Wave office building in Gdańsk recertified as an “Object Without Barriers”

The Wave office building in the Tricity area, developed by Skanska, which first received the Integration Fundation’s “Object Without Barriers” certificate in 2020, has just successfully completed the recertification process.

The building is located on Grunwaldzka Avenue, in the Oliwa district. It spans 15 floors and offers tenants nearly 25,000 sq m of office and retail space.

“Our goal is to create buildings that are fully accessible to everyone – without barriers or limitations. We believe there is no accessible office space without an accessible building. These are standards that our tenants consider key, as they translate not only into workplace comfort but also into an organisational culture based on equality,” says Eliza Jamrozik, Senior Leasing & Asset Manager at Skanska Commercial Development Europe.

Inclusive and welcoming architecture

Since 2013, the Integration Foundation has been awarding the “Object Without Barriers” certificate to buildings that meet the needs of people with diverse requirements – such as those with disabilities, families with children, or the elderly.

The Foundation’s collaboration with Skanska goes beyond accessibility audits and certification of office buildings – it also has an educational aspect. Last year, the partners published “SWITCH 2.0. Designing Without Barriers”, an updated compendium of knowledge on inclusive space design.

“Recertification after five years under the “Object Without Barriers” standard is not a mere formality. The audit involves a return visit by an auditor and a review of the procedures in place within the building, including evacuation procedures. All common areas of the building are also inspected, as well as the surrounding environment and its connection to the city. The auditor verifies that no significant changes have occurred over the past five years and that the proverbial “three steps” have not appeared. Recertification also raises the bar to the current year’s standard, which is why additional solutions must be implemented for specific user groups,” comments Jarosław Bogucki, Business Development Director at the Foundation of Integration.

A wide range of new solutions

As part of the recertification process, a number of new accessibility solutions were introduced at Wave. The reception desk is equipped with an induction loop, ensuring comfort for hearing-impaired people who use hearing aids. An online sign language interpreter is also available, supporting deaf users who communicate through sign language. A TOTUPOINT® navigation and information system marker has been installed at the entrance and reception area to assist visually impaired visitors in navigating the space. The building also features Braille signage and additional markings with NFC tags, enabling visually impaired smartphone users to navigate more easily.

Skanska Commercial Development Europe  

Skanska Commercial Development Europe uses knowledge & foresight to shape the way people live, work, and connect.   

Skanska CDE is a leading office developer in Central and Eastern Europe, operating in Poland, Hungary, Romania, and the Czech Republic. Together with our customers and the collective expertise of our teammates, we create innovative and sustainable solutions that support healthy living beyond our lifetime. Thus, our projects are certified in the LEED, WELL Core & Shell, WiredScore, SmartScore and Object Without Barriers systems. Skanska Commercial Development Europe is part of the Skanska Group – one of the world’s largest development and construction companies, operating for 135 years.