On the historic site of a former paint factory in Offenbach, developer Panattoni has marked the official start of construction for Panattoni Park Offenbach with a ceremonial ground-breaking. The project involves the construction of two modern industrial and logistics properties with a total usable floor area of approximately 10,500 square metres. Completion of the scheme is scheduled for the second quarter of 2027.
The project represents a rapid repurposing of the disused industrial site. Only around 18 months passed between the cessation of operations at the long-established Alfred Clouth Lackfabrik and the start of construction works. The site is situated in Offenbach's largest commercial area, around 22 kilometres east of Frankfurt Airport, and benefits from direct links to the wider transport infrastructure of the Rhine-Main region.
Space concept and initial pre-letting
Two identical building units are being erected on the plot of approximately 15,000 square metres. Each of the two properties provides around 4,300 square metres of warehouse space, complemented in each case by roughly 480 square metres of office space and about 490 square metres of mezzanine space. The operational concept is tailored to the needs of contract logistics, light industrial, e-commerce, and urban last-mile distribution.
A substantial letting success was achieved ahead of the ground-breaking ceremony. One of the two units has been fully let to the company Dauch. The automotive supplier is the successor to GKN Driveline and is securing its presence at the established Offenbach location through the new build. Consultancy firm Realogis Frankfurt brokered the lease agreement, while Panattoni continues to handle the marketing of the remaining space in-house.
Brownfield transformation and energy standards
The Mayor of Offenbach, Dr Felix Schwenke, emphasised that in light of limited land availability, the city is consistently focusing on the redevelopment of existing sites. The reactivation of the factory grounds demonstrates how the transformation of industrial properties can succeed through collaborative partnership. Bozica Niermann, head of the municipal economic development agency, also highlighted the rapid timeline, which brings modern commercial space to the regional economy within a short period.
Fred-Markus Bohne, Managing Partner at Panattoni for the DACH and Nordics region, highlighted the land-saving focus of the project. By reactivating the sealed industrial site, greenfield developments are avoided. DGNB Gold certification is being targeted for the new development. The technical specifications provide for a complete absence of fossil fuels through the deployment of heat pumps. The energy concept is complemented by smart-metering systems and a rooftop photovoltaic installation.
