NICE receives capital injection from Focus Real Estate

Press Release | dated July 4, 2023

Timber construction developer NICE Developers receives capital injection from Focus Real Estate, strengthening its frontrunner position

NICE Developers, SAWA's leading wood building developer in Rotterdam, was pleased to announce that with Focus Real Estate joining as a co-shareholder, the foundation has been laid to start realizing more stacked housing projects in wood "NICE Buildings" in addition to accelerating growth and implementation.

Focus Real Estate is a leading real estate investor with a portfolio of sustainable and innovative real estate projects. They are actively involved in promoting sustainability in the real estate sector and supporting visionary developers such as NICE Developers.

Award-winning SAWA forms basis of cooperation

The cooperation between the two parties came about following Focus Real Estate's purchase of 70 (middle) rental apartments in NICE Developers' prestigious SAWA project, known as "the healthiest building in the Netherlands." SAWA, a 50-meter-high wooden residential building, has already received much international recognition in the real estate and architecture sectors and has been praised for its strong degree of innovation and high architectural quality. Construction of SAWA is currently underway. Recently, during PROVADA in June, Minister Hugo de Jonge expressed his admiration and enthusiasm for the SAWA Rotterdam project.

Circular NICE Buildings system forms sustainable alternative

By joining forces, NICE Developers enters a new phase in its growth trajectory and will drive the further development of the innovative wood building concept. The collaboration between NICE Developers and Focus Real Estate marks an important milestone for both parties and is a promising step in the evolution of the wood building sector. They are determined to work together to realize circular, green stacked residential buildings made of wood that are CO₂ store rather than emit, thus meeting the growing demand for "Paris-Proof" buildings.

The capital injection from Focus Real Estate is an important milestone for NICE Developers and a recognition of the value and potential of future NICE Buildings," said Robert Winkel, co-founder of NICE Developers with Mark Compeer. "We are excited to partner with Focus Real Estate and leverage their expertise to develop more NICE Buildings and strengthen our position in the market.

With this collaboration, both parties express confidence not only in each other, but also in the potential of the NICE Buildings system as a sustainable alternative to traditional construction methods, due to the many advantages it offers, including a shorter development period, lower costs and positive impact on the climate including through CO₂ storage.

The partnership with NICE Developers aligns perfectly with our vision of sustainability and innovation in the real estate sector," said Freek Boeijen, Managing Partner at Focus Real Estate. "We are impressed with SAWA and its translation to NICE Buildings and the benefits it offers in terms of sustainability, efficiency and aesthetics. We are confident that this collaboration will lead to more groundbreaking projects and a positive impact on the real estate market."

Better living for people and climate

With the recent increase in demand for sustainable and circular building solutions, NICE Developers has positioned itself as a pioneer in the timber construction industry with innovative timber construction techniques to create circular yet beautiful buildings that contribute to a better climate and a healthier environment for people and animals.
Together they look to the future with confidence and see the collaboration as a catalyst for further growth and success. With their joint expertise and commitment to sustainability, they are determined to continue to push the standards in the wood construction industry and make the built environment greener and better for people, the neighborhood and the climate.

Expanding locations for affordable housing

NICE Developers is actively seeking suitable sites for the development of more projects such as SAWA. The NICE Buildings concept also offers opportunities for the social and middle rental sector. There is a high demand for affordable housing in this sustainable segment, which is why they are seeking cooperation with municipalities, market players and cooperatives.

Pictured from left to right: Mark Compeer of NICE Developers, Freek Boeijen and Frans Staals of Focus Real Estate and Robert Winkel of NICE Developers.