Forte Partners Advances U•Center 3 as Demand for Premium Mixed-Use Projects Strengthens in Bucharest

The Bucharest office and residential markets are entering a new phase of stability, with demand holding strong for high-quality projects in prime locations. That was the key message from Geo Mărgescu, Founder and CEO of Forte Partners, in a recent interview with CIJ EUROPE, as the company pushes ahead with its €100 million U•Center 3 development.

Mărgescu explained that both tenants and apartment buyers are increasingly selective, willing to pay more but only for projects that deliver the best product, location and facilities. He emphasized that this holds true across both residential and office markets, where quality has become the decisive factor.

The office sector, he said, has undergone major shifts over the past four years. The pandemic initially drove tenants to vacate large spaces and accelerated the adoption of remote work, but the market has since returned to balance. A shortage of new building permits at City Hall temporarily limited new supply, which helped stabilize conditions and shift the market back in favor of landlords. Hybrid work models have now become the norm, shaping demand for more flexible layouts and collaboration areas. At the same time, inflation has pushed rents upward, bringing them to what Mărgescu described as a healthy level for both landlords and the market as a whole.

Against this backdrop, Forte Partners is advancing U•Center 3, the third phase of its landmark project on Bulevardul Tineretului. The €100 million investment includes a new office building and 200 residential apartments, along with additional retail and public spaces. Financing is structured around a mix of equity and traditional bank lending. Mărgescu explained that the company always begins with equity, accessing bank financing only once it has visibility on tenant demand, ensuring a careful balance between profitability and risk.

Sustainability is a central feature of the new phase. U•Center 3 will be fully electric, equipped with advanced building management systems, rainwater harvesting, and predictive weather-control technologies designed to reduce energy use. The project has already secured Leed Platinum certification. For Forte, Mărgescu said, ESG is not about ticking boxes but about building better projects that remain modern and relevant for decades to come.

One of the defining aspects of U•Center 3 is its mixed-use concept. Mărgescu stressed that large office projects risk becoming deserted after working hours, something Forte seeks to avoid. By adding apartments, retail, and public amenities, the company aims to create a community that remains active both during the day and into the evening. The project will include a piazza with restaurants and shops, designed to open up the site and integrate it with the surrounding neighborhood.

The 200 apartments are planned for sale rather than rental and will target young families and professionals in their 30s. They will include terraces, underfloor heating, premium materials and shared amenities such as car-sharing spaces and bicycle repair points, which remain rare in Romania. Mărgescu described the design as low-rise, green and community-oriented, with the goal of attracting both existing residents who wish to remain in the area and employees from nearby office tenants.

Looking ahead, Mărgescu expects Bucharest to expand both outward into northern suburbs and inward through the redevelopment of large industrial platforms. He noted that the city does not tend to embrace very tall towers and that the next wave of development will likely come from reconverting brownfield sites into mixed-use projects. He estimated that several major redevelopments could bring as much as half a million square meters of new space to the city over the next decade.

Forte Partners plans to begin pre-sales of the residential component of U•Center 3 in early 2026 once permits are secured, with pre-leasing for office space already underway. Beyond this project, the company is preparing additional acquisitions and joint ventures for larger mixed-use developments, continuing its focus on Bucharest.

“Our goal is to keep reshaping Bucharest with projects that blend work, living, and leisure. We want to build not just for today, but for the next generations,” Mărgescu concluded.

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