recommendations of the TCFD (Task Force on Climate-related Financial Disclosures) and cyclical climate risk analyses, allowing for the implementation of actions adequate to the current situation.

 

– Olivia’s activity is constantly subject to multi-criteria assessment by international organizations, leading to obtaining numerous certifications of facilities.
They confirm the compliance of the group’s operations with the highest standards, and often allow Olivia to be at the top of the rankings, as exemplified by obtaining the maximum rating as the first business center in the world in all analyzed areas of WELL HSR certification and maintaining such a high level of care for health, well-being and safety every year. – notes Konrad Danecki, Deputy Director of Investor Supervision in Olivia.

 

The certification, awarded by the International Well Building Institute in New York, is issued based on criteria created by 600 government officials, scientists, business leaders, medical professionals, architects, designers, construction scientists and real estate specialists, as well as standards in construction.
Its main goal is to verify the user-friendliness of the facilities, care for their well-being based on the latest technological solutions, but also takes into account the so-called
“soft criteria”, such as improving the quality of life and work, promoting healthy practices and initiatives to build an active and cooperative community of residents, supporting diversity and counteracting social exclusion.

 

Caring for the well-being of residents is not only about standards, systems and technical solutions, but also about responding to the needs of the local community and Olivia’s residents.
To this end, surveys are regularly carried out to measure satisfaction and gain inspiration to implement further improvements.
Based on them, Olivia Garden was created – an exotic garden where residents can work, relax and meet during and outside working hours.
The answer to their inquiry was also the opening of a grocery store and numerous events, including concerts, meetings, workshops and integration events.
In the survey, as many as 63% of residents confirmed their participation in the initiatives that are carried out in Olivia.
An important factor integrating the residents are the numerous clubs for developing passions, which offer joint bicycle trips, photography and filming courses, plant care courses, or sports clubs: football, volleyball, running, or the very popular sailing club, which organized as many as 57 cruises in 2023.
The Olivia Choir, which brings together employees of several companies, has a special status, which has not only added splendor to events in the center, but has already released its first album and started commercial concerts in several regions of the country.
In total, the number of all initiatives integrating the Olivia Centre community reached 673 events.

 

Cooperation with the local community is carried out m.in.
through the Oliwa Neighbourhood Budget: a project to co-finance initiatives submitted by the residents of the Tri-City, which are implemented in Oliwa – the district where this largest business centre in Poland is located.
This year, its 5th edition is already being implemented, and each year funding is granted to activities such as renovations of public infrastructure, educational workshops and rehabilitation classes for children, youth and people with mobility limitations or special needs.

 

– By managing a space of 15 thousand.
Every year, we face not only the scale of challenges, but also the need to create new, attractive and original initiatives – emphasizes Bogusław Wieczorek, the representative of the management board of Olivia Centre. – Everything we do, we prepare with a strategy defined by the board.
It is based on the highest international standards, because this is what our residents require of us.
Years of experience show us that this is the only way to meet the expectations of the largest global companies.
We are glad that thanks to this, our activities are also conducive to the development of the entire agglomeration, generating new jobs, tax revenues and a number of social initiatives carried out for the benefit of the Tri-City community by our residents.
Such positive conclusions allow us to think with equal determination about the coming years and the projects we are preparing.

 

Full report

Olivia Gastro Park. Through the stomach to the heart of the residents

Posted on by Katarzyna Halicka

The awarding of two restaurants from the Olivia Centre with the prestigious laurels of the Michelin culinary guide was widely publicized in the media all over the country.
The star, which is the highest distinction in the world of gastronomy, was won by the Arco by Paco Perez restaurant, and the Treinta y Tres restaurant won the Bib Gourmand distinction.
Both restaurants are located on the 33rd floor of Olivia Star and are run by internationally renowned chefs – the Spaniard Paco Perez and the Italian Antonio Arcieri.

 

However, managing gastronomy in a business center is a challenge that poses an even higher degree of challenge to managers on a daily basis than running a fine-dining restaurant.
Such restaurants provide the necessary prestige for such a place and are perfect for celebrating special celebrations, both corporate and private.
The key to culinary success in a business center where as many as 15 thousand people work.
The employees seem to be not only of high quality, but also diversity, allowing them to escape from everyday monotony and repetitiveness, which is why there are as many as 12 restaurants and smaller catering outlets operating in Olivia Centre.

