Wednesday, 5 November 2025
Colliers has completed the conversion of two office buildings at Lipowy Office Park into student and co-living accommodation in just eleven months. The project, known as SHED Sky Living, offers housing for more than 730 residents and marks the first time in Poland that a relatively modern office complex has been adapted for residential use. The development is owned by 1 Asset Management, a Lithuanian investment firm.
According to Colliers, nearly half of all office buildings removed from Warsaw’s property inventory in recent years have been repurposed for new uses, often housing. The firm points to this as a growing trend driven by housing shortages, the need to shorten construction timelines, and the aim of lowering environmental impact. “Two office buildings that stood empty now accommodate hundreds of residents, demonstrating how urban resources can be reused efficiently,” said Bartosz Jankowski, Partner and Director of Colliers Define for Central and Eastern Europe.
Poland’s student housing shortage remains acute. With approximately 1.3 million students nationwide, state dormitories provide about 82,000 places, while the private sector offers only a few thousand more. The shortfall is especially evident in Warsaw, where demand for purpose-built student accommodation (PBSA) far exceeds supply. “The conversion of office buildings is one way to address this gap,” noted Michał Witkowski, Director of Living Services at Colliers.
The Lipowy Office Park buildings at 31 Żwirki i Wigury Street were adapted to create 582 rooms, offering 733 beds across 19,000 sq m. The conversion included major structural works—removing most internal walls, reconfiguring layouts, and upgrading systems such as air conditioning and acoustics. Recycled materials were used for raised floors and ceilings, and energy-efficient solutions were incorporated. Colliers Define managed the design, construction, furnishings, and visual identity of the complex.
The development now provides a mix of private rooms with kitchenettes and bathrooms alongside shared amenities such as co-working areas, kitchens, a gym, cinema, study and art rooms, and a podcast studio. Each building has its own design concept: one themed around Warsaw’s legends, the other referencing its landmarks.
1 Asset Management said the project demonstrates the value of adaptive reuse. “Transforming existing office buildings saves time—around 12 months compared to two years for new construction—and offers access to prime locations,” said Matas Mockeliūnas, Partner at 1 Asset Management. “This approach benefits both the city and our investors by creating sustainable urban housing.”
Colliers estimates that demolishing the buildings would have released around 3,500 tonnes of CO₂, emissions avoided through conversion. The project’s completion before the 2025 academic year required careful coordination, with nearly 400 workers on site at peak.
The firm sees more such redevelopments ahead, though not as a universal solution. “Conversion is not viable for every vacant office,” said Jankowski. “Each property must be assessed for technical adaptability, location, and natural light. Some may be better suited for continued office use or other functions.”
Between 2020 and the third quarter of 2025, roughly 700,000 sq m of office space was withdrawn from the Polish market, including around 500,000 sq m in Warsaw. Experts say that while not all these buildings can be converted, adaptive reuse will increasingly form part of the strategy for dealing with older stock in cities where housing demand continues to rise.
Photo: Matas Mockeliūnas, 1 Asset Management and
