Offering a variety of office space, all the developments are multi-tenanted by blue-chip corporate clients. To support this, Ghelamco’s physical access control strategy includes HID Mobile Access solutions and door readers to bolster secure entrance to offer maximum flexibility, easy management and deliver upgradeability at four flagship sites in the capital:

• Warsaw Spire – a 2017 MIPIM award winning building standing at 220 meters with a hyperboloid glass façade.
• The Warsaw HUB – finished in 2020, it features two 130-meter towers—purchased by Google for €583 million—along with a third building, home to two IHG Group hotels as well as a conference center.
• Warsaw UNIT – completed in 2021 and 202 meters high, is one of the most technologically advanced and green buildings in Europe, using 30% less energy compared with similar developments.
• The Bridge – a new skyscraper under construction, expected to open early 2025.

Mobile-enabled smart card readers have been installed throughout Warsaw HUB and UNIT. In Warsaw Spire, while physical cards are still predominately used, HID iClass SE readers with Bluetooths® and NFC modules were fitted for testing to support a phased transition to mobile access. Moreover, mobile-ready HID Signo™ readers will be deployed in the upcoming Bridge skyscraper leveraging Seos as its underlying credential technology. 

“Innovation is our hallmark, so we want to use the latest technology on projects. Many of our tenants want mobile access today. Others, however, still prefer physical cards, so selecting a vendor that supports both in tandem was imperative,” Michał Nitychoruk, Ghelamco Poland’s communications manager, says.

Technology Integration
In addition, feature-rich applications have been implemented from Signal OS, a Polish proptech software development company founded by Ghelamco. Utilizing the Google Cloud Platform™ service at the backend, it manages not only all physical access control systems in the buildings, but offers an easy-to-use way to integrate lift and parking systems, closed-circuit TV, visitor management and—in the future—other building management systems and sensors that monitor air and water quality, for example.

The benefits of using HID Mobile Access solution in combination with Signal OS have been immediate. It is enabling Ghelamco to attract new clients who want to lease space in green, efficient and technology-led buildings. Money is also saved as PVC access cards are not required. They are commonly lost—leading to an obvious security risk—and create waste and carbon emissions to manufacture. 

In fact, the shift to mobile access control directly supports Ghelamco’s ambitious Environmental, Social and Governance policy. Ghelamco was the first developer in Poland to join the Science Based Target Initiatives and has set targets to be a zero-emission company by 2025.

Looking to the future, Ghelamco intends to extend and augment the access control approach in its estate by adding support for digital wallets to enhance speed of access and user convenience.

Founded in 1985, Ghelamco Group has an impressive track-record building spectacular, WELL and BREEAM-certified office buildings, particularly in Poland where it has been instrumental in establishing Wola in western Warsaw as the capital’s new thriving business district.