 

At the heart of such a wide range of food and beverage products is the belief that its quality is one of the factors influencing the assessment of the workplace.
What’s more, good, quality nutrition and a varied diet are the basis of well-being and translate into work efficiency.
Certainly, providing this to 15,000 employees is not an easy challenge, but such a number of potential guests is a considerable market potential, and the example of Olivia Centre shows that it can be done well.

 

– We are fully aware that the vast majority of Olivia’s employees regularly use the offer of catering facilities that await in our centre, which is why this is one of the areas that we are trying to take care of.
Even if not on an ongoing basis, at least at the stage of selecting culinary concepts, we want to ensure the greatest possible variety and quality – says Maciej Kotarski from Olivia Centre.
– We are aware that tastes are very diverse, but they can also be changeable, which is why we try to ensure that the proposals available in Olivia allow us to provide interesting culinary options not only in terms of dishes, but also the forms and times of the day in which they are offered.
We have managed to provide original breakfast, lunch and evening concepts, as well as a variety of formulas: from casual bars, confectioneries and classic cafes to prestigious restaurants awarded by the Michelin guide.

 

 

 

The latest of the points that are available in Olivia is Zachcianki – a café combined with a bistro, where original breakfasts, lunches and desserts are offered.
As Ewa Kowalska, co-owner of Zachcianki, emphasizes , their offer is unique on the Tri-City market: Dishes are prepared on the spot, and cakes are baked in a workshop in Wrzeszcz.
We use simple, natural ingredients that everyone has at home, but what distinguishes us is that we show the full ingredients – so that the customer knows exactly what they are eating and we do not do it only for desserts, but we also show the full ingredients and nutritional values for savoury dishes.
This is an unusual approach on the Tri-City market for now, but we hope that this will change.
We wanted Wanting to be a place where you can slow down for a moment, take a breath and remind yourself that you have to take care of yourself, that you have to be kind to yourself.
That it is worth fulfilling your whims.
And we can see that it works well – despite the holidays, we have more and more guests.
They drop by for specifics, for a cake with coffee and for informal meetings.

 

Olivia offers such food outlets as KOKU sushi bar, Natka bistro, Starbucks, Lobster restaurant, Work Cafe Santander and Gorąco Polecam café combined with coworking space.
As Maciej Kotarski emphasizes, the variability of preferences requires the creation of a well-thought-out and diverse, but also flexible offer: In Olivia, the answer to this is the multitude of premises and the selection of proposals, which takes place already at the stage of signing their lease agreements.
After years of operation, we already have experience that allows us to predict what the reception of individual proposals may be, and we also make sure not to create internal competition that may affect the situation of our existing tenants.
Therefore, we would certainly not launch two sushi establishments or two pizzerias.

 

Olivia Centre sets the development of attractiveness for the inhabitants of the Tri-City and tourists 7 days a week and after 5.00 p.m. as one of its goals.
It is for this reason that attractions such as observation deck at 32 floors. Olivia Star, Olivia Garden or the conference and event center on the 34th floor of the tallest building in northern Poland.
Thanks to this, Olivia quickly became a destination for trips, a place where you can spend a Friday evening at a disco, shanty or jazz concert.
The largest Polish business centre already has theatre performances and concerts by such stars of the Polish scene as Krystyna Janda, Leszek Możdżer, Daria Zawiałow, Mrozu and Krzysztof Zalewski. Over 1700 events take place annually in Olivia , so it can be considered that Olivia has already become one of the most attractive places not only for work, but also for the cultural and entertainment life of the Tri-City. This is also confirmed by the award of the Marshal of the Pomeranian Voivodeship, awarded to Olivia on the occasion of the International Tourism Day for expanding the tourist offer of Pomerania with non-obvious projects at an exceptional level.
It is the only award that has been awarded to office buildings for the development of the tourist offer of a given region.

 

The new buildings of Olivia, the construction of which is already being prepared, will additionally increase the demand for services offered in Olivia, so it is possible that the proposals in this largest Polish business center will expand even more.
The most important thing, however, is that Olivia remains a friendly center, open to residents and guests from all over the world, not only during the center’s opening hours.

