
Formed as of January 1, 2008, the HOCHTIEF Real Estate division combines our real estate and real estate portfolio activities. It comprises the companies HOCHTIEF Projektentwicklung, aurelis Real Estate and HOCHTIEF Property Management. The division's capabilities are focused on the entire real estate life cycle, from development and construction to marketing and management. This integrated approach allows us to create lasting synergies.
One of the priorities in the reporting year was expansion of the care segment. 2008 saw the start of construction on several care projects in Germany. Our real estate development subsidiary launched a long-term collaboration with partner BeneVit, an operator of care facilities driven by innovative residential and support concepts.
HOCHTIEF Projektentwicklung expanded internationally too. At the beginning of 2008, it established its seventh
In Düsseldorf, HOCHTIEF Projektentwicklung is building the Four Elements office building. Over 70 percent of the 14,700-square-meter property (gross floor space) has been pre-leased; the tenants include a law firm. The final investor is Rheinische Versorgungskassen.
In Munich, construction began in 2008 on the Altezza, an office property with a total of 22,000 square meters of gross floor space. The property was purchased in 2007 by ING Real Estate for an office property fund. More than 50 percent of the property has been pre-leased to BT Germany. In addition, a lease agreement was signed with Deutsche Apotheker- und Ärztebank at the end of the year. The project is therefore already sold and 77 percent pre-leased prior to completion.
In Essen, building work began in 2008 on the Rüttenscheider Tor, an office development with almost 9,800 square meters of gross floor space. Even before the start of construction, 62 percent of the office space had been leased to renowned law firms.
We also notched up international success in this segment: HOCHTIEF Development Schweiz, formed in 2007, is realizing its first project with the Portikon in Zurich: The sevenstory office and business building comprises 19,500 square meters of gross floor space. Thirty-eight percent of the space is already leased to Baxter Healthcare SA.