Newsletter 26

EUROSTADIUM
BRUSSELS
THE EUROSTADIUM WILL BE A UNIQUE PL ACE WHERE PEOPLE
CAN ENJOY AND E XPERIENCE A COMMUNIT Y FEELING.
THE KE Y FE ATURES ARE TR ANSPARENCY AND SUSTAINABILIT Y.
RECORD DEAL
WITH SAMSUNG
NEWSLETTER 26 - VOLUME 7 - JULY 2015
SAMSUNG WILL TAKE UP 21,082 SQM OF SPACE IN
THE WARSAW SPIRE COMPLE X THAT WILL ULTIMATELY
PROVIDE 100,000 SQM OFFICE SPACE.
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CONTENTS
EDITO
NEWSLETTER 26
PAUL GHEYSENS, CEO GHELAMCO
INVESTMENT PROJECTS POLAND
2018…
60,000 seats…12-hectare park…
11,000 underground parking spaces…room to park 5000 bicycles.
The Eurostadium is becoming a
reality.
Press Articles - Interview, Mipim 2015
Jeroen van der Toolen, managing director
CEE Ghelamco, on the state of the Polish
real estate market
Brussels is getting its own new
football stadium.
Warsaw Spire
Topping out event
Ghelamco in Belgium has worked
very hard on the Eurostadium
project over the past year, designing an extraordinary venue that
will not only give a new face to the
city of Brussels and the Brussels
Capital Region in general, but also
the borough of Grimbergen and the
Royal Sporting Club Anderlecht.
Samsung opts for the Spire:
a record breaking office market deal
Projects under construction
Residential project Foksal
Office projects: Sienna Towers and Wołoska 24
Retail project Plac Vogla
Simon, Paul and Michael Gheysens
This 20th June, the partners to the project were able to announce
publicly that Belgium will finally have a stadium that provides the
answers to all of our national and international sporting ambitions.
Ghelamco is also evolving significantly from an organisational
point of view and is increasingly becoming a company making
its presence felt on the financial markets. Ghelamco is the first
unlisted company to issue a programme of EMTN (Euro MediumTerm Notes). This is a programme of bonds (via the issue of
‘notes’) issued in a various tranches, based on the wishes and
requirements of institutional and private banking investors – and
Ghelamco’s funding requirements, of course.
However, this project is so much more than just a football stadium.
In fact, the Eurostadium will be one of the few football stadiums
in the world to be situated in genuine parkland – like a green
lung, equivalent in size to approximately 20 football fields –
where the people who live and work in the city will be able to
enjoy the green surroundings all year round. In addition to being
a stadium capable of accommodating top international matches
and tournaments, the Eurostadium will first and foremost be a
venue where ‘active living’ will play a central role.
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Creative Director Ria Gheysens
Graphic Design Hanne Thomas
Contact person headquarters:
[email protected]
INVESTMENT PROJECTS BELGIUM
Eurostadium, Brussels
A powerful vision of social cohesion and
engagement in the heart of Belgium
It will also be the first time a Ghelamco bond will be listed on
Euronext.
Ghelamco had also adjusted its governance structure for this
purpose. I have indicated the preference myself to opt for experienced directors who are genuinely independent, rather than
call on my own personal network. As the leader of the company,
it is entirely to my benefit to work with the whole family to bring
in sincerely committed directors who are able to think with total
autonomy about the future of our company. I feel this is also the
best guarantee for the future and my sons have strongly urged
the development of a Board of Directors that will continue to
face our challenges and develop further into the future. A Board
of Directors with all the right checks and balances is crucial
during our growth phase.
The finest proof of how these synergies and generate success is,
of course, the ‘Ghelamco Arena’ in Ghent. A stadium where the
title of football champions was greeted with such exuberance. A
place where so many people feel involved. Our infrastructure and
the excellent amenities at the stadium create a fine opportunity
for anyone who goes there to feel and become part of community.
Interview
Independent administrative mandates for
Johnny Thijs and Philip Neyt
It has also been party-time in Warsaw. The topping-out of the
Spire, towering above the city at 200 metres, was brilliant. The
wonderful words spoken by the mayor and the Belgian ambassador also shone a clear spotlight again on the amazing nature
of this iconic project on Plac Europeski.
Projects under construction
Urban development projects:
Residential project Tribeca (Ghent) and Student
flats Waterview (Leuven)
The whole Ghelamco Belgium team, which had brought the good
weather with them, thoroughly enjoyed themselves. Contacts
with the Warsaw team were outstanding good and rewarding.
its stunning water features. The
hospitality options and various
types of restaurants are similarly
impressive. All of the tenants in
the building are strong companies. For instance, as the largest
tenant, Samsung has made its
R&D team available to make the
Spire its pilot project for Europe.
All that hard work is paying off
and the exceptional know-how
we offer can also be seen from
the granting of the building
permit to restore the unique historic buildings in Ulica Foksal.
This project has been years in
the making, but is powerful evidence of our professional knowledge and abilities.
Johnny Thijs has been recruited as an independent director and
will be chairman of the audit committee. Philip Neyt is not only
a director, but also the chairman of the family council. Michael
and Simon continue to grow in the company and are taking over
more and more from me.
Finally, I would like to thank all of our staff for their efforts that
have made over the recent period – and I wish everyone an excellent holiday.
The Spire is a project that excels from every point of view. Not
just in its size and scope, but also in terms of the parkland, with
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CONTENTS
E D I TO
GHELAMCO
POLAND
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GHEL AMCO POL AND
GHEL AMCO POL AND
MIPIM 2015
Q2 2015, Issue No. 09, page 76 - 77
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GHEL AMCO POL AND
GHEL AMCO POL AND
WARSAW, POLAND
WARSAW
SPIRE
TOPPING
OUT
EVENT
Paul Gheysens
The topping out was a symbolic way to close an important
stage in the construction process of the Warsaw Spire, i.e. the
completion of the structure of the third building making up the
complex. In July 2015 the Warsaw Spire will reach its maximum
height of 220 meters. Until the investment’s completion in
April 2016, installation and finishing works will be carried out in
buildings “A” (the tower) and “C.” Building “B” was delivered in
September 2014.