 

 

Viterra – the world leader in the cereal market – has opened its new offices in Olivia

Posted on by Katarzyna Halicka

Viterra – the world leader in the cereal market –

has opened its new offices in Olivia Centre. Viterra is present in 35 countries and operates in the most important global markets. It has occupied a representative office on the top floor of Olivia’s newest building – Olivia Prime B.

 

– A new Resident is always a great joy, especially since Gdańsk has been a historical centre of grain trade for hundreds of years, and Viterra Polska is a leader in the sale of not only cereals, but also oilseeds, legumes, sugar, rice, cotton, vegetable oils and biodiesel – emphasizes Maciej Kotarski from Olivia Centre. – Viterra handles 1.5 million tons of goods annually in ports, exports 2 million tons by land, and has ten of its own storage locations in Poland, elevators that allow it to store 350,000 tons of goods in Poland. tons and its own production of vegetable oils.

 

The office on the 14th floor of Olivia Prime B provides stunning panoramic views of the Bay of Gdańsk, the Gdynia cliffs in Orłowo, the marina in Sopot and the green Tri-City Landscape Park surrounding Olivia. The premises cover an area of over 1400 m. Kw. and a private terrace, located above the office, on the 15th floor, where lounge furniture, deckchairs and greenery have been prepared.

 

Viterra, as a company from the plant trade industry, perfectly fits Olivia Prime, whose interiors have been designed by
the architectural studio Design Anatomy
 in the spirit of biophilic design, combined with the power art trend: Olivia Prime is a unique building in every respect – says Maciej Kotarski. – We place great emphasis on the contact of its users with nature and natural materials. Extensive terraces, filled with vegetation, frequently appearing wood, as well as greenery suspended from the ceilings make an amazing impression in an ultra-modern office building. Olivia Prime is also very surprising with the interiors of the elevators, which are lined with fragrant natural wood, which provides an unparalleled experience for all guests of the facility. At the same time, the building is saturated with art. Murals in all halls, walls designed like paintings, screens in the main hall – vertical structures moving in many planes. The combination of the biophilic trend and power art allows us to meet two needs. The first is the harmony of the spirit and the sense of contact with nature through soft furniture, plants and natural materials in the spirit of biophilic design. The second is the need for strength and energy, providing users with a place that fills them with good energy. Entering work is supposed to make us smile, energize, make us feel a surge of power and want to act.

 

Olivia Prime is one of only 4 buildings in Poland with an all-glass triple-glazed façade, which provides the best possible lighting in autumn and winter. This helps to ensure better well-being of employees. In spring and summer, the triple-glazed façade prevents overheating and provides thermal comfort even on very sunny days, and in the winter and autumn months it allows much greater access to daylight, which is so important for humans.

 

Viterra is not the first company from the food industry to open its offices in Olivia Centre. Earlier, Paula Fish, which employs over 800 people, found its place in the largest Polish business center. It is not only one of the European leaders in the fish processing market, but also a pioneer in ecology and sustainable development. The main goal of the company’s development in the coming months is related to achieving climate neutrality, the use of environmentally sustainable fishing methods, as well as the most environmentally friendly fleet of vehicles used to transport their products.

 

Polish Agro is also one of the companies that cannot often be associated with modern business centers. The main profile of its activity focuses on the trade of fertilizers, plant protection products, as well as seeds and agricultural products. The company is part of the DAVA Agravis International A/S group. Its companies are among the leaders of the agricultural market in their countries and operate mainly in the Baltic Sea region.

 

 

 

 

Olivia Star with green financing

Posted on by Katarzyna Halicka

Olivia Star received a Green Loan from three existing lenders at the same time; A consortium of Santander Bank Polska S.A., BNP Paribas Bank Polska S.A. and Bank Millennium S.A. Olivia is the first office developer in Poland to announce that it has obtained this type of financing. The refinancing loan required a detailed verification of the implemented solutions for the refinancing of the loan. sustainable development, thanks to which it was possible to obtain attractive financing conditions and increase it to the amount of nearly EUR 83 million. Olivia Star is a part of Olivia Centre, the largest business centre in Poland. Legal services were provided by KLBF Kycia Legal.

