New Multifunctional Center to Be Built in Budapest

The Centrale multifunctional building complex will be built on one of the Hungarian capital's main intermodal hubs, the Puskás Ferenc Stadion underground station, at Budapest’s prime sports, entertainment, and culture district, and in the middle of the Hungária Boulevard office corridor.

The 29,000-sqm GBA development, with its unique architectural and forward-thinking solutions, will offer commercial and service space, a unique F&B hub, offices and a hotel, making everyday life more livable and comfortable for the residents and commuters of the area, according to a press release issued on Tuesday.

The Centrale complex sits on Budapest’s busiest intersection of Kerepesi Road and Hungária Boulevard, where over 100,000 vehicles drive past, and where 70,000+ pedestrians use the intermodal transport hub on a daily basis. The main objective of the project is to cater to the needs of the diverse mix of users, be it transport or residential users, and the nearby office and event users, in creating a pleasing commercially and architecturally unique hub.

The statement highlights that, developed by Chain Bridge Ventures Ltd. and designed by Bánáti + Hartvig Architects, the 29,000-sqm GBA complex is a pioneer in Hungary. The building's multifunctional character is created by a mix of retail, food hall, offices and a hotel. It is expected that approximately 40 shops and service outlets will open on over 6,000 sqm on the ground floor, including a supermarket, a drugstore, a pharmacy, banks, telecoms, FMCG and beauty services. A curated F&B experience hall of over 2,000 sqm will sit on the first floor. The light-filled space with terraces, will serve as the neighborhood hangout space and as the meeting point pre- and post-concerts happening at the adjacent event venues, and thus cater to a wide range of clientele. An approx 5,000-sqm 3-storey modern office tower will sit atop the commercial center on the Hungaria Boulevard facing side, while a 170-room 4-star hotel will sit atop the Puskás Arena facing side. A 100-space overground car park will be erected, with additionally the 1000+ parking garage of the Papp Laszló Arena directly connected to Centrale.

Regarding the technical aspects of the building, the structure will be a real architectural feat having been carefully planned as a lightweight steel structure that is sitting on top of the underground but not overloading the underground structure. The building is aiming for a high-level BREEAM certification and will offer modern engineering and energy-saving solutions. To top it off, the building is complemented by a large green roof and landscaped areas covering an area of nearly 7,000 sqm, making it one of Hungary’s largest commercial green roofs of its kind, according to the press release.