GRAPHISOFT PARK
TO ATTRACT THE TALENTS
Leading businesses ― especially those in R&D and other creative, demanding fields ― know
that their success depends on attracting, motivating and retaining the best professionals.
Because once you get the best people working for you, winning in the marketplace is easy.
The race to attract the most talented workforce is just as fierce as the battle against competing
firms in the market. And, just as offering the cheapest price for your product does not
guarantee that you will beat the competition, offering the highest salary is no guarantee that
you will get the best talents. Because the best are interested in more than just money. They are
interested in challenges, in high performance, and in being recognized for their achievements.
Moreover, for them working environment makes a big difference ― after all, this is where they
spend much of their life. In this regard, Graphisoft Park gives you a crucial edge.
Graphisoft Park is a spin-off from Graphisoft R&D, a software development company founded
in 1982 that has become a world leader with its architectural design software, ArchiCAD®.
Therefore the founders of Graphisoft Park know what kind of environment an R&D company
needs. So this Business Park has been built by its first inhabitants. Its mission is to offer an
environment that helps its businesses attract the most talented, most ambitious employees.
Job applicants entering the Park for their interviews are bowled over: what a great place to
work. As for long-time employees, they cannot imagine heading for work at any other place
than Graphisoft Park.
Gábor Bojár
Chairman of the Board
János Kocsány
CEO
STEADY GROWTH
Originally, Graphisoft Park was built in 1998 for the software engineering firm Graphisoft, which
develops ArchiCAD®, one of the world’s most popular architectural software packages. Graphisoft
believed that providing the world’s best architects with the world’s best software would be possible
only if the company itself could operate in a first-class architectural environment.
Within a few years, several other high-tech firms rented space at the Park, attracted by its unmatched
location, exceptionaldesign and superior services. Due to continuous growth in the Park’s
development, in 2006 the Graphisoft real estate division split off from the software division to create
Graphisoft Park SE, a public European corporation listed on the Budapest Stock Exchange.
The growing number of tenants, in turn, spurred the Park to further development. In addition to
Microsoft and several smaller companies, SAP’s international research division chose Graphisoft Park
as its Hungarian headquarters. The first biotech companies also arrived (Comgenex, followed by
AMRI), and in 2007, the newest research lab was built for Servier, the French pharmaceutical firm. At
present, about 40 companies operate in Graphisoft Park, with more than 2000 employees.
The professionals who operate Graphisoft Park, in addition to developing high-quality, custom-made
business environments, possess specialized expertise in designing biotechnological laboratories.
STEADY GROWTH
A KEY FACTOR
“Renting one square meter of office space at Graphisoft Park costs, at most, 5 Euros more per month
than the same space in an average-quality building at a cheaper location. We did the maths: the extra
cost of renting space here, per employee, is roughly equal to 3% of the full cost of employing a software
engineer. I asked my colleagues if they would move to a different office space in exchange for a three
percent raise. They were unanimous: no way. Then I asked our new hires: why did they decide to work
for Graphisoft? And nearly all of them mentioned the Park as a key factor in choosing us.”
Gábor Bojár
Graphisoft R&D Founder and Chairman of the Board
”WINNING OVER EMPLOYEES IS
PARAMOUNT”
“At this time I had an unusual client. The developers of Graphisoft Park
were not focused on squeezing the greatest possible use of every last square
meter. Nor did they want granite and marble palaces to impress their clients.
They just wanted a place that would impress and please their own
employees.”
Zoltán Horváth
Architect; Designer of Graphisoft Park’s biotechnology buildings, central
cafeteria and conference facility
“ONCE THEY LAID EYES ON THE PARK,
WE WON”
“Microsoft Hungary was Graphisoft Park’s first tenant, after Graphisoft R&D itself. At our company we
have to justify every single expense, so it wasn’t easy to convince our top executives in Seattle to rent
space at a premium. But as soon as they laid eyes on the Park, we knew we had won. For several years
now, Microsoft Hungary has received the “Best Workplace” award, and Graphisoft Park is one big reason
why.”
