Columbia Threadneedle Real Estate has secured the Dutch provider CityHub as the new anchor tenant for the property Leipziger Platz 15 in Berlin. The innovative hotel operator will implement a hospitality offering for a young, urban target group on approximately 2,100 square metres of space previously used for retail. This project is scheduled for the fourth quarter of 2027 and marks a significant step in the repurposing of inner-city commercial spaces.
CityHub's concept is characterised by the combination of intelligently designed, modular living pods with generously laid out communal areas. A total of 139 of these pods are planned, mostly designed for two people. These prefabricated modules enable efficient and resource-saving conversions of existing properties, thus contributing to the sustainable development of urban centres. Berlin will be CityHub's fifth location, following Amsterdam, Rotterdam, Copenhagen and Reykjavik.
Strategic realignment of inner-city spaces
Iris Schöberl, Managing Director Germany at Columbia Threadneedle Real Estate in Munich, commented on the acquisition. She highlighted that CityHub represents a striking example of young hospitality concepts that substantially enrich inner-city locations. The combination of an innovative overnight experience, high user acceptance and a convincing price-performance ratio appeals to a new generation of city travellers. This clientele values a lively environment and, in turn, contributes to the revitalisation of city centres. Schöberl emphasised her team's delight at securing the concept for the Leipziger Platz location and referred to the increasing proportion of new usage offerings in urban centres, which also benefits high streets.
Remco Gerritsen, CEO of CityHub, explained the strategic importance of the location choice. He emphasised that today's city travellers prefer central accommodation for direct access to gastronomy, culture, history and nightlife. At the same time, CityHub addresses the challenge of vacant retail units and unused spaces in European cities. The company sees itself as a pioneer in the adaptive repurposing of such premises into hotel locations. Gerritsen sees considerable potential in existing buildings to create new accommodation without the need for new construction, which he described as a more economical and sustainable growth strategy.
The building ensemble at Leipziger Platz
The property Leipziger Platz 15 is part of an ensemble of three commercial buildings completed in 1996, 2002 and 2015. These properties are located in a prime position between Potsdamer Platz and the Mall of Berlin on Leipziger Platz. The entire ensemble has a lettable area of more than 20,000 square metres. Existing anchor tenants of the properties include Uniqlo, Design Offices and Octavus Office & Service Berlin. The commercial spaces of the ensemble are almost fully let, with the exception of 770 square metres of ground floor space in the same building, which are currently still being marketed by Columbia Threadneedle Real Estate.