To celebrate this completion, a tree branch was placed on the
final (49th) floor of the tower building.
In his opening speech, Paul Gheysens, President of Ghelamco
Group, emphasized the project’s impact on the office property
market, the whole city and its residents. “Warsaw Spire has
a significant impact on the capital’s urban fabric. Thanks to
this project, a zone that was inaccessible for years is brought
back to life through a successful combination of commercial
and public functions. The place has become user-friendly and
is open to the local community. Warsaw Spire is Ghelamco’s
flagship investment and out key project in Warsaw. It is also
one of the most challenging construction projects in execution
in Europe. This investment perfectly reflects Ghelamco’s
philosophy: We create the future today,” he said, adding
that there is still a lot of work to be done before the project’s
completion in 12 months.
On the 24th of April 2015
a topping out event was
held at the construction site
of the Warsaw Spire.
On April 24th, 2015 the topping out ceremony was held for the Warsaw Spire, Europe’s largest
office building under construction at the moment. The event was attended by 450 guests,
incl. her Excellency, the Ambassador of Belgium in Poland – Colette Taquet,
Mayor of Warsaw – Hanna Gronkiewicz-Waltz, President of Ghelamco Group – Paul Gheysens,
Managing Director CEE Ghelamco – Jeroen van der Toolen, the developer’s representatives,
Warsaw Spire’s tenants and Ghelamco Poland’s business partners.
Hanna Gronkiewicz
Hanna Gronkiewicz-Waltz, Mayor of Warsaw, recognized the
developer’s extraordinary focus on the surrounding area. While
congratulating Ghelamco on its unique project, she wished it a
lot of success and new investments, and assured the company’s
representatives that “(…) I love Warsaw as much as you do.”
Jeroen van der Toolen
Jeroen van der Toolen, Managing director CEE of Ghelamco
said: “From the very start, we could see the vast potential of
this place, located next to Rondo Daszynskiego, one of the
crucial points in Warsaw’s road system. The design process
was preceded by extensive research and analysis. We wanted
to meet the tenant’s expectations, offering more than a perfect
location and state-of-the-art technology. Addressing the
market demand, we developed a modern mixed-use office
complex and a new urban square.”
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GHEL AMCO POL AND
GHEL AMCO POL AND
“GHELAMCO’S INVESTMENT OFFERS MUCH MORE THAN
JUST NEW OFFICE SPACE. THIS COMPLEX REFLECTS THE
SOUL OF THE CITY. IT IS CLEAR THAT WARSAW IS A CITY
FULL OF DREAMS. MR PAUL GHEYSENS MANAGED TO
GRASP WHAT’S MOST IMPORTANT. IT PUTS A NEW HEART
IN THE CITY OF WARSAW AND WILL SURELY SHAPE THE
LIFE AND THE MEMORIES OF THE WARSAWIANS FOR THE
GENERATIONS TO COME. ”
Colette Taquet, Belgian Ambassador in Poland
Colette Taquet, Belgian Ambassador in Poland
SPEECH BY COLETTE TAQUET, BELGIAN AMBASSADOR
Today is a special day, a landmark in the relations between
Belgium and Poland. The relations between Belgium
and Poland are excellent and fruitful. Not only at the
diplomatic, official level, but the relations between the
people of our countries, tell successful and happy stories
in many domains. Such is the Warsaw Spire truly a flagship
achievement. I shall remember its topping out as a moment
of pride and joy.
Pride: because the Warsaw Spire is the achievement of a
Belgian firm, and it feels good to be the Ambassador of Belgium
at this very moment. In Belgium there is a savoir faire, an
expertise and a sense of entrepreneurship that drive talented
businessmen and businesswomen out of their borders, lead
them to think big and high, and to realize wonderful projects
abroad. In more than 20 years of activity, Ghelamco has
about this elegant Spire: a sense of resilience, dynamism and
freedom, that matches the soul of the city and the aspirations of
its citizens. Looking at the top of the Spire, one is convinced that
Warsaw is again a place for hope and dreams. Mr Gheysens, you
opened a big window on the future for people living here.
become one of the strongest and most respected Belgian
brands in Poland and Central and Eastern Europe.
Joy: because the Warsaw Spire is really a beautiful building.
And when I say building, I do not mean a building in the
traditional meaning of the word but I mean a construction that
merges art and functionality, creating positive emotions and
new perspectives in the skyline.
And to finish a note of thankfulness: When Ghelamco brings
to Poland the best architects, state-of-the-art technology and
engineering, innovative system, sustainable and environment
friendly construction, it contributes, in a magnificent way, to the
good reputation of the Belgian entrepreneurs in Poland, and
worldwide. As first officer in charge of the economic diplomacy,
I can say that this certainly deserves recognition and congratulations. So congratulations Mr & Mrs Gheysens, and congratulations
to the Ghelamco team.
This project reflects a long term vision. The Warsaw Spire is a
multifaceted project that will boost the renaissance of the Wola
area. It responds to the needs of the citizens: offices, homes,
public spaces, exhibitions of art, places to relax, and good
connections. It puts a new heart in the city of Warsaw and will
surely shape the life and the memories of the Warsawians for the
generations to come. Of course, it is not the first realization of
Ghelamco in Poland, nor in Warsaw. But located at a stone throw
of the Uprising Museum, there is something very distinctive
With kind permission of Mrs Taquet, données à caractère personnel -N4 persoonsgegevens (loi/wet 8.12.1992)
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GHEL AMCO POL AND
GHEL AMCO POL AND
“THE AGREEMENT IS THE BIGGEST LEASE TRANSACTION ON THE OFFICE MARKET IN DOWNTOWN WARSAW.
