UNION ready with a major development project at Valle

UNION ready with a major development project

Union acquired one of Oslo’s most innovative and forward-looking properties last December with the purchase of Valle Wood – Norway’s largest commercial property built in solid wood – as well as the ongoing project Valle View, with a total area of 23 000 m2. As part of the deal, UNION also acquired the remaining regulated area of NCC’s project: Valle Vision, which further allows for the construction of another 30 000 m2.

Valle Wood is a product of NCC’s commitment to contribute towards positive local development with a unique building where emphasis on sustainability and innovation is in focus. The project that UNION is now taking over already has, in other words, a solid foundation to build on.

Valle Wood’s total office space of approximately 8 000 m2 was already fully let when UNION took over. Johan Hamre, the managing director of UNION Eiendomskapital, points to three factors that make the building so attractive to tenants:

It is not without reason that Valle Wood became the cornerstone of our new development project at Valle. We offer our clients areas with a high degree of flexibility and closeness to the local community as well as the city center. Most importantly however, is the building’s focus on the environment. Sustainability is important to us and we see that this is something our clients also value when they look for new premises.

He further explains that the same values will be extended to the neighboring projects at Valle View and Valle Vision.

 Added value for the tenants

The world-renowned coffee company Jacobs Douwe Egberts moved their Oslo offices to the top floor of Valle Wood in July 2019. The area includes 51 workstations as well as a showroom. Operation Manager Trond Kjølstad highlighted how their coinciding values regarding the environment and sustainability were crucial factors when the company chose their new premises.

We decided early on that the area around Helsfyr was at the top of our wish list for our new premises, and Valle Wood fulfilled all our needs and expectations. JDE Norway’s strongest brand is Friele, so naturally we are very focused on sustainability and the environment. We are therefore very positive to how our values are reflected in our new premises. We can safely say that the building offers added value to our company by projecting a clear profile to the public. 

It is considered more climate friendly to build in solid wood because it saves the environment during construction and in operation afterwards. Wood is 100% renewable, and stores carbon dioxide throughout the building’s entire lifespan.

Valle Wood has also been certified at the level “excellent” according to the international certification scheme BREEAM. “Excellent” is the second highest rank obtainable and is awarded to buildings that meet certain demands in terms of energy use, environmental impact, and quality. The certification states, among other things, that the building has a reduction of up to 40% CO2 emissions arising from regulated building energy consumption compared to the consumption from traditional buildings. It also constitutes that the total environmental impact is measured continuously.

An award-winning building in close proximity to everything

A green profile and climate-friendly architecture is engaging and encouraging to many: not only for the tenants, but also for architects and the commercial real estate-industry as a whole. The building was nominated for Arkitekturprisen 2019, an annual award given by the National Association of Norwegian Architects. Additionally, Valle Wood was in August awarded the prize Bygghammeren Beste Praksis from Bygg21 for the project’s contributions to cost efficiency and sustainability. The extensive use of wood both internally and externally creates a unique façade, as well as a warm and organic office environment. Trond Kjølstad has no doubt that the building’s qualities and placement are positive factors for the tenants:

We are located in a building with a clear environmental expression, both visually and architectonically. This, combined with a good ceiling height and a great view, creates a bright and warm office atmosphere where our employees look forward to work every day. Because we are in the coffee industry, we naturally have many international visitors. It is therefore important that the offices serve as a nice meeting point, which they definitely do here.

Trond Kjølstad further emphasizes the surrounding area and the building’s location as advantageous for the coffee company.

It is important for us that our office is accessible for both employees and visitors. The journey to us will be under half an hour regardless of whether you travel from Oslo’s city center or Oslo International Airport. We are in walking distance from the bus station, subway station, and the airport express coach. In short, Valle Wood covers all of our needs.

The future at Valle

Valle is already in full development and will by 2024 turn into a pulsating destination with a high level of activity. This is an area where you can work, live, and enjoy a plethora of experiences. The new and exciting area will have access to everything you need such as restaurants, public transportation, grocery stores, parks, gyms, and a lot more.

UNION Norsk Næringsmegling handles the leasing for all three Valle-properties. At Valle View, which will be finalized in Q1 2021, the top four floors with a combined area of 7 500 m2 are currently available. The floor plans for Valle Vision will be announced in March and will be finalized in two steps: Q1 2023 and Q1 2024.

If you want more information about the Valle-project, please contact managing director of UNION Eiendomskapital, Johan Hamre.

Illustration: Lund+Slaatto Arkitekter