The Federal Financial Supervisory Authority (BaFin) is set to become a new major tenant in RAW Frankfurt. Quest Investment Partners and VIVAO have signed a long-term 15-year lease agreement with the authority for an area of approximately 23,000 square metres. BaFin's move-in is planned for 2028, following the completion of the comprehensive revitalisation works on the building complex. This significant letting increases the pre-letting rate of the listed Brutalist ensemble, which comprises a total of around 51,000 square metres, to approximately 60 percent.
Mark Branson, President of BaFin, commented on the choice of location, emphasising that RAW represents an ideal new site, offering flexible and future-proof spaces close to the city centre. BaFin aims to provide its employees with a modern, sustainable, economical, and easily accessible infrastructure there. Kira Groth, Managing Director at Quest Investment Partners, expressed her delight at securing BaFin as a significant tenant. She pointed out that the authority will occupy three building wings, enabling a self-contained 'house-in-house' solution. This underscores the concept of transforming a listed building of high architectural quality into a modern and flexible working environment.
The development of the area aimed to transform the former headquarters of Deutsche Bahn into a modern working and living space. The distinctive, 65-metre-high building has shaped the Frankfurt skyline since 1989. The revitalisation focuses on flexible and efficient office spaces, whose layouts can be adapted to different room concepts and tenant requirements. This creates a modern, multifunctional campus that combines the preservation of the existing architecture with contemporary working environments, sustainability aspects, and diverse usage possibilities. The campus concept includes a modern canteen and a day-care centre. Green courtyards serve as recreational and meeting areas and contribute to an improved microclimate at the site. Photovoltaic systems complement the sustainability concept.
A key location advantage of RAW is its central position between the largely developed Europaviertel and the established Gallusviertel. The immediate proximity to Messe Frankfurt, the main railway station, and the city centre, as well as good connections to the motorway network, ensure high accessibility and short distances for users and visitors of the property at Stephensonstraße 1.
Quest Investment Partners and VIVAO act as investment and asset managers for the umbrella fund of a professional pension scheme, for which the preservation and sustainable management of the property are of central importance. Milian Männle, Managing Director at VIVAO, confirmed that the letting to BaFin demonstrates that the building, with its location, its sustainable usage concept, and its quality, meets the requirements of demanding companies. He emphasised that with two reputable anchor tenants, a strong foundation for the property's long-term successful development and attractiveness is being created.
CBRE and Schier Real Estate acted as advisors and intermediaries in this transaction. Legal counsel was provided by Capstone Legal and HEUKING.