WE ARE GLAD TO HAVE BEEN ABLE TO ASSIST THE TENANT WITH RESPECT TO THIS DEAL, ESPECIALLY
SINCE IT INVOLVES CONSOLIDATING THE COMPANY’S R&D FUNCTIONS FROM THREE DIFFERENT
LOCATIONS AROUND THE CITY. OUR CLIENT WAS LOOKING FOR A UNIQUE AND MODERN BUILDING WHICH
BOASTS GREAT LOCATION, OFFERS A LOT OF AMENITIES AND ALLOWS LONG-TERM EXPANSION. WARSAW
SPIRE, TOP-CLASS OFFICE COMPLEX BUILT BY A LEADING DEVELOPER, GHELAMCO, HAS MET ALL THESE
REQUIREMENTS. IT IS ALSO WORTH NOTING THAT A FLEXIBLE TRANSACTION STRUCTURE IS HIGHLY
IMPORTANT WHEN IT COMES TO VERY LARGE LEASE CONTRACTS LIKE THIS ONE.”
1st of May, 2015
Karol Patynowski, Associate Director, Tenant Representation at Jones Lang LaSalle (JLL)
ABOUT THE WARSAW SPIRE
Warsaw Spire is a unique office project emerging in Warsaw city
center. It is based upon a vision that seamlessly combines office
space with a unique approach to modern urban space. The project
is located in one of the most rapidly developing parts of the capital,
with numerous modern office buildings and prestigious residential projects, as well as excellent transport links, including trams,
buses and a metro line.
EuropaProperty.com
20th of April, 2015
The complex includes a 220-meter tower building (48 levels) and
2 lower buildings, each being 55 meters high (15 levels). Together,
they will provide approx. 100,000 m2 of office space equipped with
state-of-the-art technical solutions.
Warsaw Spire is more than just modern office space. Unlike any
other business complex in Warsaw, it is about to offer urban areas
that will be accessible to all Warsaw residents. The vast patio is a
unique idea which has never been adopted for any office building before. This area will be filled with greenery, street furniture,
fountains and leisure amenities. The ground floors of the buildings
are going to be occupied by restaurants, coffee shops and stores,
which means that Warsaw Spire will continue to be teeming with
life after working hours.
The complex reflects Ghelamco’s green attitude as it is designed
and constructed according to the eco-requirements of BREEAM
certification system. Eco-solutions will strongly enhance both
working comfort and the effectiveness of the complex by implementing state-of-the-art HVAC systems, lighting systems, BMS,
elevators and other installations.
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GHEL AMCO POL AND
GHEL AMCO POL AND
THE HERITAGE OF 19TH CENTURY ARCHITECTURE
Before 1900, the prestigious character of Foksal street was greatly enhanced by the
aristocratic palaces and townhouses, built in highly decorative historic styles modelled
on Baroque and Renaissance architecture. Blending perfectly with the rest of the buildings lining the street, the houses at numbers 13 and 15 were true pearls of 19th century
architecture: erected at the end of the century in eclectic and neo-Baroque styles, they
were admired for their distinctive decorative detail and graceful façades.
The homogeneous and rich decor of the two façades did not keep pace with the
changing times and architectural fashion — in the 1930s the front of the house at
no. 13 was remodelled in the then-obligatory modernist style.
Despite significant damage suffered by the entire quarter, both houses survived
World War II and post-war years almost intact; even the rich interior decoration was
preserved. Thanks to the sole surviving photograph of the house at no. 13, taken prior
to its remodelling, it has been possible to reconstruct the original, richly decorated façade, dating to the period before 1900. Thanks to Ghelamco’s efforts and in
compliance with the city conservator’s and Minister of Culture and National Heritage
decision, the façades of both houses will be restored to their consistent historic form,
dating back to the 19th century.
FOKSAL – A PRESTIGIOUS WARSAW ADDRESS
Two historic houses at ul. Foksal 13/15 will be turned into a
luxury apartment complex in the historic centre of Warsaw,
in close proximity to the Royal Route, connecting the
Royal Castle and the Old Town. Foksal street boasts a rich
heritage; its buildings were erected on the grounds of former
gardens that used to belong to local aristocrats, and since
its foundation in the early 19th century it enjoyed the status
of one of the most elegant urban streets in the Polish capital.
Today its prestigious character is enhanced by the proximity of
Warsaw’s best restaurants, boutiques and cultural institutions.
LUXURIOUS AMENITIES FOR THE RESIDENTS
Foksal 13/15 will become an investment for connoisseurs
looking for authenticity and timeless style. Each of the luxury
apartments of various sizes will be different from all the others
thanks to the restored historic elements of interior decoration.
The unique details will be combined with modern materials
and world-class finish to achieve unmatched quality.
The parts shared by the two houses, such as staircases and
inner courtyards, will also be renovated. For the convenience
of residents, even the lifts will be recreated. Foksal 13/15
residents will have a two-level underground car park at their
disposal, as well as round-the-clock security guards and
concierge services. The complex will also include a fitness
room and hotel rooms for the residents’ exclusive use to
accommodate their guests comfortably.
WARSAW, POLAND
GHELAMCO LAUNCHES
THE FOKSAL 13/15
RESIDENTIAL PROJECT
Ghelamco Residential has just received the final permit for the construction of a prestigious apartment
house at Foksal street 13/15. Unique quality, historic value and excellent location in the heart of the
Polish capital make the project one of the most anticipated luxury housing investments in the region.
“FOR OUR COMPANY, FOKSAL 13/15 WILL BECOME
YET ANOTHER STEP TOWARDS RESPONSIBLE
DEVELOPMENT, RESPECTFUL FOR THE HISTORIC
HERITAGE OF THE GIVEN LOCATION. WE WILL CREATE
A PIECE OF REAL ESTATE OF WHICH THE STATUS
AND VALUE WILL BE INCOMPARABLY HIGHER THAN
THOSE OF NEW BUILDINGS. WITHOUT A DOUBT THIS
WILL BE ONE OF THE MOST INTERESTING PROJECTS
IN THE HISTORY OF OUR COMPANY TO DATE.”
Foksal 13/15 will be the only investment in the luxury real
estate market in Poland featuring such rich, authentic architectural details surviving from the past. Many elements of the
original decoration, such as stuccoes, overdoors and frescoes
covering the walls and ceilings will be painstakingly restored to
their former glory. As part of the project, unique elements that
have not survived to the present day will be reconstructed —
such as the external lift, which at the time of its construction
was the only lift with panoramic views in Warsaw.
