HIH Invest acquires Bonn headquarters of General Customs Directorate

HIH Invest Real Estate (HIH Invest) has acquired the WEST.SIDE – EMBER office building at Václav-Havel-Platz 6 in Bonn on behalf of a separate account mandate for an institutional investor. The property, completed in early 2024, was sold by a Swiss real estate investor.

The newly constructed building offers 11,241 square meters of rental space, including 9,383 square meters of office space, 1,443 square meters for storage and server facilities, and 415 square meters for bicycle parking. It also includes 65 underground parking spaces, with an additional 60 spaces available in a nearby parking garage. Designed in a G-shape, the structure encloses a landscaped courtyard, creating a modern and sustainable workspace.

The sole tenant of the property is the German Federal Agency for Real Estate (BImA), which has signed a 15-year lease with renewal options extending up to 20 years. The building accommodates approximately half of the 850 Bonn-based employees of the General Customs Directorate.

Built to KfW-55 energy efficiency standards, the office features district heating for warmth and concrete core activation for cooling. The roof is extensively greened, with provisions for a future photovoltaic system. A red-glazed ceramic façade enhances the architectural character while integrating nesting sites for local bird species. The property is targeting a Gold certification from the German Sustainable Building Council (DGNB).

Located in the WEST.SIDE district development in Endenich, western Bonn, the office building is part of a broader revitalization project of a 60,000-square-meter former industrial site, which has been transforming into a mixed-use commercial and residential hub since 2014. The area is home to government agencies, research institutions, and administrative offices, making it an attractive location for tenants.

According to Daniel Asmus, Head of Transaction Management Office Germany, Bonn’s office market saw its strongest performance in recent years in 2024, largely due to significant public sector leases. He noted that rental prices are on the rise, while vacancy rates are decreasing. The location offers excellent connectivity to public transport and major highways, with direct access to S-Bahn and U-Bahn trains, multiple bus lines, and key road networks.

David Sanders, Head of Fund Management/Multi-Manager Business, emphasized the strategic value of the acquisition, describing the property as a high-quality new development with a long-term, stable tenant, cutting-edge building technology, and a prime location. He highlighted that counter-cyclical investment strategies remain advantageous, as market adjustments have created opportunities to secure premium assets before all buyers fully return to the market.

The legal and tax due diligence for the acquisition was handled by Norton Rose Fulbright, while Drees & Sommer conducted the technical and ESG due diligence. The property was brokered by CBRE.