 

“We are glad to continue our cooperation with our partners, as green financing confirms that the adopted strategy in the field of responsible business conduct is appreciated not only by tenants, who willingly choose Olivia as their office location, but also by banks financing investments related to ambitious criteria for green real estate ,” he says Krzysztof Raćkos, Olivia’s Chief Financial Officer.

 

Obtaining green financing is a confirmation that the solutions implemented in the Olivia Star building – the highest building in northern Polish – meet international standards and are in line with the direction of good, ecological practices that the entire real estate market should follow. Among the criteria that are evaluated are the energy efficiency of systems in buildings, increasing their stability and failure-free operation, monitoring of systems to counteract defects and risks to the natural environment and people working in buildings, as well as pro-social solutions affecting the well-being of employees.

 

– Green Loan meets the Green Loan Principles developed by the Loan Market Association (LMA), an international association based in London that brings together more than 850 banks, institutional investors, law firms and credit rating agencies. For many years, the LMA has been developing standards for documents, including loan agreements, which are now a commonly used market practice in the world. This is a confirmation of the fact that Olivia is a leader in the commercial real estate industry in Poland and in the world on many levels – says Bogusław Wieczorek, attorney-at-law, Plenipotentiary of the Management Board for public relations.

 

The special solutions implemented in Olivia include the modernization of the cooling system in the building, thanks to which its efficiency increased by 30%, and the modernization of the water chiller (increase in efficiency by up to 20%). A new automation of air handling units was introduced (reduction of energy consumption by 15%), installation of 100% LED lighting and air ionizers, thanks to which employees can breathe air free of viruses, PM 2.5 and PM 10 dust, free from allergens, mold and fungi. A significant part of the monitoring system was also digitized, which allowed to increase the level of security and reduce the costs of surveillance, and thus the costs of renting space. Thanks to these and a number of other solutions, Olivia has obtained numerous certificates and awards, among which the most important are the BREEAM certification at the Excellent level and the WELL HSR certificate, in which Olivia was the first in the world to obtain 25 points out of 25 possible, in 22 basic categories and 3 additional ones, related to innovations implemented in its area. Olivia is one of the first Polish business centres, despite its lack of commitment, but out of a sense of responsibility, to conduct ESG reporting using the global GRI 2021 standards and TCFD recommendations. In addition, Olivia is implementing further projects, in line with the ESG strategy (m.in. decarbonization, social) and detailed policies in the field of environmental and social responsibility based on the prepared Code of Conduct. Olivia’s commitment to climate issues is also reflected in her membership in the United Nations Global Compact (UNGC), the largest global initiative for sustainable business.

 

“Such a comprehensive approach to thinking about sustainable development is our consistently implemented standard, including care for Olivia’s natural and social environment,” says Agata Kwapisiewicz, ESG Officer at Olivia Centre. – Our green solutions not only translate into increased business competitiveness, but also attractiveness in the eyes of Gdańsk residents and tourists. The first green loan in the group shows that such thinking also bears fruit in the form of financing granted.

Faculty of Law and Administration UG with Zero Stress green zone designed by Design Anatomy

Posted on by Katarzyna Halicka

The zone of concentration among the vegetation, which was created in one of the buildings of the University of Gdańsk, is the work of Design Anatomy – a studio that designs offices in Olivia Centre on a daily basis. The idea of creating a green zone came from the students themselves and was implemented as part of the Academic Participatory Budget. The synergy resulted in a one-of-a-kind chill-out zone.

 

The Zero Stress Zone was established in a secluded part of the building of the Faculty of Law and Administration of the University of Gdańsk. From the very beginning of the Faculty’s existence, this place was intended for a winter garden, but it was only as part of the cooperation with Olivia Centre that it gained the name of a real leisure zone. The project included the revitalization of green zones, the construction of new modular furniture, which allowed for the separation of a zone not only for in-depth learning among greenery, but also for the creation of a place for official and less obliging meetings. The architects took care of new lighting, separate relaxation, work and integration zones, as well as appropriate acoustics and improved the aesthetic values of the winter garden. As a result, the space has been optically enlarged, while maintaining its seclusion and user-friendliness.

