The Sand Offices business center, whch broke ground at the end of 2023, has opened its doors in the center of Vilnius.
“The new business center was built not only at a record pace but also in compliance with the highest sustainability and energy efficiency standards,” said Mindaugas Liaudanskas, CEO of Capitalica Asset Management, the SBA Group’s investment management company that developed the project. “We are aiming for the BREEAM Excellent New Construction certification.”
“The completion of Sand Offices is a significant achievement for all investors and bondholders,” Liaudanskas added, “as well as future tenants and every team member who contributed to making this business center a reality – from Aketuri architects, who shaped the project’s vision, to every member of the construction team.”
The business center spans 10,000 square meters across eight floors, including an underground parking garage. Moving in are the first tenants, who include online financing platform CapitalBox, the Laurus restaurant, the Prenta Studio home-appliance studio, the Capital Real Estate real-estate-services company, and Laufen, a bathroom equipment manufacturer.
Currently, 19% of the office space is leased, and Capitalica Asset Management reports that active negotiations are underway with other potential tenants. “We anticipate that by mid-year, two-thirds of the leasable space will be occupied,” stated Liaudanskas.
“We were looking for a location that would be convenient for us and our clients,” said Nerijus Baksys, Sales Manager at Laufen. “Sand Offices offered just that. Situated near one of the main transportation hubs and close to the city center, it provides easy access to clients throughout Vilnius, as well as convenient travel to Kaunas, Panevezys, and other cities.”
Baksys also pointed to the parking availability as influencing his company’s decision to move in to Sand Offices. “At Sand Offices, we will have 140 parking spaces for cars, 80 for bicycles, and 30 for electric vehicles. Employees will also have access to a dedicated storage area for scooters and bicycles.”
Other tenants noted that clinker brick facade and 273 large 9-square-meter windows, allowing ample natural daylight inside. “In Lithuania, sunny days are rare,” says Inga Antanaitiene, a real estate broker at Capital Real Estate. “That’s why I am thrilled that my team and I will now be able to enjoy natural light and inspiring city and nature views year-round.”
According to Liaudanskas, the Sand Offices concept was inspired by the area’s rich history: “Around 500 years ago, Snipiskės was a well-known suburb of Vilnius, famous for its clay-rich soil. The first glass factory in the Grand Duchy of Lithuania operated here, and bricks made from local clay were used in the construction of many historic Vilnius buildings. Interestingly, workers excavating clay and limestone in this area often unearthed mammoth bones. This fascinating local history inspired the name Sand Offices.
“I often rely on my intuition,” said Nerijus Baksys of Laufen. “When I first came across Sand Offices online, I was immediately intrigued. My colleagues, and I were looking for a business center that wasn’t just another glass box. The architectural solutions and historical homage made this project stand out. That’s when we knew it was the right fit. After all, Laufen’s history began in 1892 with brick and clinker manufacturing in the Swiss town of Laufen.”
Capitalica Asset Management reports that the total budget for the Sand Offices project was EUR 25 million.
