“The acquisition of the London and Oslo buildings marked a strategic decision to invest in a well-established, high-potential submarket that benefits from excellent accessibility, vibrant business activity, and a growing residential community,” Mihai Odoviciuc, Property Manager EVO Properties, told Sustainability Today.

“In the medium term, our focus remains on consolidating and optimizing our current portfolio and completing the transformation of London and Oslo into a fully functional urban hub.

Our strategy is to strengthen EVO Properties position as a benchmark for sustainable asset management and adaptive reuse in Romania. While Bucharest remains our core market, we are open to opportunities in other cities where our model, revitalizing existing assets and turning them into multifunctional communities, can generate real impact.”

EVO Properties is a relatively new name in the Romanian office market. How do you plan to differentiate your company from more established players?

EVO Properties entered the market with a clear purpose: to reshape how people relate to office spaces. Rather than focusing solely on square meters or rental yields, our approach revolves around creating sustainable, human-centric environments where productivity, well-being, and community coexist naturally.

Through the reconversion of the London and Oslo A+ class office buildings into a multifunctional urban hub, we are redefining the workplace as an ecosystem that blends work, culture, health, and leisure. From EVO FIT, the first in-house developed fitness center inside an office building in Romania, to the Lumina Cultural Center, specialty coffee shop, and medical and hospitality facilities, every component serves one goal: making sustainability tangible and people-focused.

What was the strategic reasoning behind acquiring the two office buildings in the Politehnica  area at the beginning of 2024?

The acquisition of the London and Oslo buildings marked a strategic decision to invest in a well-established, high-potential submarket that benefits from excellent accessibility, vibrant business activity, and a growing residential community.

Our goal was to repurpose and modernize existing assets, transforming them into energy-efficient, technology-driven, and community-oriented buildings. By doing so, EVO Properties aligns with the global trend of adaptive reuse, one of the most sustainable approaches to real estate development. The Politehnica/Grozavesti area provides the perfect ecosystem for such a transformation, allowing us to merge functionality, innovation, and human experience.

To what extent is sustainability a driver in tenants’ leasing decisions today compared to 5 years ago?

Sustainability has shifted from a “nice-to-have” to a defining factor in leasing decisions. Five years ago, conversations with tenants often focused on location and cost. Today, discussions revolve around energy efficiency, operating predictability, air quality, and ESG compliance.

Companies understand that their workspace directly reflects their values, culture, and environmental commitments. Buildings that integrate green technologies, renewable energy, and advanced monitoring systems not only reduce operational costs but also support employees’ health and productivity, key elements of long-term business resilience.

At EVO Properties, both London and Oslo are fully electric, use 100% renewable energy, and have achieved BREEAM Outstanding certification, a global recognition of excellence in sustainable building performance. All these measures become competitive advantages for tenants as well, because offering facilities that support operational efficiency and social responsibility is becoming a key factor in tenants’ decisions. Our project is designed to meet these needs by offering integrated solutions that generate savings, support ESG reporting, and create a more attractive and sustainable working environment.

How important is it for EVO Properties to attract tenants from the public sector?

We approach every tenant as a partner rather than a client, whether from the private or public sector. We strongly believe that having a balanced tenant mix adds stability and diversity to our ecosystem.

Public institutions can bring long-term predictability and serve as catalysts for urban regeneration. However, our focus remains on attracting tenants who share our values, meaning companies and organizations committed to sustainability, innovation, and community building. The goal is to curate a mix that can boost collaboration and reflects the spirit of the multifunctional hub we are creating.

How do you approach rental negotiations in a market where price depends on so many variables?

Transparency and flexibility define our approach. In a dynamic market, the negotiation process is not just about price, but about value creation.

We work closely with tenants to tailor solutions that align with their operational needs, sustainability targets, and long-term business goals. Advanced energy management, optimized maintenance, and digital building systems allow us to maintain cost efficiency while ensuring high-quality standards.

This is not about offering the lowest rate, it’s about delivering a space that performs efficiently, supports well-being, and provides predictability in an uncertain economic context.

What is your medium-term growth strategy in Romania—do you plan to expand beyond Bucharest?

In the medium term, our focus remains on consolidating and optimizing our current portfolio and completing the transformation of London and Oslo into a fully functional urban hub.

Our strategy is to strengthen EVO Properties position as a benchmark for sustainable asset management and adaptive reuse in Romania. While Bucharest remains our core market, we are open to opportunities in other cities where our model, revitalizing existing assets and turning them into multifunctional communities, can generate real impact.

Looking ahead, what are your top three strategic objectives for EVO Properties in the next five years?

• Complete the transformation of the London & Oslo hub into a reference project for sustainable and people-centric office spaces in Romania.
• Expand our sustainable operations model, AI-based analytics, and circularity principles across all assets.
• Build a strong, engaged community of tenants and partners who share our values of efficiency, well-being, and collaboration.

Our long-term vision is to move beyond real estate and to create living ecosystems where buildings empower people to give the best of them.