Panattoni's Strategic Shift: Building the Digital Future
Panattoni, renowned as Europe's largest logistics real estate developer, is strategically broadening its focus by establishing a new division dedicated to data center development. This significant move, building on its existing USA operations since 2024, signals a robust commitment to addressing the escalating demand for digital infrastructure across Europe, the UK, India, and the Middle East.
The company's extensive experience, having delivered over 24 million square meters of large industrial and logistics projects across Europe, provides a strong foundation for this new venture. This expertise in developing large-scale, complex projects is directly transferable to the sophisticated requirements of data center construction.
Expert Leadership for a Critical Sector
To spearhead this ambitious expansion, Panattoni has appointed Richard Wellbrock as CEO for Data Centers. With over 25 years of real estate experience, nearly two decades of which are specifically in data center development, Wellbrock brings invaluable leadership to the team. He will be joined by Nick Parker (Head of Capital Investment), John Belton (Head of Development), and Paul Terry (Director of Infrastructure), all based in London. This expert team will leverage Panattoni's extensive local networks to identify and develop suitable sites.
Robert Dobrzycki, CEO Panattoni for Europe and India, emphasized the critical role of data centers as modern economic infrastructure. They are vital for ensuring digital sovereignty, fostering economic growth, and attracting technological investments, all driven by the relentless increase in data volumes, connectivity needs, artificial intelligence, and cloud services.
Central Europe: A Hub for Digital Innovation
Panattoni is particularly eyeing Central European nations like Slovakia and the Czech Republic as prime locations for data center construction. Slovakia's advantageous geographical location, robust technical capabilities, and stable economic environment make it highly attractive for such investments. Active in Slovakia since 2019, Panattoni possesses significant local knowledge and experience in developing large industrial parks, which is a key asset for identifying and preparing suitable data center sites.
Pavel Sovička, CEO Panattoni for the Czech Republic and Slovakia, confirmed ongoing discussions for significant data center projects in the Czech Republic. These include a substantial 100 MW site, strategically located with access to two European optical backbone networks, making it ideal for neo-Cloud businesses. Additionally, a 30 MW site near Prague is being planned to support Cloud operations. In Slovakia, Panattoni is actively preparing sites equipped with the necessary electrical and telecommunications infrastructure to attract further data center investments to the region.
What This Means for Businesses Seeking Commercial Space
Panattoni's strategic foray into data center development signifies more than just a new business line; it underscores their commitment to providing cutting-edge infrastructure that supports modern commerce. For businesses seeking office or warehouse space, this expansion demonstrates Panattoni's forward-thinking approach and ability to develop highly connected, future-proof environments. As digital transformation accelerates, the availability of robust data infrastructure becomes paramount. Panattoni, now at the forefront of both logistics and digital real estate, is uniquely positioned to offer holistic solutions that cater to the evolving needs of businesses looking for strategic locations and state-of-the-art facilities across Europe.
Source: systemylogistiky.sk
