The Hamburg Port Authority (HPA) has announced plans to move its headquarters to a new location in HafenCity.
The HPA will acquire the former Unilever building on Am Strandkai 1, which is currently owned by a DWS real estate fund, for around €157 mln.
The 24,000 m2 building was built between 2007 and 2009. It features light-flooded floors surrounded by a transparent facade. There is also a large, open entrance area with publicly accessible cafés and shops.
The move is expected to take place in 2026 and will see the HPA's various departments, currently spread across four buildings, brought together under one roof.
By consolidating around 1,100 employees in one location, the HPA will optimize space utilization and leverage synergies.
Friedrich Stuhrmann, Chief Commercial Officer at HPA, said: ‘The existing building is cheaper than a new building. In addition, after a short renovation phase, we will be able to use the building immediately after our rental agreements expire without taking any risks due to delays in the construction process. This offers us additional planning security. We will also be able to implement our planned space usage concept here. This means a working environment that promotes encounters and exchanges and at the same time offers many opportunities for concentrated work.’
The HPA will not utilize the entire building itself and will instead rent out a portion of it. The current tenant, career network Xing, plans to relocate to downtown Hamburg at the end of 2025 or the beginning of 2026.
The final construction phase for plot 76, designated for the HPA headquarters, is set to start in 2027 along with neighboring plots 74 and 75. This coincides with the completion date of the HafenCity campus school. Until the school opens, plots 74 and 75 will function as a temporary school. A plan for the interim use of plot 76 is being developed and will be presented soon.
The premises currently used by the HPA in Hamburg's historic Speicherstadt will be renovated and then re-rented by the owner, Hamburger Hafen und Logistik (HHLA).
