Skanska is to invest around SEK 215 mln (EUR 22 mln) in the second phase of the Bassängkajen office project on Universitetsholmen in Malmö, Sweden, the Swedish constsruction giant said on Thursday. This phase comprises about 7,800 m[sup]2[/sup] of modern and energy-efficient office premises over seven floors with an underground garage. The new building will be completed during the first quarter of 2012, thereby concluding the Bassängkajen office project.

Skanska is to invest around SEK 215 mln (EUR 22 mln) in the second phase of the Bassängkajen office project on Universitetsholmen in Malmö, Sweden, the Swedish constsruction giant said on Thursday. This phase comprises about 7,800 m2 of modern and energy-efficient office premises over seven floors with an underground garage. The new building will be completed during the first quarter of 2012, thereby concluding the Bassängkajen office project.

The first phase of 8,500 m2 is currently under construction and scheduled for completion in the summer of 2011. Around 75% of office space in that building is already leased. Tenants are Malmö University and Awapatent, which will locate its headquarters at Bassängkajen.

'This is the right time to start the next phase of Bassängkajen. We see a strong demand on the rental market in Malmö and Skanska is convinced that Universitetsholmen will continue to be a very attractive location. We also see that our drive for green offices is paying off,' said Staffan Haglind, President, Skanska Öresund.

Together with Skanska's project Gårda in Gothenburg, Bassängkajen will be the first project in the Nordics with a pre-certification at the highest level, Platinum, in the international environmental certification system LEED. Several measures take the energy consumption to a level at least 25% ower than the standard requirements for new buildings, as set by the EU GreenBuilding labelling system.