Skanska to lease and start up Bassängkajen – investing SEK 240 M in a new green office project in Malmö

Skanska is to lease 3,300 square meters of office space to Malmö University at Universitetsholmen in central Malmö. The lease implies that Skanska will now again start up the office project Bassängkajen. The office property will be seven floors high with an underground garage and will include a total of 16,000 square meters of leasable space in two phases. Skanska’s investment in the first phase of 8,500 square meters amounts to approximately SEK 240 M and is scheduled for completion in summer 2011.

Bassängkajen will be a modern office building with a distinct environmental profile. The property will comply with requirements for the EU GreenBuilding labeling, which means that the building’s energy consumption will be at least 25 percent lower than the standard requirements for new buildings stipulated by the Swedish Board of Housing. It will also be one of the first properties in Malmö to be certified according to Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design, LEED, which Skanska will be introducing in all its new properties in the Nordic region and Central Europe. The premises will house Malmö University’s Administration division, which functions as the University’s head office with Vice Chancellor, central functions and student services. “We are happy to finally be able to gather our administration in one building, after having been located in three different buildings for some years. The new office also gives us efficient spaces – we will be able to use half the space compared to today”, says Birgitta Wickman, Department Manager, Malmö University. “Malmö University is a key cooperation partner for us at Universitetsholmen and here we jointly present the attractive location in central Malmö close to the waterside, an interesting and dynamic area,” says Camilla Wieslander, Marketing and Transaction Manager at Skanska Öresund. “This agreement is another example of the trend for public tenants to prioritize new, environmental and efficient premises in attractive locations. It is also a sign that despite the financial turmoil and the economic downturn, it is possible to lease premises and start new projects.” In this area, Skanska has previously developed and built office properties in the Hjälmarekajen, Citykajen and Hovrätten blocks. The building assignment will be implemented by Skanska Sweden and is scheduled for commencement in September. Negotiations for leasing the remaining space are in progress with several interested parties. Skanska Commercial Development Nordic initiates and develops property projects within office, logistics and commercial buildings. Office operations are concentrated in the three metropolitan areas in Sweden, the Copenhagen area in Denmark and Helsinki, Finland. Development of logistics and volume commercial properties is conducted in strategic areas in Sweden, Denmark and Finland. For further information please contact: Camilla Wieslander, Head of Marketing and Transactions, Skanska Öresund, tel. 010-448 32 89. Peter Gimbe, Press Officer, Skanska AB, tel +46 10 448 88 38. Direct line for media: tel +46 10 448 88 99. Birgitta Wickman, Department Manager, Malmö Högskola, tel +46 40 665 70 44.