RTL Hungary moves into renovated Liget Center developed by WING

RTL Hungary, one of the country’s largest commercial television channels, has officially moved into its new downtown headquarters at Liget Center, a landmark development by WING, one of Central Europe’s leading real estate developers. The move was marked by an opening ceremony at the newly refurbished complex, located next to the City Park (Városliget) in Budapest.

The Liget Center project is a significant accomplishment in Hungarian real estate, as it involved transforming a historic, listed building of artistic and historical importance into a modern, sustainable office complex. WING preserved the original modernist architectural elements of the building, while also incorporating advanced technology to meet the specific needs of RTL’s broadcasting operations.

The centerpiece of the renovation is the Liget Center Auditorium, formerly the congress block of the MÉMOSZ (National Federation of Hungarian Construction Workers) headquarters. Protected since 1999, the building’s façade on Városligeti fasor features the iconic relief sculpture “Építőmunkások” (Construction Workers). WING’s redevelopment focused on maintaining the building’s historic charm, while integrating the technological infrastructure required for RTL Hungary’s newsroom and studios. The result is a near-zero energy facility with an “A” energy efficiency rating and an “A+” CO2 emission efficiency rating.

RTL Hungary’s new home in the Liget Center Auditorium will serve as the base for its news directorate and infotainment programmes, including popular shows like RTL News, The Weather Report, and Fókusz. The move brings RTL’s operations closer to the heart of the city, allowing for faster and more efficient news production.

In addition to the Auditorium, RTL Hungary’s business operations have moved into the Liget Center Classic building on Dózsa György út. The central location near Városliget offers employees easy access to a wide range of cultural, sporting, and entertainment activities, enhancing the workplace experience. The building now sports a green RTL logo on the roof, symbolizing the company’s presence in the heart of Budapest.

“We are delighted that RTL Hungary has chosen Liget Center as its new downtown base,” said Noah Steinberg, Chairman & CEO of WING. “The Liget Center aligns perfectly with our goals of creating state-of-the-art, high-quality, sustainable office spaces. This project, like many others we’ve completed over the past 25 years, was tailored to meet the specific needs of a large corporation, though working with a media company brought unique challenges. I believe we’ve risen to the occasion, and we wish RTL Hungary great success in their new home.”

Gabriella Vidus, CEO of RTL Hungary, added, “The move to RTL Liget marks another important step in our company’s transformation. This modern environment will enhance our efficiency, speed up our processes, and foster cross-functional collaboration, allowing us to better respond to consumer needs.”

The architectural firm TIBA Architect Studio led the design of the renovation, with general construction carried out by WORKUP, a division of FITOUT Zrt., and LAB5 architects handling the interior design. The Liget Center project is expected to be fully completed this autumn with the addition of Liget Center Vitrum, a six-story, near-zero energy boutique office building offering 2,200 square meters of leasable space. The Vitrum building will feature a variety of green and smart solutions, catering to tenants seeking a modern office environment in downtown Budapest.