The Urban Campus No. 1 special real estate fund, initiated by Union Investment and Investa Capital Management and focused on mixed-use campus sites, achieved significant letting performance in the first three quarters of 2026. For the properties managed under "The Plant" brand, a total of 29 new lettings and lease renewals were concluded across approximately 46,500 sq m. These lettings represent about 20 per cent of the fund's total portfolio area and secure annual rental income of approximately EUR 8.0 million.
Georg-Christian Rueb, fund manager at Union Investment, expressed satisfaction with the demand for space in the campus properties, which he said confirms the fund's concept and the quality of asset and letting management at the respective locations.
Successful lettings across multiple campus properties
At "The Plant" Bochum, new office tenants were secured: Trafineo, a provider of toll and vehicle-related services, leased 1,100 sq m, while Schufa signed a lease for 1,550 sq m. The "The Plant" Mannheim location is now fully let following an expansion of space by existing tenant Internationaler Bund e.V. (IB). IB now occupies 6,000 sq m in this high-tech park. Furthermore, at "The Plant" Fürth, the existing lease for 14,300 sq m with a public body was extended for another five years.
New operator partnership in Dortmund
For the property in "The Plant" Dortmund, previously operated as a Steigenberger Hotel, Leonardo Hotels has been secured as a new operator, and a long-term lease agreement has been signed. Julia Cuibus, Director Portfolio Management at Investa Capital Management, emphasised that Leonardo Hotels, as an internationally established hotel operator with a strong presence in the German and European markets, represents a significant partner for the Dortmund campus location, particularly due to its proximity to the exhibition centre and Signal Iduna Park.
A joint investment programme has been agreed as part of this partnership. This programme aims to sustainably strengthen and secure the hotel's attractiveness and competitiveness. The fund, launched in 2016, currently holds eight campus properties in Germany.