The process of restoring the buildings to their former splendor
will be supervised by a team of experts. Among those invited
by Ghelamco to work on the project is Prof. Jadwiga Roguska
from the Faculty of Architecture at the Warsaw University of
Technology, a renowned expert in 19th century architecture.
The investment has also been consulted with the Office of the
Historic Buildings’ Conservator in Warsaw.
Jeroen van der Toolen, Managing Director CEE Ghelamco
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GHEL AMCO POL AND
GHEL AMCO POL AND
WARSAW, POLAND
SIENNA TOWERS
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We create
IN ADDITION TO 87,000 M² OFFICE SPACE, SIENNA TOWERS WILL INCLUDE
ALMOST 13,000 M² RETAIL SPACE ON ITS BASEMENT, GROUND AND
FIRST FLOOR. FOR THE MAXIMUM CONVENIENCE OF ITS TENANTS AND
CUSTOMERS, THE COMPLEX WILL BE THE FIRST COMMERCIAL BUILDING IN
WARSAW TO HAVE A DIRECT UNDERGROUND LINK TO THE METRO STATION
ON RONDO DASZYNSKIEGO. MOREOVER, THE PROJECT WILL HAVE
APPROXIMATELY 1,000 PARKING SPACES ON FOUR UNDERGROUND LEVELS.
Rondo Daszynskiego is currently the fastest developing area in the Polish capital. With excellent
public transport links, including a second metro line, and a wide range of office, retail and
residential projects, it is set to become Warsaw’s new business and residential quarter.
Situated opposite the Warsaw Spire, Rondo Daszynskiego will also serve as a location
for new Ghelamco projects, such as the Sienna Towers.
Ghelamco Poland will start to develop a new project,
temporary called Sienna Towers, comprising offices and retail
area. The project, totaling 100,000 m² of leasable space, will
consist of three towers on top of a common podium of three
floors, predestined to become a vibrant retail and conference
center. The tallest tower is guaranteed to reach a height of over
30 floors, since the building project for the development has
already been secured.
The most important asset of the development is undoubtedly
its excellent location, right on Rondo Daszynskiego. This
square is the currently fastest developing area of the Polish
capital. With excellent transport links and a wide range
of office, retail and residential project, it is set to become
Warsaw’s new business and residential hotspot.
For the maximum convenience of its tenants and customers,
Sienna Towers will be the first commercial building in Warsaw
to have a direct underground link to the metro station on
Rondo Daszynskiego. Moreover, the project will have approximately 1.000 parking spaces on four underground levels.
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GHEL AMCO POL AND
GHEL AMCO POL AND
“ANOTHER STRENGHT OF THIS INVESTMENT PROJECT
IS ITS EXCELLENT LOCATION. THIS PROJECT IS EASILY
ACCESSIBLE BY CAR, HAS CONVENIENT PARKING AREAS
AND IS LOCATED NEXT TO THE MAJOR RESIDENTIAL
AREAS. THIS MEANS THAT IT HAS A CATCHMENT AREA
OF OVER 26,000 PEOPLE.”
Plac Vogla is a new concept on the construction market. With its unique
architecture, which is specially designed for its surroundings, carefully
chosen tenant mix and additional attractive amenities, including restaurants,
playgrounds and green areas, it will become not only a modern retail centre,
but also a great place for local people to meet and spend time.
Plac Vogla, Wilanów district Warsaw, Poland
11.000 m2 retail space
Plac Vogla will be a Local Retail and Service Center,
which is a new formula on the Polish real estate
market. This moderate scale project is addressed
to Wilanów’s inhabitants and will create a venue for
everyday shopping and a meeting place for local
community, thus providing an alternative for the
typical large-scale malls.
WILANÓW DISTRICT WARSAW, POLAND
Currently, works on reinforced concrete construction
and bricklaying of the whole project come to an end.
The rain water sewage and sanitary installations on
the square between the buildings are completed.
PLAC VOGLA,
A NEW MARKET CONCEPT
The first of Ghelamco’s retail projects in Poland – Plac Vogla in Warsaw’s Wilanów – will be ready
in September this year. The project with approximately 5,200 m2 retail space will accommodate
as many as 20 premises, including high quality, specialized groceries, wide range of restaurants,
cafes and services. The concept of the investment consists of a low, one floor-high building.
Building A, let by Alma Delikatesy, a chain of delicatessen offering high quality products from all over
the world, is completed and handed over by the
tenant, who had started fit-out works for the interior.
Building B is in the process of trapezoidal metal
covering. In building C the assembly of steel structure
of the roof is almost finished. While works on facades
are in-progress and installation of partition walls
between tenants is being conducted. The construction site currently employs about 110 people.
Building progress at the Plac Vogla-site. Wilanów district, Warsaw.
The project will be delivered in September 2015.
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GHEL AMCO POL AND
GHEL AMCO POL AND
WARSAW, POLAND
Lucka/Wronia will be the newest Ghelamco project.
Even though its name is still of a temporary nature,
the design of the project has been committed.
WOŁOSKA 24,
A HIGHLY SUSTAINABLE
OFFICE PROJECT
A unique combination of brick, stone and glass will
be used to develop a user friendly office building.
Lucka/Wronia is not only designed according to
BREEAM requirements, it will also offer a kindergarten on the ground floor and a health center with
private entrance to please all its office users.
Ghelamco is currently building a new office project ‘Woloska 24’ in Warsaw’s Mokotów district.
This 21,000 m² office building will also offer retail space targeting outlet shops and service
providers. The project will stand out because of its excellent accessibility, visibility and functionality
and its thought-out configuration.
Construction works at Woloska 24, the latest
Ghelamco office project in Warsaw’s Mokotów
district, reached an above ground level.
About 200 people are working on the construction
site at the moment and the construction progress
evolves according to schedule. Currently, reinforced
concrete works and construction of walls and
parts of the ceilings are being conducted, as well
as electrical works in the underground garage.
