The Barcelona office market closed 2022 with more than 300,000 square meters leased. This is the calculation made by the real estate consultancy CBRE, which assures that this figure represents a slight increase of 1.3% and consolidates the recovery initiated in 2021, when many of the operations that could not materialize in 2020 due to the pandemic were closed.
At the close of 2022, the rent for buildings located in the so-called prime areas has remained at 28 euros per square meter per month and is expected, according to the firm, to increase with the start of 2023. In CBRE's opinion, "attracting talent continues to be one of the main priorities for companies, polarizing the market and raising rents for higher quality buildings", a trend that drives up average rents.
"Despite the complications experienced worldwide in recent years in the office market, Barcelona continues to demonstrate its attractiveness and renews stabilized figures around 300,000 square meters annually, slightly exceeding them and with some large operations already pending signature for the beginning of this year", stated Lindy Garber, executive at CBRE Barcelona.
28% of the contracted area corresponds to offices located in the city center, an area that has been characterized for many years by having few quality spaces, but highly demanded due to its location. With very similar figures, this area is followed by contracts made in the 22@ district, which has absorbed 27% of the leased square meters.
According to the president of the 22@Network BCN association, Enric Urreta, "the difficulties of the post-pandemic scenario and the threats of a global economic crisis have not stopped the business success of the 22@ project, where in 2022 the real estate market stabilized compared to 2021, and continues to be led by large technology companies." The association closed the year with 236 members after adding 61 new companies.