Family supervision

The company’s founder, Piotr Korwin-Małaszyński, had previously worked, for several decades, for such international construction firms as Hochtief and Porr, at which he acquired vast project management experience. He finally decided to set up on his own in 2005, when he founded APP-Projekt – a one-man business supported by a few specialists. Today, the company has almost 140 employees, while Piotr’s sons, Jacek and Michał, are members of the board and now in charge of the family business as it goes from strength to strength.

Starting on a high note

APP-Projekt’s first commission was on the Justin Center mixed-use development in Wrocław, back in 2006. The investor behind the project, SJM Development, entrusted APP with the role of substitute investor and also made the company responsible for the tenant coordination and cost control. The project, an investment of more than PLN 100 mln, was in a superb location – opposite the Galeria Dominikańska shopping centre in the city’s old town. The 37,000 sqm building consists of apartments (including units for rental) ranging from 26 sqm to 114 sqm, as well as retail/services on the ground floor and offices on the first floor. “We’re still proud of it after all these years – we can say that the project has stood the test of time and has not lost any of its lustre, helped in part by its unique location and original architecture,” claims Michał Małaszyński, a board member of APP-Projekt.

Original and reliable designs have become APP-Projekt’s hallmark. After 15 years of active operations, the company has completed a number of impressive projects and has become a permanent investment partner for many clients. Jerónimo Martins Poland, for instance, enlisted APP-Projekt for the project management and technical supervision of the construction of seven logistics and distribution centres across Poland. ​​More than 180,000 sqm of buildings have been constructed at a cost of almost PLN 500 mln. “Jerónimo Martins also commissioned us for the construction of its Warsaw offices – we managed this project, looked after of the cost control, the investor supervision and tenant coordination. A few years later, another major player from the FMCG sector, grocery chain Żabka, brought us in to support them on the construction of their headquarters in Poznań, within the new Nowy Rynek quarter, which was being developed by Skanska. Both ordering parties were very demanding – they were focused on the details because they were building for their own needs. We felt this and understood it perfectly, because we specialise in quality buildings that we can then be proud of,” explains Michał Małaszyński.

Panattoni is another company that has also consistently put its trust in APP over the years. It has already used APP-Projekt as the construction coordinator and supervision inspector in the construction of more than 400,000 sqm of logistics and distribution centres in six towns in the Wielkopolska region – with a combined value estimated at around PLN 700 mln. APP-Projekt has also been working with another leading international logistics developer, Hillwood, for several years, supervising the construction of more than 200,000 sqm of warehouse space. During this time APP-Projekt has also been cooperating with residential developers – its clients include Ronson Development, Okam, REF Eastern Opportunities and Bouygues Immobilier Polska,as well as a large number of local companies.

To the beach

In early 2019, APP-Projekt took over the responsibility for the development of a residential complex in Gąski,
a village on the Baltic coast near
Mielno. The investor this time was Premium Properties 1. After purchasing the site for the project, the latter commissioned APP-Projekt to carry out a due diligence report and then appointed it as substitute investor for the development, responsible for both the design work and securing the general contractor. Around 300 apartments are to be built along the beach in two stages. The first phase (90 flats) is just now taking shape, with the ceiling above the underground car park now finished. “The location is unique, therefore it requires many extra procedures and arrangements with the authorities,” admits Michał Małaszyński. “Since the project is being developed in the first line of development from the sea and some buildings have to be situated in the coastal belt, any activity – whether it’s the construction of an access road, the laying of installations or assembling a bicycle stand – has to be approved by the Maritime Office. Fortunately, with the right planning, these activities can be properly coordinated, so the project is proceeding according to schedule,” adds Michał Małaszyński.



Lets Sea Baltic Park in Gąski near Mielno

Due to the village’s resort character, the construction work cannot be done whenever we want, especially when it involves noisy work in the summer. For example, concreting is only possible twice a week and at certain times.

APP-Projekt is also involved in other recreational and leisure projects in Poland. The largest indoor water park in Poland, Suntago Water World, was officially opened on February 20th. It has been built in Wręcza near Mszczonów at an estimated cost of EUR 170 mln. “APP acted as the technical and financial consultant. In this latter role, our team of analysts monitored the projectʼs cost in co-operation with the banks financing it. As technical advisor weʼve also had a lot to do, because it’s a huge, unique and very demanding project, involving countless technical challenges,” says Jacek Korwin-Małaszyński.