 

As he points out, Ph.D. Małgorzata Balwicka – SzczyrbaProf. UG, Vice-Dean for The project was inspired by the spaces of Olivia Centre: As part of the neighbourhood visit, we had the opportunity to learn about interesting solutions that entrepreneurs are currently introducing to their office spaces. The changes indicate how workplaces are moving towards places of socialization, integration and cooperation. It was very inspiring for us and allowed us to entrust the changes at our Faculty to experts who perfectly sense the change in trends in the design of ultra-modern and friendly office spaces. The choice turned out to be exceptionally good – their knowledge also proved to be the preparation of unique places conducive to learning and integration of the student community. We hope for further cooperation with Olivia both in the area of interior design and in many other fields!

 

Moreover, as the Dean of the Faculty of Law and Administration of the University of Gdańsk emphasizes, Ph.D. Wojciech Zalewski Prof. UG cooperation with Olivia Centre is also important because a significant number of students of the faculty choose a career path not strictly related to the profession of judge, notary, legal counsel or advocate: About 60% of the students of our faculty continue their careers in business. Thanks to our cooperation with Olivia Centre, we want to emphasize our openness to the values of the business community.

 

I remember this space from my student days – recalls Bogusław Wieczorek, legal counsel and representative of the Management Board of Olivia Centre. I am glad that today I can support the cooperation between my Alma Mater and Olivia. I would like to congratulate the faculty authorities and the students themselves for thinking wisely and modernly about the place they use every day. Experience from the office market definitely proves that a well-designed space supports creative work, focus and moments of rest. Entrusting the project to an experienced team of architects, rather than a random one, is certainly a good choice.

 

The Zero Stress Zone is part of a broader, gradually implemented project at the Faculty of Law and Administration of the University of Gdańsk. The changes also include improving the aesthetics of a much larger part of the building. With the use of the work of prof. Grzegorz Klaman from the Academy of Fine Arts in Gdańsk creates a passage of art and inspiration on the mezzanine, located above the Zero Stress zone. In its vicinity, in the place of the former smoking room, a modern art gallery was created, adapted for the organization of student meetings and discussions. There is also a sculpture by Igor Mitoraj.

 

This zone has always had potential and good energy ,” says Anna Branicka, lead architect at Design Anatomy. – Beautifully lit with natural light, filled with greenery, it was a natural, though unused, meeting place. All she needed was the right arrangement. Together with Olivia Centre, almost as part of the “neighbourly” cooperation, we offered assistance in the design and implementation of the ZERO STRESS zone. The fruit of our partnership is a charming, cozy corner wrapped in greenery, with warm, soft light, a place for integration and relaxation, with a view of the… Olivia Star! We hope that it will serve students and staff for many years to come. Creating biophilic zones in existing buildings is always a good investment.

 

Cinematography: Tomasz Kurek, tomkurek.co

In Olivia about the most important matters. Summit talks: women’s time.

Posted on by Katarzyna Halicka

On Friday, March 1, the spacious conference room on the 34th floor of Olivia Star was filled to the brim. They talked about extremely important issues – women’s equality, the chances for women to play an increasingly important role in politics, and effective ways to break through the so-called “women’s rights”. “glass ceiling”.

 

The debate entitled “Summit Talks – Women’s Time” was attended by the Minister for Civil Society Agnieszka Buczyńska, the Pomeranian Voivode Beata Rutkiewicz, the Mayor of Gdańsk Aleksandra Dulkiewicz, the Law and Justice MP Dorota Arciszewska-Mielewczyk and the Civic Coalition MP Agnieszka Pomaska. The event was hosted by press and radio journalist Magdalena Rigamonti, and the inaugural lecture was given by Prof. Ph.D. Witold M. Orłowski from the Vistula University, professor and director of the Business School of the Warsaw University of Technology, chief economic advisor at PwC Poland.

 

Mainly female politicians were invited to participate in the meeting, so the discussion focused primarily on this area. They were m.in. The topic of the “glass ceiling”, analysing what it is and whether it will be possible to break it, also discussed the issue of quotas.

