Garbe Constructs Largest Timber Logistics Property in Straubing

Garbe Industrial Real Estate GmbH, in partnership with its joint venture partner Logicenters, has secured a construction-ready plot of approximately 47,000 square meters in the port of Straubing in Lower Bavaria. The largest logistics property in Europe, built entirely of timber, is set to be developed there, making it a flagship project. Following the start of construction in the third quarter of 2024, the completion of the logistics hall, which will cover around 27,000 square meters, is scheduled for the third quarter of 2025. A total investment of around 31 million euros will be made in the site.

(Hamburg/Straubing) “The plot is one of the last large areas in the Straubing-Sand port. It stands out primarily due to its excellent transport connections,” says Adrian Zellner, a member of the management board at Garbe Industrial Real Estate. The location is conveniently situated near federal highways B 20 and B 8, as well as the A 3 motorway, which stretches from the Dutch to the Austrian border, and the A 92, which connects Deggendorf with Munich. Additionally, there is a bus stop just 200 meters away, providing easy access to the public transport network.

Garbe Industrial Real Estate plans to develop a modern and multi-use logistics property on the site, featuring approximately 24,400 square meters of hall space, 1,480 square meters of storage mezzanine, and about 1,100 square meters of office and social space, making it a so-called flagship project. It will be equipped with 26 loading bridges and nine sectional doors. The outdoor area will include parking spaces for 70 cars and 12 trucks, as well as 42 bicycle parking spots. “We are constructing the hall without firm rental commitments. However, there is already an initial interested party from the automotive supply industry that wants to use the site as a storage and transshipment area to service the nearby BMW plant,” says Adrian Zellner. “As an automotive option, the hall will have ground-level doors on the entire back side, which will be equipped with a canopy.”

The planned logistics hall is exceptional due to its construction entirely in timber. Not only the entire load-bearing structure and the mezzanine levels but also the complete facade will be built in a unique wooden design.

New Opportunities in the Ecological Balance

“The building material wood offers us entirely new opportunities to save CO₂, as we place great importance on adhering to sustainable ESG criteria in the construction of our properties. With this project, we want to fulfill our responsibility as a leading German project developer for storage and logistics properties and be a pioneer for more sustainable construction methods. Special thanks go to the Zweckverband of the Straubing Port, which has significantly supported us as the land lease provider in this endeavor,” explains Adrian Zellner.

To harness renewable energy, the roof areas of the logistics center will be pre-equipped for photovoltaic use, and the halls will be fitted with LED lighting. The heating of the property will be carried out using climate-friendly air heat pumps. For the project development, Garbe Industrial Real Estate aims for certification according to the Gold Standard of the German Sustainable Building Council (DGNB).

First Joint Project of the Joint Venture

The logistics property in Straubing is also the first project of the new joint venture between Garbe Industrial Real Estate and Logicenters. The company develops and manages logistics properties and is part of NREP, the largest real estate investment manager in the Nordic countries, with managed assets of around 19 billion euros. The goal of the two joint venture partners is to build a sustainable and strongly ESG-oriented logistics portfolio in Germany.

Photo: © Garbe