This massive complex has been built on a large greenfield site. At the beginning it required the construction of a 3 km access road and an 8 km power line to supply it. “The arrangements for laying this network on private plots required the involvement of a team of specialists. And then it got even more interesting. There was the assembly of one of the longest intertwined water slides in Poland – and this is like knitting, but with tubes instead of wool,” explains Jacek Korwin-Małaszyński.

The centre contains 18 pools over a surface of 3,500 sqm as well as 32 slides, ten saunas and an indoor surfing pool. An exotic atmosphere has been created with 740 palm trees imported from around the world, as well as its selection of bars and restaurants. Suntago Village is also ready. This consists of almost a hundred fully furnished bungalows along with a playground, a barbecue area, a central building with a reception and a mini-shop.

APP-Projekt’s interest in sports and recreation facilities extends not only to their successful development, but also to using them as arenas for their displays of sporting prowess: brothers Jacek and Michał have been passionate about tennis since they were kids. Michał apparently has a cupboard full of trophies (including for the Polish Academic Championship), while Jacek has a ‘mere’ shelf-full. The brothers regularly compete side-by-side at the annual Eurobuild Tennis Tournament, which the company also acts as co-organisers of. However, they no longer win trophies just for themselves but for APP-Projekt.



React in Łódź

Best offices under supervision

Because man cannot live on recreation alone, the Małaszyńskis’ company also boasts significant orders for managing the construction of the most spectacular office buildings in Poland. “We have been cooperating with Echo Investment for years and it has entrusted us with the same scope of work several times – construction management, investor supervision, cost management and tenant coordination – for its office projects in Wrocław. We are currently working on the construction of the app. 15,000 sqm gla West 4 complex and quite recently Echo has given us the same responsibilities for its latest project – React, the largest ever office complex in Łódź,” reveals Jacek Korwin-Małaszyński.

Echo Investment started the project at the junction of ul. Kilińskiego and al. Piłsudskiego in the city centre in spring 2019. The entire complex will comprise almost 50,000 sqm, with its first few tenants due to move in the second half of this year. The first stage involves the construction of a 15,000 sqm building at the heart of which will be a two-level entrance area
with a reception and chill-out area. A coffee bar will be situated on the mezzanine with integration and relaxation zones nearby. A canteen garden and a special area for watching films are also planned. “It will be an ideal place for business and employees due to its good architecture, excellent location and its proptech systems. We are sure that the building will be
a major trendsetter in the development of the office market in this city,” insists Michał Małaszyński.

APP-Projekt is also active in its home city of Poznań. In June 2019, Skanska finalised the EUR 73 mln sale of an office building developed for Franklin Templeton Investments (FTI) within its Nowy Rynek complex. “At the request of the buyer, FTI, our company managed the project, carried out the quality supervision and cost control and was the coordinator of the turnkey finishing of the leasable space,” explains Michał Małaszyński. The office building, which is located on the site of the city’s former bus station, was the first to be completed in Nowy Rynek. It comprises 27,000 sqm of office space on six floors and will serve as the new headquarters of the fund. It will feature modern, work-friendly areas, a canteen, a gym and bicycle parking. FTI is one of the largest investment companies in the world, managing the assets of more than 24 mln private and institutional investors. In Poznań (its largest location in Europe) it now employs almost 1,000 people, around 10 pct of its global team.



Suntago Water World in Wręcza near Mszczonów

Small, family and operative

APP-Projekt still only has a workforce of around 140, but many have been working for the company for years and it has virtually no employee-turnover. “I think that our personnel appreciate the support of the company’s management board and – because we are a family company – our paternal approach. We are aware that everyone also has a personal life that this should be worthy of the employer’s support,” explains Michał Małaszyński.

Employees (as well as clients) also benefit from its flat management structure, which enables speedy decision making and an efficient flow of information. Does APP-Projekt sometimes dream of becoming a corporation? “We intend to grow, because you can’t stay afloat in the sector without doing so, but we value our current scale – it guarantees smooth operations and complementary services,” insists Jacek Korwin-Małaszyński.