Wooga move into Dockyard on the Spree riverbank

In October 2023, Pecan Development celebrated the topping-out ceremony of Dockyard, an office building in sustainable wood hybrid method, located in Berlin’s former “Osthafen”. Since then, Wooga GmbH, a German games software developer, has been secured as the first tenant in the building. The company specializes in the development of story-driven casual games for mobile devices and is the market leader for hidden object games. Wooga has signed a long-term lease contract for approx. 6,700 square meters and is expected to move into its new premises on the Spree riverbank in Q4 2024.

“We’re delighted to welcome Wooga as our tenant; the company is a perfect fit for Berlin’s former ”Osthafen”, a hub for the creative industry, and our building,” comments Jan Kunze, Managing Partner at Pecan Development. “Dockyard picks up the atmosphere of this special place,    not only beautifully staging the attractive waterfront location but also creating an inspiring working environment. The high demand for the rental spaces indicates how well its concept resonates with prospective tenants.”

Jens Brückmann, Vice President Finance at Wooga, which is currently based in Berlin’s Prenzlauer Berg district, confirms that: “At Dockyard we found optimal conditions fulfilling all the criteria we have set ourselves. The location on the Spree riverside and the option to structure spaces individually to meet our hybrid work methods are a strong argument in Dockyard’s favor. Moreover, in the framework of our long-term sustainability strategy, we were convinced by the innovative energy concept. We feel certain that at Dockyard we will be able to create a space that stimulates the creativity of our staff to continue developing games that enable players to immerse themselves deeply in the stories and worlds of our games.”

Dockyard is realized by Pecan Development on behalf of Aermont Capital Real Estate Fund IV. The architectural design was developed in collaboration with Berlin-based architecture Tchoban Voss. In addition to office, the use concept also foresees gastronomy and retail spaces on the ground floor. The outdoor areas will be designed in accordance with the requirements from the monuments office and will open up the publicly accessible promenade towards the east.

Dockyard is setting new standards in terms of sustainability, during both the construction phase and its operations. Key aspects are the wood hybrid construction method and the specific use of “green” steel in certain areas of the building. Thanks to its innovative energy concept, which is based on Germany’s largest ice-storage system and the utilization of regenerative energy (geothermal, solar and ambient-air sources), Dockyard will operate on a net-zero basis (as per LEED Zero Carbon) post completion. To ensure the efficient operation of the innovative system, a long-term contract was signed with energy contractor empact GmbH, a specialist for holistic energy systems. Moreover, through the contract, attractive heating and cooling prices have been secured for Dockyard’s future users.

Sebastian Rühl, Managing Partner, empact GmbH explains: “By utilizing heat pumps and a mix of different heating sources, the building will be supplied with 100% fossil-free energy from day one. The combination of PVT modules, which simultaneously generate heat and electricity, on the roof, and the ice-storage tank in a revitalized, abandoned railway shaft, makes the operation highly efficient. The is state-of-the-art energy generation and a best-practice example for the ongoing energy transition from fossil fuels to renewable sources.”

The targeted LEED Platinum, WELL Platinum and LEED Zero Carbon building certifications prove the high sustainability standards; for its high level of digital connectivity, the building has already been awarded the WiredScore Platinum certification. Dockyard’s completion is scheduled for the fourth quarter of 2024.

Wooga was advised by real-estate consultancy Donn Kono real estate GmbH. With legal counsel for the landlords provided by SammlerUsinger law office.