 

In politics and professional life, the “glass ceiling” for women manifests itself in various ways, m.in. unequal opportunities for promotion, lower salaries compared to men in similar positions, lack of representation of women in key decision-making bodies, or the use of gender stereotypes in competence assessments and task assignment. To overcome this, it is necessary to take broad and conscious action for gender equality, promote women’s participation in the decision-making process, eliminate discrimination based on gender and ensure equal opportunities and opportunities for professional development for both sexes.

Fig. Grzegorz Mehring, gdansk.pl

 

This is another meeting of the “Summit Talks” series. Earlier, Olivia Star talked about crises, i.e.
“Pandemic, war and what’s next?”
 and
the economic challenges of the modern world
.

 

“Summit Talks” organized by
Pomeranian Employers
 in cooperation with Olivia Centre.

 

 

More:

https://biznes.trojmiasto.pl/Mamy-czas-kobiet-Rozmowy-na-szczycie-n186952.html

https://www.gdansk.pl/wiadomosci/Rozmowy-na-szczycie-Czas-kobiet-Gdansk-Olivia-Six-Rigamonti-Dulkiewicz-Pomaska-Buczynska-Rutkiewicz-Arciszewska,a,259768

https://www.zawszepomorze.pl/rozmowy-na-szczycie-goraca-debata-na-34-pietrze-olivii-star

Olivia Prize 2023 handed out!

Posted on by Katarzyna Halicka

On Wednesday, January 31st, the fourth award ceremony in the Olivia Prize competition took place. Awards for projects carried out by the Residents of Olivia Centre, the largest business centre in Poland, have traditionally been granted in the following categories: Olivia Impact, Olivia Biznes, Olivia Eco and Olivia Pro Bono. From among the projects submitted by mid-January, the jury selected 4 winners and awarded 5 honorable mentions.

 

The choice was made by a jury consisting of representatives of companies operating in Olivia. This year’s winners were: Marta Moksa (O4 Coworking), Grzegorz Borowski (Infoshare), Remigiusz Wojciechowski (Bayer), Marcin Perkowski (Capgemini) and Mateusz Kusznierewicz.

 

OLIVIA BUSINESS

 

This year’s edition of the competition was attended by 22 projects that were implemented by companies operating in Olivia Centre over the past year. In the Olivia Business category, projects with the greatest business potential, characterized by innovation and responding to real market demand are awarded. This year, in this category, the award went to the Pomerania Development Agency for

the Pomeranian Export Broker

 project, the aim of which was to support Pomeranian enterprises in business contacts abroad. The project covered more than 6 thousand. people with 2.5 thousand. Enterprises. As part of the project, 15 economic missions, 42 trips to trade fairs and 58 trips to other international economic events were carried out in countries such as China, the United States, the United Arab Emirates, Australia and many other parts of the world. The project also enabled Pomeranian companies to participate in selected economic events through 614 project grants and 47 individual, “tailor-made” B2B meetings, prepared with the use of specialized market reports from m.in. in the United States, the United Kingdom, Scandinavia, the United Arab Emirates, or Kazakhstan.

 

In the Olivia Business category, a distinction was also awarded, which this year went to the

Black Pearls VC

 fund, which supports young technology companies operating in the Baltic Sea basin. The fund’s activity consists in providing financial support to start-ups at an early stage of development and searching for strategic investors for them after achieving strong market positions. Last year, Telemedi and Solwit reached this level, and in the previous two years, this process covered 6 other companies. In 2023, the fund provided its investors with a 252% increase in return on capital compared to the previous year. As part of its investment portfolio, the Black Pearls VC fund holds shares in a company known as unicorn, valued at over EUR 2 billion, and as much as 57% of the latest portfolio is made up of foreign startups. The fund has invested m.in. in Ondato (Lithuania), Autenti (Poland), insly (Estonia), Swotzy (Latvia), Fluentby (Poland), infoshare Academy (Poland), Enso (Poland/USA), eAgronom (Estonia) and Heavy Finance (Lithuania).