The construction of levels -4, -3 and -2 has been
completed, while the realization of the ground floor
is on-going.
As every Ghelamco project, Woloska 24 is designed
and being constructed according to the requirements of the most popular eco certificate in Europe,
BREEAM. The project is scheduled for delivery in
Q2 2016.
WARSAW, POLAND
BUILDING PERMIT FOR
ŁUCKA /WRONIA
A building permit was obtained for Lucka/Wronia. This new office project, next to
the Warsaw Spire complex, will offer 17,000 m² of office space on 15 levels.
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GHEL AMCO POL AND
GHEL AMCO POL AND
GHELAMCO
BELGIUM
5.000 fietsplaatsen
11.000 parkings
60.000 zitjes
12 ha park
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G H E L A M C O B E LG I U M
G H E L A M C O B E LG I U M
A POWERFUL VISION OF
SOCIAL COHESION AND ENGAGEMENT
IN THE HEART OF BELGIUM
Fltr.: Alain Courtois, alderman and Sports Chairman,
Yvan Mayeur, Mayor of the City of Brussels,
Paul Gheysens, CEO Ghelamco,
Rudi Vervoort, Minister-President of the Brussels Capital Region,
Roger Vanden Stock, president, Royal Sporting Club Anderlecht
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1. THE STADIUM
The stadium is an open, transparent multifunctional
complex. The various spaces are grandiose in their
height and breadth. Combined with the rich, natural
light that pours in, this openness is the visitor’s
guarantee of an enjoyable experience. The open
stadium roof also provides natural ventilation, while
ingenious roof domes capture the daylight and
amplify the light level in the stands.
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2. THE CAMPUS
The campus in the park is an outstanding
innovation centre for sport and interdisciplinary
rehabilitation. Plus, this centre is not an island
locked away from the rest of the complex. It forms a
cohesive whole with the surrounding parkland.
3. THE PAVILION
The pavilion behind the park will be an area for
relaxation and leisure, reinforcing the attractiveness
of the park, making it a safe and secure place due
to the constant coming and going of visitors.
BRUSSELS, BELGIUM
EUROSTADIUM BRUSSELS
We are turning a desolate piece of land into a welcoming new location that not only looks fantastic,
but also has many possibilities. Our ambitions are coming true. The Eurostadium will play an active
role in the life of the capital. Local residents and visitors will feel inspired in the ‘life parkland’, which
links various open spaces and pavilions. The parkland is much more than just a park surrounding a
stadium; it is a sustainable, open place for people to get together and enjoy themselves.
ART IN THE PARK
We have designed the Eurostadium in such a way
that the available space in the park can be put to
full use. It will be a genuine experience park, filled
with sporting and cultural opportunities, with water
acting as the uniting element. Exhibitions and live
performances will give the park a unique cachet.
The new park ‘extends’ other, existing city parks. It is
linked to the city from Verregat Park by a new garden
bridge, where it attaches itself to the stadium.
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G H E L A M C O B E LG I U M
G H E L A M C O B E LG I U M
THE STADIUM: EVERYONE’S A VIP
The new Eurostadium is naturally a thoroughbred football
stadium capable of accommodating 60,000 lovers of the sport.
The various restaurants outlets can provide catering for 10,000
visitors. All of the supporters can watch the match in the open
air. And without distinction, they will all be given VIP treatment,
whoever they are – before, during and after the match.
There is a pedestrian circuit on the ground floor, while on
level 3 there are extensive outdoor terraces and level 2 has
private boxes with room for 2390 guests. The business club,
and along both sides of the pitch, the grandstand contains
4278 seats on level 1. Basement level 2 is where the ‘Diamond
Club’ is located. This is where the players and their fans can
get together. The club section is over two levels and has views
over the whole playing area. And everywhere you go in the
stadium, you can see the stands, the Atomium and the city.
The roof of the stadium acts like an acoustic screen. To give
the venue a fully-fledged international atmosphere when an international match is being staged, we will be doing everything
we can to equal the level of hospitality enjoyed at Wembley. A
further interesting environmental touch in addition to the many
other sustainable characteristics is the recovery of rainwater
for irrigating the pitch, as well as heat recovery via the heat
pumps.
“THE WHOLE COMPLEX CREATES A LIVING
COMMUNITY WHERE PEOPLE CAN COME 365 DAYS
A YEAR. THE BASIC ELEMENTS ARE TRANSPARENCY,
PERCEPTION AND SUSTAINABILITY.”
John Eyers, Architect, Managing Director of
Jaspers - Eyers Architects
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G H E L A M C O B E LG I U M
The ground level of the site is reserved for pedestrians.
There is a connection situated over the thoroughfare Romeinse
Steenweg facilitated by the use of the ‘Garden Bridge’.
The capacity of the bridge is laid out so that no one has to cross
the street on foot, and any conflict between pedestrians and
vehicular traffic is thus eliminated.
ACCESSIBLE CHARM
Connections with public transport will be underground. The
distance from the pedestrian zone to the metro or tram stop is
never more than 600 metres. The new garden bridge provides
a clear link to the entrance to the stadium and helps reduce
usage of the busy Romeinse Steenweg.
Taking the underground link to and from NEO urban regeneration area, the traffic follows the direction from Mons and Ghent,
while the road to Liège and Antwerp takes the same route.
The bridge also extends the pedestrian zone towards the park
and the entrance to the stadium.
The absence of traffic lights and roundabouts is designed to
make the traffic run smoothly. One important feature is that
the traffic is never two-way at any point because it runs on 2
different levels. Finally, there will be 11,000 parking spaces.
The way the various functions at the site are organised means
that the operation of Brussels Expo will not be interfered with
while the works are going on.
The link for the entrances and exits to levels -3 and -2 is via the
various traffic lanes.
The existing pedestrian link to the Heizel exhibition complex
extends into the new car park. The link to Hall 12 at Heizel
will feature a staircase between the walkway and the existing
footpath around the Heizel.
