HIH retains Darmstadt customs authority in 8,000 sqm office renewal

HIH Invest has extended its lease with the Darmstadt Main Customs Office for almost 8,000 sqm at Atrium Office, securing the government authority as the largest occupier of the property for the longer term. The tenant has occupied the building for several years, while the duration and financial terms of the renewed agreement have not been disclosed.

The customs authority accounts for close to 60% of Atrium Office’s approximately 13,500 sqm of lettable space. The renewal therefore secures a substantial proportion of the building’s occupancy and avoids the potential release of a large block of office accommodation onto the Darmstadt market.

Located at Hilpertstraße 20a in Darmstadt-West, Atrium Office is a five-storey office and administrative building. Its floorplates can accommodate different workplace configurations, ranging from individual and combined offices to larger open-plan areas.

The building is arranged around a landscaped atrium designed to bring natural light into its interior areas. Other features include full-height windows, external solar shading, passenger lifts, storage accommodation and a roof terrace. The property also provides 176 underground parking spaces.

“The fact that the Main Customs Office has once again made a long-term commitment to Atrium Office confirms the quality and functionality of the building. At the same time, the lease extension is the result of the relationship of trust that has developed over many years. Flexible space structures and good accessibility are important factors, particularly for long-term occupiers. Atrium Office provides both,” said Markus Leuchte, Head of Letting Management Frankfurt at HIH Real Estate.

Atrium Office is situated in Darmstadt’s Bürostadt West business district, close to the B26. Darmstadt’s main railway station can be reached within a few minutes by bus or car, while the A5 and A67 provide connections to the wider Rhine-Main region. Frankfurt Airport is around 20 minutes away by car, according to HIH.

Retaining the customs authority provides HIH with a long-term public-sector occupier for the majority of the building’s space. For Atrium Office, the agreement also reduces near-term leasing exposure at a time when owners of existing German office properties are placing increasing emphasis on retaining established tenants and maintaining stable occupancy.