Our Way 1
WALLFAST & KTH TEXT SOFIA LUNDGREN PHOTO OSKAR OM
NE, WALLFAST For students, tasks and projects are often based on cases and assumptions – not on reality. That’s why studying Wallfast’s ongoing building project in Värtahamnen was such a good match for a group of KTH students to analyse. t was a great opportunity to apply what we learnt from our lectures to reality. Also, it was fun to give our opinions and feedback to Wallfast and see how they choose to use them,” says Frida Nilzén, student at KTH. I THIS FALL, the 100 or so students on the master’s programme in Real Estate and Construction Management at KTH (The Royal Institute of Technology) took a course in Real Estate Market Analysis and Development. A vital part of the course was the analysis of the Wallfast project in Värtahamnen, an area of Stockholm where several property developers have joined forces to create an entirely new part of the city. Plans for the area are years in the making, and construction for the first projects has recently begun. “Wallfast introduced their ideas and vision for us, and then we took a field trip to Värtahamnen. It gave us valuable insights, when we were able to see the grounds for ourselves,” says Malva Karlsson. She and Frida worked together with fellow KTH students Felix Swartling and Karin Hultgren on the project, focusing on the office building part of the project. “We conducted a macro analysis and a productivity analysis. We tried to gauge, for example, what the optimal rental rate will be when the property is ready,” says Felix. THE STUDENTS ALSO investigated the demand for workplaces in the area, building a prognosis on other, similar projects and by doing a survey on tenants already renting office space in the area. The results ended up in an essay, which was presented to Wallfast. “It’s really interesting to share the students’ approaches and ideas. There’s a lot to factor in. For example, today this is an industrial area about to be turned into an attractive residential neighbourhood. Should rents be set on the status of the area today, or what it will become?” Wallfast Architect Jens Jenslin ponders. TOGETHER WITH Carl Talling, Property Market Manager at Wallfast, Jens introduced the Värtahamnen projects to the students. Coincidentally, both Carl and Jens are KTH alumni. Carl even wrote his master’s thesis on Värtahamnen, thereby closing the circle. “For us, it’s always great fun and rewarding to collaborate with KTH. Not only do we get fresh ideas, but we also connect with students just about to start their careers. This way, we get to present ourselves as an interesting place to work and we also get updates and insights on education and the business,” Carl explains. WHEN THE STUDENTS present their conclusions to Wallfast, many address the issue of how to create an attractive workplace in a post-pandemic world, with new demands on flexibility. “I think this is a great opportunity for Wallfast to be at the forefront of flexible workplaces. They have a chance to create a really high-tech environment, aligned with the latest trends to set their spaces apart from the competition,” Felix says. AS AN EMPLOYER TODAY, YOU HAVE TO OFFER AN ATTRACTIVE WORKPLACE AS AN ALTERNATIVE TO WORKING FROM HOME. Frida Nilzén Student, KTH Frida agrees: “As an employer today, you have to offer an attractive workplace as an alternative to working from home. I think the green surroundings, the water nearby and the plan to make room for a restaurant on the ground floor are great and just the sort of things that will bring people to the office.” 12 OUR WAY 1/2024