BETA – NEW OFFICE BUILDING AT BB CENTRUM

The new Building BETA has been today inaugurated at BB Centrum office park in Prague 4 – Michle. As it is the eight building to be completed at BB Centrum, it reflects a wealth of experience gained by developer Passerinvest Group in the previous phases. The construction, which started in September 2003, has been completed thanks to general contractor Hochtief, general architect Jan Aulík and the financing HVB Bank. With nine above-ground levels and three basements, the building provides a 19,000-sqm area for lease, including two restaurants (Mexican and French), a breakfast café, a bar and a cafeteria. The basement parking facilities have a capacity of about 330 cars. The BB Centrum’s reputation and qualities of the BETA have led to great business success. About sixty per cent of the BETA Building, whose construction started without any prelease agreements, has been occupied by the following prestigious companies: Strom telecom (s. r. o.), Samsung Electronics (Magyar Rt., Czech subsidiary), RWE Energy Customer Services CZ (a. s.), Logos N (a. s.), Goodyear Dunlop Tires Czech (s. r. o.), Okin Facility CZ (s. r. o.), DNS (a. s.), Hacienda Mexicana. Negotiations with other prospective tenants are under way. The average monthly rent is slightly below € 15, depending on the volume of the contract.

The Beta has an ideal location, being erected at the central crossroads of BB Centrum site, opposite the Eurotel Building. It is separated from the adjacent buildings with ample green vegetation. The latest materials and technologies were applied to the new development for high comfort and efficient operations. Security has taken priority. Separate spaces for the tenants and the public, turnstiles, access cards, closed-circuit camera system and round-the-clock surveillance, these are only some visible elements of the security system. As the interior layout is very flexible, the particular tenants can choose between open-space and separate offices. Interiors of the building make a considerable use of natural materials such as timber, stone and glass. The building is beautifully light thanks to two atriums (open and covered). There is a common terrace for all tenants of the building and a terrace reserved for the top floor users on the top floor of the Beta. “While the ALPHA offers a very natural, mountain-like environment owing to the type of plants and the climate, the BETA has a terrace in the city style. The flanks of the terrace are made of high all-glass walls to enable people to relax there even under adverse weather conditions,” explains general architect Jan Aulík.

“When we began work on the BB Centrum scheme, it was the year 1992. Today, 13 years later, we are opening the eighth building developed on the site. As I see it – and I am sure my colleagues will agree – it is more than another office building, it is a piece of our lives. It is pleasant to look back and thank God for blessing that have been given to us,” says Radim Passer, Chairman of the Board of Directors, Passerinvest Group. “BB Centrum is now a sought-after address of reputable companies. Also this is why roughly 60% of the building, whose construction started without any prelease agreements in September 2003, has been occupied. Each of the seven “senior” buildings has been fully occupied by tenants and purchased by institutional investors. I am sure we would not achieve this business success without harmonious relationships with tenants and the HVB Bank, which has been the financing bank for several years. Similarly, collaboration with Studio A has been playing an important role for twelve years, and meticulous selection of partners and suppliers is of great importance too. Our project could not have been successfully implemented without correct relationships with the authorities,” added Radim Passer.

The largest office park in the Czech Republic, BB Centrum offers now a 100,000-sqm area of prime office, retail and residential premises in eight completed buildings. The developer of BB Centrum, Passerinvest Group, has so far invested over CZK 5 billiard out of the planned CZK 15 billiard. It is envisaged that – on completion of all plans – the complex will provide more than 300,000-sqm spaces for lease in over 15 buildings, as well as some 6,000 parking places, mostly on the basement levels. The scheme includes a self-contained network of shops and restaurants, two large formal parks, a church with a community centre, an outdoor multi-purpose playground and a modern wellness centre with a wide range of relaxation and sports services. The developer aims at creating a favourable and pleasant working environment for over 15,000 people. By comparison, almost 6,000 employees work at BB Centrum these days.