U•Center 2 Office Building in Bucharest clinches two SEE Property Forum 2023 Awards
Bucharest, Romania – U•Center 2, the latest addition to Bucharest's flourishing business landscape, has secured two prestigious awards at the 2023 South Eastern Europe (SEE) Property Forum Awards. Property Forum, a leading industry publication, recognised this office complex for its outstanding contributions to the Romanian real estate market.
The annual SEE Property Forum Awards, organised by Property Forum, celebrate the finest real estate projects, noteworthy transactions, and inspiring figures in Romania's property sector. This year's awards ceremony took place in Bucharest as part of the SEE Property Forum conference.
Chapman Taylor designed U•Center 2, owned by Forte Partners, earned recognition in two significant categories:
- Office Project of the Year: U•Center 2 by Forte Partners
- Lease Transaction of the Year - Office: Adobe at U•Center 2 by Forte Partners
The U•Center 2 office building, boasting an impressive Gross Leasable Area (GLA) of 35,000 square metres, reached completion in August. This achievement comes two years after the commencement of construction on the second phase of the U•Center project, located in the Tineretului area of Bucharest. The building is now prepared to welcome its tenants, including companies that have inked agreements for office and retail spaces encompassing nearly 28,000 square metres.
Geo Mărgescu, CEO and co-founder of Forte Partners, expressed his pride in the completion of U•Center 2, especially given the challenging market conditions in 2023, marked by a notable reduction in new office space deliveries. He highlighted the project's adaptability to evolving office market needs, particularly in response to the significant changes in work styles since the project's initial construction in 2019. Mărgescu noted, "U•Center 2 has been chosen by major companies," reflecting its alignment with the evolving demands of modern businesses.
The first phase of the U•Center project was finalised in the third quarter of 2021 and is now fully occupied by esteemed clients such as Booking Holdings, Endava, Lensa, Up Romania, BT, Neuroaxis, DCS plus. In November 2022, the first phase was acquired by Pavăl Holding, signifying a testament to its value in the market.
Notably, the first phase of the project achieved the coveted LEED Platinum certification with a score of 85, one of the highest ratings in Romania for LEED v4, and the WELL Health & Safety certification. In February 2023, it also secured the WELL Platinum certification with a score of 91, the highest in Romania at the time. Forte Partners has set its sights on obtaining these same prestigious certifications for the second phase of U•Center, solidifying its commitment to sustainability and wellness in the workplace.
The U•Center project, comprising both U•Center 1 and U•Center 2, has not only enhanced the business community in the Tineretului area but also transformed it into a vital business hub, contributing to the local economy and the well-being of the community.
U•Center 2's recognition at the SEE Property Forum Awards reaffirms its position as a pioneering development in the Romanian real estate landscape, reflecting innovation, sustainability, and adaptability to the evolving needs of the modern business world.