 

 

OLIVIA IMPACT

 

In the Olivia Impact category, awards are given to companies and projects with the greatest impact in the area of corporate social responsibility. In this category the statuette was awarded to
Energa, a member of the Orlen Group
 for the two projects submitted this year: implementing a wide-ranging ESG agenda and supporting important initiatives in the region, Poland and around the world, including through programmes Houses of Good Energy and
Planet of Energy
. As part of the first one, Energa provided 18 institutions (including 15 orphanages in Poland, the St. Brother Albert Home for the Homeless and Needy Aid Society in Gdańsk and one school in South Sudan) with access to efficient and environmentally friendly energy sources. The project provides clean and energy-efficient energy sources, but also workshops, educational meetings, excursions and holiday trips. The second project is Energia’s original educational program, which includes the promotion of knowledge about electricity, its sources and safe and rational use of electricity among the youngest. During the deliberations, the jury also took into account numerous initiatives implemented by the company during all previous editions of the competition.

 

In the Olivia Impact category , a distinction was also awarded to

Bayer

 for creating a climate for the implementation of social and ecological innovations by employees and for being open and encouraging cooperation with other Olivia Centre Residents.

 

 

OLIVIA ECO

 

Bayer also won this year’s statuette in the Olivia Eco category, for the Eco Floral project by Edyta Bieniasz-Krzywiec, one of the company’s employees, who transferred her family’s daily eco activities to the company. It is based on the principle of circular economy and education with the possibility of reusing everything that employees in the office and at home have at their disposal. Edyta Bieniasz-Krzywiec defines it with the motto “We do what we can, with what we have, where we are”. At the threshold of Olivia Centre project Eco Floral visited as part of the event Eco Family Days, organized by and for Bayer employees, when Edyta Bieniasz-Krzywiec and her husband brought their machine used to process waste from various types of plastic at home and trained other employees in the field of household waste management and what products can be created from plastic waste.

 

In this category, the award went to

EPAM Polska

 for the Green Sweep Gdańsk project, involving over 30 employees from the company’s Gdańsk branch in a nationwide initiative to clean up illegal landfills.

 

OLIVIA PRO BONO

 

The main prize in the category Olivia Pro Bono, awarded to pro-social projects, won the Gdansk Foundation for Management Development per project GFKM Masters – Pomeranian Tournament of Decision-Making Games. The project is aimed at Pomeranian students of high schools, technical schools and vocational schools and includes supporting education in the field of management, entrepreneurship and teamwork, as well as supporting young talents in their search for paths of their own development. The project is based on the use of a tool used to conduct business simulations, and assumes showing young people the challenges associated with running a business. This program is usually used as part of the Executive MBA classes and is aimed at middle and senior management representatives. As Krzysztof Jędrzejowski, a representative of the Gdańsk Foundation for Management Development, emphasizes, GFKM Masters is a project that is to give young people a chance for favourable conditions for development and gaining practical professional skills: In all school corridors there are many leaders, both present and future. The potential of these young people is enormous, and we do not want to miss the opportunity to support their development. We try to provide them with the opportunity to gain experience even before they enter the job market, which will make it easier for them to have a good start in their careers. We decided to create an initiative aimed exclusively at students, knowing that they will soon be able to work in our environment and make key decisions. We want to equip them with competences and skills that will allow them to meet modern market requirements.

 

In the Pro Bono category, two companies received awards: Bayer and

O4 Coworking

. The first of them was awarded for the

Jump High for Santa Claus

 project, which integrates employees from 14 companies around a charity volleyball tournament supporting the Hospice Foundation in Gdańsk, and the second for the O4-ians help project, under which the coworking community regularly and systemically engages in social and charity campaigns.

 

– This year’s edition of Olivia Prize applications included projects at a very high level, which makes us happy, because its intention is to distinguish and promote the most valuable projects in all categories – says Bogusław Wieczorek, Olivia Centre Representative. ” What’s more, the awards are given to projects that companies usually do not talk about publicly, but which bring great business, social and environmental value, so we feel obliged to emphasize the social benefits of their implementation and help the authors of the projects to publicize the beneficial initiatives that are carried out in the Olivia Centre.

 

The winners of each category received statuettes by Dr. hab. Tomasz Sobisz, Vice-Dean of the Faculty of Sculpture and Intermedia at the Academy of Fine Arts in Gdańsk.