The stadium is extremely easy to get to, for cyclists and
motorists, as well as for users of the public transport links.
For cyclists, there is parking for 5000 bikes under the bridge.
AVOIDING TRAFFIC JAMS
All vehicle traffic is underground to ensure that local
residents are not disturbed. Traffic will also flow along a new
underground link between the ring road and the car park.
FREE ACCESS FOR THE EMERGENCY SERVICES
Another aspect of the mobility arrangements is the safety
created by channelling the traffic through an underground
connecting road. The existing road links on the outer edges of
the site are reserved exclusively for the emergency services,
police, fire appliances and ambulances. The emergency
services also have their own locations on the playing area level.
Our proposal is designed to help prevent traffic jams on the
ring road. The centralised link between the stadium and the
car park also provides more shelter from the traffic.
The stadium has been designed
to be energy-positive. First and
foremost, we look for energy that
can be extracted from the immediate
surroundings.
On the one hand, we save as much
energy as possible. On the other
hand, we seek to fulfil the remaining
energy needs with green energy
production.
The cooling power of the fountains
in the ponds adheres to the cooling
power of the site. This is an example
of state-of-the-art innovative methods
that we use to reduce the net energy
production on the site.
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G H E L A M C O B E LG I U M
G H E L A M C O B E LG I U M
INTERVIEW JOHNNY THIJS
AND PHILIP NEYT
“PAUL IS NOT ONLY AN ENTREPRENEUR, BUT ALSO
SOMEONE WHO WANTS TO IMPROVE THE WORLD.
JUST LOOK AT WHAT GHELAMCO HAS DONE IN WARSAW:
THAT’S WHERE YOU CAN REALLY SEE THE TRACK RECORD
OF THE GHEYSENS FAMILY.”
In this issue, we invite you to get to know the two new directors of Ghelamco Invest better. Johnny
Thijs, former CEO of Interbrew, the Ter Beke Group and bpost, joined the Board of Directors as an
independent director on 22nd May 2015. Philip Neyt, previously Vice President Public Affairs and
Communications, Vice President Mergers & Acquisitions at Belgacom and former CEO of
the Belgacom Pension Fund, now sits on the Ghelamco Invest Board of Directors as
non-executive director and chairman of the family council.
GHELAMCO IS A COMPANY THAT OPERATES IN A
HIGHLY COMPETITIVE MARKET: WHAT SURPRISES
YOU THE MOST?
Nothing and a lot at the same time. I have a great deal of experience with competitive markets and in that sense, the markets
that Ghelamco operates in are no more difficult than any other.
However, I am well aware that ambition and a sense of initiative
and daring are the things that really make a difference and that
these properties are present to a large extent at Ghelamco and
to an exceptional degree in Mr Paul Gheysens. And even that’s
an understatement!
THE GREATEST ADDED VALUE?
That’s something that still has to materialise. Over time, I hope
to be able to establish the right proportion of formalism, planning, communication and organisation to be able to help and
guide the growth process of the company and the people who
work there. In doing so, the risk management side will also
require more attention. The world is changing at an astonishing rate and in the future we will always need to have the right
information wherever we are operating so that we can respond
quickly and appropriately.
IS GHELAMCO DIFFERENT? WHAT’S THE BIGGEST
CHALLENGE?
One, there’s the time that I’m spending on it. More than on my
other mandates. I’ve had to leave the Delhaize Group to one
side because of the hectic past few weeks.
WHY THE GHELAMCO BOARD OF DIRECTORS? WHAT
MAKES THIS MANDATE DIFFERENT FROM OTHER
MANDATES?
Johnny Thijs: After I left bpost, I decided not to take on any
more executive mandates and to spend part of my time doing
things that I wanted to do.
Two, the size and extent of the change process should not be
underestimated. Paul Gheysens is full of ideas, but transforming
this major competitive advantage into structure and organisation,
without disrupting the business dynamic is quite a challenge. For
this reason, we need to develop the structure of the company
further to bring more organisation and discipline to the fore.
Either on account of the size of the company and the usually
highly professional approach taken by the type of governance
that you find in that sort of company – here I could mention
Delhaize Group and USG People, for example. Or because of
the sector and the learning process that goes with it. Or because of the people and the relationship that I think I can build
up with them. Professional and demanding, yes, but at the
same time pleasantly sociable. H. Essers and also Ghelamco
offer a combination of those latter two characteristics.
Three, I need to get it across to the company employees
that they all have a major role to play together in making
the company more professional. They need to question the
conventional way of working more than ever and look to see
what contribution they can make individually and collectively to
make Ghelamco an even better company.
Sometimes I also regret that I didn’t become an architect. The
architectural delights created by Ghelamco often leave me
speechless and provide me with an opportunity to keep on
learning new things.
At Bpost, I always used the slogan ‘everything can always
be better’. It’s a slogan that we must also make our own in a
highly successful company such as Ghelamco.
Finally, it strikes me just how much the Gheysens family has an
eye for detail. The urge to seek perfection is the driving force in
everything they do. What they create has to be a delight for the
eye. Which is why they are also control freaks – a quality you
find in truly successful entrepreneurs!
YOU’RE NOT JUST A DIRECTOR, BUT ALSO THE
CHAIRMAN OF THE FAMILY COUNCIL. WHAT DOES
THAT INVOLVE?
Trust has to grow, of course. I have been working for the family
for almost two years now. Originally, my role was not as broad
as it is now. Mine is a fantastic role, but a delicate one.
What is particularly nice and actually quite rare with this type
of business... is the strong mutual bond cherished by the
Gheysens family. It is often said that behind every strong man
stands a strong woman. With the Gheysens family, this is particularly the case. Mrs Gheysens is perhaps the person who
throws out the biggest “challenges”. She keeps a very close
eye on the business. She is well informed and always asks
the right questions. Both from a distance and also from closer
than you might think, she always identifies the right “check and
balances”. Nothing escapes her – especially when it comes to
and details and execution!
WHAT EXACTLY DOES YOUR ROLE AT GHELAMCO
INVOLVE?
