The perfect storage space – does it even exist?
It exists, but it's rare. Large corporations producing on a large scale have modern warehouse infrastructure with vast spaces tailored to the requirements and needs of their specific operations. These warehouses are usually built from scratch, with the layout of individual zones and passageways, as well as the appropriate allocation and marking of storage areas, determined at the design stage.
Small and medium-sized businesses, on the other hand, typically struggle with insufficient warehouse infrastructure. Market, technical, and financial factors contribute to this situation. Building a 500-square-meter warehouse costs over PLN 1 million. This includes expenses related to furnishing and landscaping, not to mention the cost of purchasing the land for the warehouse. For many companies, this represents an insurmountable financial barrier.
Storage space: what is used in practice?
For small businesses that don't require such extensive warehouse space, storage is typically provided in unused back rooms (in the case of offices and service outlets). These rooms are often inadequate for the needs of the business, making them overloaded, cramped, and dark (due to boxes stacked high).
For manufacturing or retail companies, warehouse space can be located in halls, hangars, parts of utility buildings, or—if the specific nature of the materials allows—in storage yards. Most companies choose to adapt existing buildings: these may be post-industrial halls, old factories, office and warehouse buildings, or former state-owned farms (PGRs). Adaptation can also apply to other facilities that have the appropriate floor space and height, road access, loading space, and the ability to install racking and storage equipment. This solution is often much cheaper than purchasing a suitable plot of land for a warehouse and then building the warehouse infrastructure.
Warehouse space and its adaptation for a new type of business
Warehouses created as a result of repurposing existing buildings have certain architectural limitations, such as unfavorable room layouts and insufficient space. As a result, such warehouses are significantly noisier and more crowded than modern facilities. However, many companies overcome this problem by optimizing warehouse space. Higher racking and the separation of functional areas allow for more efficient use of available space.
Another issue is the standard of the premises: buildings to be adapted for a new function are often old and neglected due to being temporarily closed, and therefore often require revitalization. The extent of this renovation depends on the financial outlay of the new owner. Alongside successful and impressive conversions, there are also warehouses that, due to significant cost savings, have a rather unsightly appearance and poorly arranged space.
Where to look for buildings with adaptive capabilities?
Orange's properties, alongside warehouse plots, include office and warehouse buildings owned by the company, which have become obsolete due to technological advancements. They are located in attractive locations—in the centers of small towns or on their outskirts. Prices for these properties are lower than market prices, which is due to the existing telecommunications infrastructure, such as underground or on-site cabling. Should ownership change, this infrastructure must be retained in its original form (Orange pays a fee to the new owner for access). To learn more about them, be sure to use our real estate search engine .