The biggest Czech commercial project by Skanska officially opens to both tenants and visitors. Port7 represents a remarkable transformation of a once-abandoned industrial site into a vibrant riverfront hub that combines sustainability, innovation, and community enrichment. The project provides 36,000 sqm of prime office and retail spaces. Compared to typical buildings of its size, Port7 boasts an impressive over 43% reduction in energy consumption and a 50% decrease in potable water usage (LEED-based). Plus, it brings a breath of fresh air to the neighborhood with a 2-hectare public park, a new cycling path along the river, and a convenient underpass beneath the Prague Holešovice railway station connecting the area to the rest of the quarter.
90 % of Port7’s retail spaces have already been leased, housing a variety of exciting places like the Chuck & Frida food hall, OpenWine winery, and the OneGym fitness center.
Of the office spaces, 54% are leased, with notable tenants such as the Oční Centrum Praha eye clinic, Direct Financial Group, and Scott.Weber Workspace already operating in their new premises. Discussions are already underway with several potential tenants for the remaining offices.
Flagship of the largest flexible office and coworking operator
One of the first companies to open at Port7 is Scott.Weber Workspace, is the number one flexible office and coworking provider in the Czech Republic. With a capacity of four floors and nearly 5,000 sqm, it is Scott.Weber’s largest location.
The Scott. Weber interiors at Port7 are designed to reflect flowing water and the adjacent waterfront. The location is specific for its exceptional design pieces, with even the smallest details perfectly matching – from the boat hanging from the ceiling to the embroidered figures on the cushions. "Port7 is part of this year's expansion, which has been the most dynamic in the company's history," says Adam Zvada, owner of Scott.Weber Workspace, adding: "This year, we opened a site at The Park, followed by our large location at Port7's, we are expanding by one whole floor at The Flow Building on Wenceslas Square and we have a new floor including refurbished space at the Atrium Flora site." In total, Scott.Weber offers over 5,000 workspaces on 40,000 sqm of office space.
65% occupancy shortly after opening confirms strong demand for flexible offices
Occupancy figures evidence the extraordinary demand for flexible offices in this location, reaching 65% shortly after opening. "We see a growing interest in our flexible offices and coworking centers in general. However, we are also registering a change regarding the groups of companies that are approaching us. Medium to large companies approach us with increasing frequency," says Adam Zvada.
Turning brownfield into an architectural masterpiece
The story of Port7 begins with the historical Prefa Holešovice panel factory, which ceased production in 2013, leaving the entire area abandoned and neglected. It has also been cut off from the rest of the city by the river Vltava on one side and by transport infrastructure including Prague Holešovice railway station on the others. The history and genius loci of the brownfield have thus presented Skanska with both great potential and a significant challenge.
“The goal from day one was to make the most of this space and its history while addressing its issues. We cleaned up the entire area, built connections to the city with an underpass which literally opened the area for public, and breathed new life into it with a large green park, turning it into a lively urban riverfront,” explains Jan Hes, project manager of Port7.
The overall architectural concept of the project has been designed by the esteemed DAM.architekti studio, together with AED project, responsible for all stages of design. It not only preserves the unique character of the place but also showcases cutting-edge sustainable measures, with which Skanska aims for the LEED Platinum, WELL Platinum, and WELL Health-Safety Rating certifications. The extraordinary technical measures reflecting the specific conditions of the location include vast protection against floods and the usage of a dampening layer for the elimination of vibrations from the adjacent railroad.
“Port7's new buildings pay homage to the site's industrial heritage with the use of admittedly precast and monolithic concrete in the interiors, corrugated iron referencing the former Prefa production hall, and metal horizontal cornices evoking the tracks of the adjacent railway station. These design elements are harmoniously connected with the glass facades. Extensive terraces with a total area of almost 1,200 m2 provide unusual views and create additional work and relaxation spaces for users", adds Jiří Havrda, chief architect of Port7 and partner of DAM architect of DAM architekti office.
Vibrant new center of social life
Skanska paid a great amount of attention to details while designing the 2-hectare green park open to the public and a central piazzetta with restaurants, including a food-hall concept tailored especially for Port7, along with amenities such as shops, a pharmacy, or a gym.
“We carefully selected the perfect services to maximize the potential of the area and to attract tenants who prioritize their employees' well-being. In addition to these amenities, we`ve included bike racks with towel service, beautiful thematic rooftop terraces, and an underground meeting space called The Club. Locals and visitors will enjoy not only the services and the beautiful relaxing greenery by the river but also the events hosted on the Port7 piazzetta, one of the first ones being today’s event, to celebrate the project’s official opening,” says Jana Prokopová, Asset & Leasing Director at Skanska Commercial Development business unit in the Czech Republic.
In collaboration with Prague 7, Skanska also renovated the waterfront, creating a whole new link between the U Vody and Stromovka public parks. In this way, Skanska significantly contributed to the revival of the whole Prague 7 riverbank. The public space of Port7 itself invites plenty of activities. Along with 17,000 sqm of greenery, the park will feature an outdoor bar, a volleyball pitch, a community garden, and a variety of other services.
“The needs and demands of the tenants and investors are constantly evolving, impacting the office market. In response to these new working models, we`ve created Port7 as a mixed-use project, combining office spaces with retail, leisure, and a public park with regular programs for the tenants and community,” concludes Prokopová.
With Port7 now open, Skanska will focus on new projects that will further revolutionize the commercial development market in Prague. These will include the first Czech commercial building constructed in accordance with the principles of circular economy and the first Czech commercial building using timber for its superstructure.