 

 

The special guest of the Olivia Prize 2023 award ceremony was Marcin Piatkowski, professor at Kozminski University in Warsaw and economist at the World Bank in Washington. He gave a lecture Pt. “The Golden Age. How did Poland become a European leader in growth and what does the future hold for it?”

 

 

Olivia Prize 2023 award ceremony. Lecture by prof. Marcin Piatkowski’s “Polish Golden Age”

Posted on by Katarzyna Halicka

We would like to invite you to the award ceremony in the Olivia Prize competition! For the fourth time, we will award the projects of employees and companies from Olivia Centre. The special guest of the event will be prof. Marcin Piatkowski.
Registration required.

 

 

Agenda of the meeting

 

18:00 Opening

18:00-18:10 Welcoming guests

18:10-19:10 Lecture by prof. Marcin Piatkowski’s “Polish Golden Age”

19:10-20:00 Olivia Prize Awards Ceremony

20:00-21:00 Closing / cocktail

 

 

Lecture by prof. Marcin Piatkowski’s “Polish Golden Age”

 

 

Marcin Piatkowski

Professor at Kozminski University in Warsaw and leading economist at the World Bank in Washington. Previously, he was a visiting economist at Harvard University, chief economist at PKO BP, economist at the European Department and advisor to the executive director at the International Monetary Fund in Washington. Former advisor to the Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Finance of the Republic of Poland. Author of several dozen scientific publications, lecturer at leading universities in the world and active commentator on economic events in the Polish and world media.

 

Author of the book “Europe’s Growth Champion. Insights from the Economic Rise of Poland.”, also published in Poland, where in 2019 it received the award of the Polish Academy of Sciences for the best book on economics, and in 2020 it won the first place in the Economicus competition of “Dziennik Gazeta Prawna” for the best book promoting economic knowledge.

 

“The Golden Age. How did Poland become a European leader in growth and what does the future hold for it?”

 

  • Why are some countries rich and others poor?
  • Why are some able to get out of economic backwardness, while others are stuck in poverty?

 

The author provides answers to these questions on the example of Polish and its unprecedented economic success after 1989, when we achieved the fastest growth rate in Europe and one of the fastest in the world. As a result, in just one generation, Poland joined a small group of high-income countries and entered its economic golden age. It also analyses the causes of the earlier centuries-long backwardness of the state and emphasizes the key role of inclusive institutions, culture, ideas and individuality as sources of Polish success. In addition, it points to threats to further development and proposes a new growth model that would allow Poland to catch up with the West for the first time in history.

 

Olivia Prize Awards Ceremony

 

The Olivia Prize is awarded in four categories:

  • Olivia Business – for an economic or business project, carried out individually or in teams by Olivia Centre Residents.
  • Olivia Pro Bono – for a social project, carried out individually or in teams by the Residents of Olivia Centre.
  • Olivia Eco – for an ecological project, carried out individually or in teams by Olivia Centre Residents.
  • Olivia Impact – for the project that in 2023 had the greatest positive impact on the environment, in the business, social or ecological area. This special prize is awarded at the Jury’s choice from among all submitted initiatives.

 

The winners will receive vouchers and statuettes prepared by the Prof. Tomasz Sobisz.

 

Prof. Academy of Fine Arts dr hab. Tomasz Sobisz

He graduated from the Academy of Fine Arts in Gdańsk in 1998. Habilitated doctor, works at his alma mater at the Faculty of Sculpture and Intermedia. Currently, he is the Vice-Dean of the Faculty of Sculpture and Intermedia. His sculptural output has been honoured with many prestigious awards, including the award of the Minister of Culture and Art, the award of the Mayor of Gdańsk in the field of culture, the award of the Rector of the Academy of Fine Arts in Gdańsk, and the award at the First Triennial of Pomeranian Art. In 2012 he received the PRO PATRIA Medal, and in 2014 he was awarded the Skra Ormuzdowa and the Medal of the Senate of the Republic of Poland. He has presented his sculptural achievements at many exhibitions, including at the Centre of Polish Sculpture in Orońsko (2011) and in Gdańsk at individual exhibitions: MEMORANDUM, STABILE (Gdańsk City Gallery, 2012) and BATTLEFIELD (State Gallery of Art in Sopot, 2015).

 

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