Philip Neyt: In the first instance, I’m a confidential adviser for
the family, a sort of sounding board. It’s important for a family
to have a confidential adviser who can put the challenges
facing the business into a broader perspective and provide an
objective point of view. I also make my fairly extensive network available so that the company can link up with external
stakeholders more quickly – which is something we are very
dependent on as a development company.
And the fact that the apple doesn’t fall far from the tree can be
seen from the way the children have been brought up. Hard
work, ambition and determination, all with mutual respect, are
the common theme that characterises the way the children,
Marie-Julie, Michael and Simon, operate.
WHAT IS SO SPECIFIC ABOUT GHELAMCO AND WHY
DID YOU OPT FOR GHELAMCO?
Ghelamco is not your run-of-the-mill company in its sector. It
always irritates me when people compare Ghelamco with a
construction company, because it’s not that at all. Ghelamco
is a development company that places the emphasis very
much on technological innovation and environmental factors.
Ghelamco puts the end-client centre-stage and particularly its
perception and comfort.
WHERE DOES THE FAMILY COUNCIL DIFFER FROM
THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS?
Values are essential in a company and particularly in a family
business. These values are enshrined in a family charter, which
also determines and develops the guidelines and preparations
for the future.
In addition, Ghelamco combines this vision of business with
strong family values, such as respect, trust and courage. Our
mindset is definitely “can do” and to “be combat-ready”. It’s
no coincidence that these also happen to be the values of my
former boss, the late John Goossens. Their obsession with
daring and determination characterises their personalities and
I find this very inspiring. Paul is not only an entrepreneur, but
also someone who wants to improve the world. Just look at
what Ghelamco has done in Warsaw: that’s where you can
really see the track record of the Gheysens family.
Family and business roles require a different logic. Everyone
has to play the right role in the right place at the right time.
Each role within the company involves its own responsibilities
and tasks. Just as the company has a management structure,
so the family also needs times for formal consultation. The
family forum is the place where each member of the family is
able to speak his or her mind freely and where the needs of the
family are discussed. It is also a communication channel where
values and vision can be honed to a fine edge... All of which
enhances continuity.
Ghelamco has changed the skyline of Warsaw over the decades.
Paul has an obsession – a good obsession – with creating new
things. That’s why he often thinks outside the square in order to
overcome certain obstacles. He thinks big – and always from a
broader social perspective. Ghelamco’s mission statement is
essentially all about improving the quality of life and living.
My role as a third party, as a non-shareholder, is precisely
to be able to look at things objectively and place them in a
broader perspective. I function as a sounding board for each
member of the family. I see myself as a fine cooking oil that
has to ensure that the family mayonnaise binds even better....
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G H E L A M C O B E LG I U M
G H E L A M C O B E LG I U M
www.nieuwsblad.be, 22/06/2015
Een vroegere Gentse volksbuurt ‘de Bloemekenswijk’ krijgt een
nieuw leven. Met een knipoog naar het Newyorkse TriBeCa, nu
één van de meest hippe woonwijken in NYC. De voormalige site
van de ‘Filature du Rabot’ krijgt een herbestemming.
“TRIBECA IS HET UITSTEKEND VOORBEELD VAN
STADSRENOVATIE IN DE 21STE EEUW… HEDENDAAGS
WONEN ROND EEN GROEN BINNENPLEIN, AAN
HET WATER, MET EEN GEMEENSCHAPSGEVOEL.
GEMAKKELIJK BEREIKBAAR EN OMGEVEN DOOR EEN
VLOT NETWERK VAN OPENBAAR VERVOER, WINKELS,
KANTOREN, … DE ARCHITECTUUR IS VAN
TOPKWALITEIT, ECOLOGISCH EN DUURZAAM,
MET GEBRUIK VAN DE MEEST GEAVANCEERDE
MILIEUVRIENDELIJKE TECHNOLOGIEËN. ZELFS DE
GROENDAKEN ONTBREKEN NIET. HET CONCEPT
IS EVIDENT: MOOI, COMFORTABEL EN TOCH
BETAALBAAR.”
Het Tribeca-woonproject wordt een knap staaltje van stadsontwikkeling met een geslaagde mix van 29 gezinswoningen,
179 trendy appartementen, 12 duplexwoningen, 5 lofts en
commerciële panden omgeven door veel groen. De voormalige
textielfabriek krijgt een ereplaats en wordt gerenoveerd tot
prachtige lofts - elk met privatieve tuin en patio. In Tribeca
is er keuze uit één-, twee-, drie- en vier slaapkamerappartementen. Oppervlaktes variëren tussen 69,7 m² en 154,10 m².
Vanuit de leefruimtes kijkt u uit op het water. Alle terrassen
zijn zuidgeoriënteerd. De slaapkamers geven uit op het groen
binnengebied en kijken uit op ‘het Bloemekenspark’ – een park
van 3,3 ha. De fiets krijgt een ereplaats, met 2 fietsstallingen.
Ondergronds is er 14 000 m² parkeerruimte voorzien.
Kortom, Tribeca is een doordacht en bruisend leefproject,
waarin groen en ruimte een belangrijke rol spelen.
GHENT, BELGIUM
DYNAMISCHE VERNIEUWDE BUURT
De stad Gent investeert in mobiliteit en een
nieuw stadspark in het noordwesten van Gent
van 5,1 ha, namelijk het Bloemekenspark. Een
gedroomde ligging voor het Tribeca-project,
vlak aan het water en een park, met een vlotte
verbinding naar het historisch centrum van
Gent. Omgeven door scholen, crèches, winkels,
supermarkten... Op acht wandel minuten van
het Rabot en twintig minuten van het Gravensteen en het gezellige, bruisende stadscentrum.
Tribeca, een ambitieus project aan de Nieuwevaart, is een nieuw stadsdeel in wording, met een
geslaagde mix van gezinswoningen, appartementen, duplexen, lofts en commerciële panden
omgeven door veel groen. Met zijn trendy locatie aan het water, een aangename woonomgeving,
een vlotte bereikbaarheid en de opwindende sfeer van een stadsdeel dat herleeft, zal het
trendbewuste kopers van alle generaties aantrekken en bekoren.
