Office Location Berlin - Forecast 2000-2010 Office space demand
A gross assimilation of 4.5 million m² of office space is expected. The number of office workers is also expected to increase by approximately 90,000 by 2010.
The demand for office space will focus on inner city locations (57%) - primarily in Berlin-Mitte and The "City-West". Global Players and New Economy sectors will gain importance.
Market demand by 2010 is estimated as follows:
Global Player:
0,6 Mio. qm
Business Community:
1,7 Mio. qm
New Economy:
0,6 Mio. qm
Local Dinosaurs:
0,6 Mio. qm
City Services:
1,0 Mio. qm
Global Players prefer central locations, e.g. Alexanderplatz and Ostbahnhof and, in the long term, sites in the surroundings of the new international airport in Berlin-Brandenburg. Global Players who require large office space favour "landmark buildings". Companies in this category are especially interesting for high-rise projects. However, at least half of the interested Global Players look for medium-sized properties up to 7,000 m2. In these cases, business sites with a favourable infrastructure and low rents are just as important as central locations. Such locations are usually preferred by companies active in sales, services, and R & D.
Companies in the New Economy category prefer locations and buildings that are laid out in small sections. They also like buildings with a more traditional character with a potential for development, and a specific image. However, as these companies grow and mature efficiently structured properties (over 1,000 m2) will gain importance over existing smaller buildings located in mixed-use urban areas.
In the Business Community sector the demand either focuses on prestigious downtown locations, or on inexpensive (periphery) business locations in commercial parks, new development areas, or along radial roads.
Companies in the City Service category are widely spread across the city. Attorneys and insurance companies prefer central locations. Health insurance companies and medical centres require locations in the district centres. Similar to New Economy companies, City Services will be a driving force behind services available in the mixed-use urban districts. These activities will continue to cluster in the centres of Berlin's city districts.
Local Dinosaurs favour reasonably priced locations for large scale operational units. Since many of these organisations provide public services, political influence on location choice will be likely.