DEAS’ logistics facilities meet current demand

The logistics industry emphasises the importance of several aspects, such as the good location, responsibility and flexibility of logistics facilities.

DEAS’s logistics facility experts Head of Transactions Finland Henrik Eskolin, Senior Asset Manager Matti Kivilä and Senior Project Development Manager Kimmo Korpela shared their views on current logistics trends.

According to the experts, there are three clear trends in successful logistics facilities: location, responsibility and flexibility.

Right location

There is a shortage of space for modern logistics facilities in the Helsinki Metropolitan Area and its surrounding areas, as almost all good locations in the vicinity are already in use. For this reason, new facilities are being built further away from the city centre, but with good logistical connections.

The facilities managed by DEAS are in good locations in the Helsinki Metropolitan Area and in growth centres across Finland. For example, the company manages several logistics facilities in the vicinity of Helsinki Airport.

“The location of the airport is excellent for logistical operations,” says Kivilä.

In total, DEAS manages a total of 443,000 m² of property in Finland, with logistics facilities comprising nearly half of that total, or 220,000 m². Soon that number will increase further. The assets managed by DEAS amount to approximately EUR 1 billion.

In accordance with the wishes of investors, new acquisitions focus particularly on modern, flexible and environmentally friendly premises that are in good locations for logistics.

Responsible premises

The environmental friendliness of logistics facilities is another important aspect that is currently particularly relevant. There are few sustainable premises with environmental certifications available in the Helsinki Metropolitan Area, which is why they are in high demand. Today, tenants pay great attention to the environmental friendliness of their premises.

“Almost all of our new projects will have environmental certifications, which means that we apply for LEED or BREEAM certificates for them, which measure the environmental friendliness of the project and matters such as how energy-efficient it is. Today, environmental issues play a very important role from the investor’s point of view,” says Korpela.

“For example, our last two projects, Avialogis and Eaton, will have geothermal heating, which will substantially improve their environmental friendliness,” says Kivilä. In addition, the properties will have solar power plants acquired directly by the tenants, which will support the chosen “green policy”. Plenty of charging possibilities have also been made available for the ever-growing use of electric cars.

Both of the aforementioned sites are certified at the BREEAM Excellent level, which can be considered outstanding for logistics properties.

Flexibility of the premises

The third trend identified by the experts is the flexibility of the premises. Facilities are built for the long term from the perspective of the investor, the user, the environment and the party that manages them, which is why it is important that the space can be used in a variety of ways during its life cycle.

“For example, it is important to be able to divide the premises for multiple users if necessary. The user who will operate in the premises when the construction is finished may not be there after 20 years, or their needs for the space may have changed, so the space must be as flexible as possible throughout its life cycle,” says Eskolin.

The properties managed by DEAS offer versatile and tailor-made solutions for companies of various sizes.

Logistics facilities of the future

The logistics facilities of the future will reflect largely the same trends as today. According to Eskolin, the cooperation between the tenant and the landlord will become even closer, because tenants will need more flexibility and landlords will want to offer them various services in addition to the premises.

“From a technical perspective, new projects are often designed to meet the needs of the tenant, while also taking into account the further use of the premises in the long term. Therefore, flexibility is important, and conscious efforts are made to avoid solutions that would restrict it,” says Korpela.

In the future, the energy efficiency of buildings will become even more important as regulations related to it become stricter. It is important that projects are sustainable, have controlled carbon footprints and a long service life.

DEAS is also well aware of the current difficult world situation. So far, however, there have been no major cost increases or delays in new projects. According to the experts, bigger problems have so far been avoided, and this is also thanks to the good partners that DEAS has engaged with to take proactive measures and prepare projects together.

See all our logistics facilities at: https://deastilat.fi/#varastotila (in Finnish).