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G H E L A M C O B E LG I U M
LEUVEN, BELGIUM
PROJECT DESCRIPTION VAARTKOM
The Vaartkom Leuven redevelopment project is a large-scale
urban renewal project through which over 30 hectares of
former industrial land will be transformed into a high-density
mixed urban area. The Vaartkom project will feature space
for residential (approx. 2,100 additional housing units), offices
(approx. 55,000 additional m² of office space) and a range
of city centre functions (approx. 100,000 additional m² of
commercial/retail, hospitality, culture and recreation space).
STUDENTFLATS
WATERVIEW
In addition to the characteristic urban landscape, the redevelopment of the Vaartkom area will consist mainly of city centre
features: commercial/retail, recreation, hospitality, culture and
other community amenities, etc.
Student tower Waterview is the final building of the urban development ‘Vaartkom’ in Leuven.
While achieving a height of 55 m and a total surface of 55,000 m², this project comprises
461 student flats, 1,001 parking bays and 5,435 m² of retail space.
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G H E L A M C O B E LG I U M
24 Maart 2015, pagina 32
Waterview, Leuven
The tower of the Waterview
project consists of 461
student flats, several retail
areas and a spacious parking.
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G H E L A M C O B E LG I U M
A BEAUTIFUL ILLUMINATED
GHELAMCO ARENA ...
Ivan De Witte, de
voorzitter van AA Gent
en Burgemeester van
Gent, Daniël Termont
gaan helemaal uit de
bol na het behalen van
de titel.
... where dreams of winning the title finally became reality!
“IT IS WONDERFUL TO SEE HOW
MUCH THE GHELAMCO ARENA
CONTRIBUTES TO A SPIRIT OF PRIDE
AND COMMUNITY IN THE CITY. THE
MANAGEMENT, PLAYERS, FANS
AND INHABITANTS OF GHENT HAD
A UNFORGETTABLE CELEBRATION
WHICH CONTRIBUTED TO THIS
GREAT CITY SPIRIT.”
Niemand hield het voor mogelijk wat er de laatste veertien
dagen in Gent gebeurde. In een stad van net geen 250 000
inwoners waren er 125 000 mensen die de landstitel voetbal
vierden als nooit tevoren. Het was dan ook de eerste keer ooit.
De kern van deze uitbarsting van levensvreugde ligt bij durvende
ondernemers die de euvele moed hadden om na 10 jaar getreuzel
en gezeur over geld en regeltjes hun droom om te zetten in
daadkracht. Nu gaat gans België er vlotjes aan voorbij maar de
lijdensweg van de Gentse voetbaltempel kende op zijn zachtst
gezegd geen optimale geboorte. We mogen veeleer spreken over
een ezelsdracht met Uplaceiaanse barensweeën met na verloop
van tijd nog weinig believers en veel mediaheisa.
A WONDERFUL
CHAMPION!
Paul Gheysens, CEO Ghelamco
are convinced that this is the beginning of an ongoing positive
story. Infrastructure as the enabler of self-confidence. A huge
investment in concrete and steel that has acted as the trigger
for shaking off a collective feeling of being the underdog. This
is the fairytale of daring entrepreneurs who found a group of
public administrators who needed a miracle. Together they
went forth and took risks. Together they took the rulebook by
the scruff of the neck. And gave it a good shake.
No one thought that what has happened in the past fourteen
days in Ghent would ever be possible. In a city of barely 250 000
souls, half of them – 125 000 people – celebrated winning the
national football championship like never before. Which was not
surprising, as it was also the first time this has ever happened.
At the heart of this outpouring of joy lie the daring businessmen
who had the temerity, after 10 years of foot-dragging and
endless moaning about money and rules, to transform their
dream into decisive action. Everything may seem to be running
smoothly in Belgium at the moment, but the path to the Stations
of the Cross experienced by the temple of the beautiful game
in Ghent has been no sinecure, to put it mildly. We tend to talk
about a never-ending gestation period with labour pains on a par
with Uplace – yet still resulting over the course of time in far too
few believers and an overload of media hype.
Het is dan ook wonderbaarlijk om te zien hoe een mega ontwikkelingsproject een ganse populatie Gentenaars kan inspireren
tot een trance van collectieve emoties. Meer zelfs, alle voetbalkenners zijn er van overtuigd dat dit het begin is van een blijvend
positief verhaal. Infrastructuur als gangmaker van zelfvertrouwen.
Een grote investering in ijzer en beton als trigger om een collectief
underdog gevoel af te schudden. Dit is het sprookje van durvende
ondernemers die een groepje openbare bestuurders vonden
die een mirakel nodig hadden. Samen gingen ze risico’s nemen.
Samen gingen ze regeltjes tackelen.
Together they embarked on an enterprise in the true sense of the
word: “Putting financial resources to work in conjunction with
knowledge, skill and insight into social psychology”. It’s as though
Keynes never trod this earth and Friedman had never been.
To paraphrase the latter: “You can’t rationalise all of the time”.
People need clear dreams to be able to live their lives. Major
ambitious projects such as this do not fool people by their sheer
scale. But in contrast, they do give people the energy to dare.
It is also fantastic to see how a mega-development project has
been able to inspire half of the people of Ghent into a trance of
collective emotions. More than that, all football connoisseurs
Samen gingen ze ondernemen in de ware zin van het woord:
“Financiële middelen inzetten samen met kennis, kunde en
inzicht in samenlevingspsychologie”. Het is alsof Keynes nooit is
weggeweest en Friedman niet heeft bestaan. Om deze laatste
te parafraseren: “You can’t rationalize all of the time”. Mensen
hebben duidelijk dromen nodig om te kunnen leven. Dergelijke
grote ambitieuze projecten “don’t fool people”, in tegendeel ze
geven mensen de energie om te durven.
Quote from the column by Jan Callebaut, published in De Morgen on 29th
May 2015
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G H E L A M C O B E LG I U M
[email protected]
WWW.GHELAMCO.COM