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Vilnius City Center Welcomes a New Business Hub: Sand Offices Completed

Today, in the heart of the capital, at the intersection of Žalgirio and Linkmenų streets, the new business center Sand Offices has been completed. The modern A+ energy class office building broke ground at the end of 2023. The new business center was built not only at a record pace but also in compliance with the highest sustainability and energy efficiency standards – we are aiming for the BREEAM Excellent New Construction certification,” says Mindaugas Liaudanskas, CEO of Capitalica Asset Management, the SBA Group’s investment management company that developed the project.

The business center spans 10,000 square meters across eight floors, including an underground parking garage. The first tenants are already moving in, including the online financing platform CapitalBox, the restaurant Laurus, the home appliance studio Prenta Studio, the real estate services company Capital Real Estate, and Laufen, one of the world’s leading bathroom equipment manufacturers.

“The completion of Sand Offices is a significant achievement for all investors and bondholders, as well as future tenants and every team member who contributed to making this business center a reality – from Aketuri architects, who shaped the project’s vision, to every member of the construction team,” adds M. Liaudanskas.

Currently, 19% of the office space is leased, and active negotiations are underway with potential tenants. “We anticipate that by mid-year, two-thirds of the leasable space will be occupied,” states M. Liaudanskas.

Prime Location and Parking Facilities Attract Tenants

Future tenants of Sand Offices emphasize that its strategic location in Vilnius was one of the main reasons they chose this business center.

“We were looking for a location that would be convenient for us and our clients. Sand Offices offered just that. Situated near one of the main transportation hubs and close to the city center, it provides easy access to clients throughout Vilnius, as well as convenient travel to Kaunas, Panevėžys, and other cities”, says Nerijus Bakšys, Sales Manager at Laufen.

He also highlights the importance of parking availability when selecting a new business location: “At Sand Offices, we will have 140 parking spaces for cars, 80 for bicycles, and 30 for electric vehicles. Employees will also have access to a dedicated storage area for scooters and bicycles”.

Beyond Interiors – A Unique Architectural Vision

One of the Sand Offices standout features is its clinker brick façade and 273 large windows (each 9 square meters), allowing ample natural daylight inside.

“In Lithuania, sunny days are rare. That’s why I am thrilled that my team and I will now be able to enjoy natural light and inspiring city and nature views year-round”, says Inga Antanaitienė, a real estate broker at Capital Real Estate.

A Vision Inspired by Local History

According to M. Liaudanskas, the Sand Offices concept was inspired by the area’s rich history: “Around 500 years ago, Šnipiškės was a well-known suburb of Vilnius, famous for its clay-rich soil. The first glass factory in the Grand Duchy of Lithuania operated here, and bricks made from local clay were used in the construction of many historic Vilnius buildings. Interestingly, workers excavating clay and limestone in this area often unearthed mammoth bones. This fascinating local history inspired the name Sand Offices.

This connection to history also caught the attention of tenants. N. Bakšys explains that Laufen sought an office space aligned with its values of sustainability, design, quality, and environmental responsibility.

“I often rely on my intuition. When I first came across Sand Offices online, I was immediately intrigued. My colleagues, and I were looking for a business center that wasn’t just another “glass box”.” The architectural solutions and historical homage made this project stand out. That’s when we knew it was the right fit. After all, Laufen’s history began in 1892 with brick and clinker manufacturing in the Swiss town of Laufen,” says N. Bakšys.

The total budget for the Sand Offices project was €25 million.