News Article Construction stars on Timisoara mixed-use project
by Ákos Budai | Office

The Iulius Company started the construction works for a new Class A office building in Timişoara, as part of the Openville project, the largest mixed-use development in Western Romania. This is the third office building developed under the United Business Center (UBC) brand of the seven office buildings to be included in the project. With a gross leasable area upwards of 130,000 sqm, the office component of the Openville project is set to become a regional business hub.

The UBC 3 building will span on approximately 18,000 sqm and 14 floors and will be LEED certified, being set to benefit from the implementation of sustainable operation policies geared towards improving the cost effectiveness of utilities and enhancing the tenants’ comfort. Based on the experience of developing the other two office buildings in Openville, the estimated delivery term for UBC 3 is of approximately 12 months.

Land consolidation works are currently underway for the site where the office building will be erected. Concurrently, the construction works continue in Openville for the 13,000 sqm UBC 1 office building set for completion this summer, as well as for the multilevel parking facility with over 900 parking spaces, which is set to become operational as of this autumn. The construction works are due to begin soon for two new office buildings. This January, Iulius opened the first UBC office building, which spans on 18,000 sqm and is fully leased by companies in the IT and automotive industry.
 
UBC 3 will benefit from two main access ways: one from the pedestrian access level and another one from the suspended park level, which will be created entirely on an urban platform over the underground parking facility of the project. 

The building design comprises 14 levels and a technical floor, while the semi-basement and ground floor spaces are reserved for retail use. The generous areas on each floor adding up to 2,000 sqm, the vast spaces without interior columns and the full glass façade which allows for enhanced levels of natural lighting, add to the most up-to-date available technologies and energy efficient solutions. 
 
Openville Timişoara is the second mixed use development in the Iulius Company portfolio after Palas Iaşi. Openville is designed as an urban center, it will include Class A offices (7 buildings, over 130,000 sqm), 60,000 sqm of additional retail space (besides the 131,000 sqm in Iulius Mall), 450 stores, restaurants and themed cafés, the largest suspended park in Romania (over 55,000 sqm), a Congress Hall (4 halls, 2,500 people capacity) and parking spaces (4050).