Becoming the largest office developer in the Ruhr region in four and a half years
Aachen/Ruhr Metropolis. What a pace: When Landmarken AG was awarded the contract by the city of Herne in March 2016 to revitalize the former Hertie department store, no one could have guessed what a success story would unfold.
Four and a half years later, the Aachen-based company is the largest private-sector project developer in the Ruhr region in the office sector.
"Wow, achieving this position in just four years is quite an accomplishment," comments Landmarken CEO Jens Kreiterling on the Ruhr 2020 project developer study presented by Bulwiengesa this Thursday. In the analysis, which covers projects with a completion date between 2017 and 2024, Landmarken is second only to the state-owned Bau- und Liegenschaftsbetrieb (BLB NRW). However, the latter has already completed most of its space in the Ruhr region. With around 117,000 square meters of office projects under construction and in planning, Landmarken is far ahead of all other developers.
"We recognized the enormous potential of the Ruhr metropolis early on and are very pleased about the trust that has been placed in us in many cities," says Jens Kreiterling. This trust is also reflected in the figures: Landmarken has won five of its developments in Germany's largest metropolitan area in urban planning competitions or tenders. In addition to the almost completed monument conversions Neue Höfe Herne and O-Werk Bochum, these also include the Dortmund projects Gesundheitshaus, Hafenforum, and the last available building site at the Dortmund U. "In everything we do, we are never concerned with generating returns as quickly as possible with as much space as possible," says Jens Kreiterling. "We take a close look at the locations and their individual needs in order to implement the best solution for the cities and the people," says the Landmarken CEO and architect, explaining the company's many competition successes: "We don't just want to meet the expectations of the organizers, we always want to exceed them."
Landmarks in Bochum
Landmarken's commitment is particularly strong in Bochum, in addition to Dortmund, where work on the Gesundheitshaus has already begun. At MARK 51°7, the former Opel factory site, the foundation stone for Landmarken's largest office development will be laid at the beginning of October. Up to 70,000 square meters of rental space will be created here in three construction phases. Together with the O-Werk, which has already welcomed its first tenants, these will form the O-Werk Campus. In the city center, Landmarken is also developing Be.cause in collaboration with Goldbeck and the Aachen-based architects from ZHAC. The architecturally extraordinary ensemble, consisting of two construction phases, will offer a hotel and a total of around 17,000 square meters of office space.
The first office spaces in the Neue Höfe Herne are already complete. They will be handed over to the Fläkt Group at the end of September. The former department store, which stood empty for eleven years, will also be revitalized with restaurants, a gym, and retailers. This marks the start of a real success story that no one could have predicted a few years ago.
