Esop: IT&C, BPO and outsourcing companies drove up demand for office space in 2016

IT&C, BPO and outsourcing companies leased more than half (52 percent) of the office space leased last year, according to data from real estate consultancy ESOP.

All in all, some 84 companies active in these fields signed new office leases last year, out of which 59 companies leased space in Bucharest alone. Another 20 companies chose to renew their existing leasing contracts last year, according to the same source.

“Companies where technology plays a big part and which hire young people active in IT&C, outsourcing and BPO are the most active on the office market and they continue to expand, both in Bucharest and in the other big university centers such as Cluj-Napoca, Iasi, Timisoara and Brasov,” said Alexandru Petrescu, managing partner la ESOP Consulting l CORFAC International.

Although in 2016 there were fewer transactions outside Bucharest (25 compared to 59), the overall leased area (60,000 sqm) was close to that reported for the capital (78,000 sqm). “This was possible because the average leased surface went up in 2016. There were cities were it reached 2,500 sqm compared to 1,300 sqm in Bucharest,” he added.

Most companies (54 out of the 80 companies) leased areas of under 1,000 sqm. Nevertheless, leasing contracts for areas of between 3,000 sqm and 5,000 sqm accounted for a total of 46,000 sqm or 33 percent out of the entire area leased last year.

The most sought after office projects in Bucharest were Afi Park, Green Court, Oregon Park, Metroffice and Orhideea Towers, according to the same source. Charles de Gaulle, America House, Europe House, Iride Park, all of which are older generation buildings were also chosen by some of these companies.

Simona Bazavan