László Drajkó
CEO, Microsoft Hungary
“HIGH-QUALITY
SURROUNDINGS
ATTRACT HIGHQUALITY
EMPLOYEES”
“In 2004, SAP decided to open a new research and development center in Budapest. The
decision to choose Budapest had a lot to do with the atmosphere at Graphisoft Park and the
quality of its services ― we figured that demanding environment would attract demanding
employees. Now, a couple of years later, we know we were right.”
Ádám Dudits
Executive Director, SAP Labs Hungary
IT’S A FEELING YOU GET
“The facilities are surrounded by open landscape, where the trees grow taller than the buildings. The
multi-level garage is underground, so your overall impression is not of a sea of cars, but of a green
expanse. The lake in the middle of the Park, and the nature preserve on the island just across from the
Park, adds to the natural atmosphere, as of course does the peaceful walking path along the Danube.”
György Szloszjár
Garten Stúdió, Landscape Design
“What I like best about our office is that the work areas and community areas flow into each other. You
can hold a productive meeting sitting on a park bench, or on the leather couches near the coffee maker,
but conference rooms with high-tech equipment are also available. The office has a lot of variety and is
easily rearranged as needed, yet it’s still friendly and home-like. To sum it up: this environment inspires
creativity.”
Levente Csányi
Product Designer
A CREATIVE
ENVIRONMENT
FOR GOOD
IDEAS
IMPRESSIVE
DELIVERY:
ON TIME AND
WITHIN BUDGET
“Servier, the French pharmacological company, came to Hungary to establish its first research
and development facility outside of France. The company’s top executives were impressed by
the way Graphisoft Park professionals were able to deliver these very complex laboratories to
fit our very exacting needs, while meeting tight deadlines and keeping to a strict budget.”
Dr. Gábor Blaskó
Member of Hungarian Academy of Sciences
Director General, Servier Research & Development Zrt.
“MY COMPANY BECAME AN
ATTRACTIVE ACQUISITION”
“For the headquarters of Comgenex, my biotech/pharmacological research company, I chose
Graphisoft Park, because the conditions and infrastructure meet the standards of the best business
parks I’ve seen in the U.S. Within a short time, we had become an attractive acquisition target, and I
know for sure that this site, where we held our negotiations, was partly responsible for the price we
got. With my partners, we invested our income from the Comgenex sale in ThalesNano, which is
devoted to nanotechnology, and in Comergen, which researches alternative energy sources. It goes
without saying that both companies are located in Graphisoft Park.”
Dr. Ferenc Darvas
Founder, ComGenex, ThalesNano and Comergen
CUSTOMIZED, TAILOR-MADE OFFICE SPACE
“Office space is tailored to meet the needs of our tenants. At the same time, we make sure that the new
buildings blend in harmoniously with the existing structures, and with the neighboring industrial buildings of
the former Gas Works.
Our tenants provide input on technologies and materials, and we ensure, at no additional charge, that their
own equipment is installed during the construction phase. This way, the office is ready for occupancy the
very same day it is completed.”
Janos Kocsany
CEO of Graphisoft Park
“I DESIGNED THE BUILDING TO
MATCH THE COMPANY”
“I knew from the start that the building I was designing would be the headquarters of SAP Research and
Development. I had two assignments: to design a building customized for the company, and to see that the
building harmonized with its surroundings. The floor plan areas exceed 2000 square meters on each level,
but thanks to our chosen configuration, the structures have the character of smaller buildings. In setting up
the interiors, I made sure that the space was divided into distinct areas of various sizes, to correspond to
the company’s organizational structure ― the various departments and teams, and their working
relationships.”
László Szász
STÚDIÓ’100 Architects, designer of the SAP building
“NOT EVEN TOP
SILICON VALLEY FIRMS
HAVE HEADQUARTERS
LIKE THESE”
“In 2003, I was tapped to be CEO of Graphisoft
R&D in Budapest. Originally, I had planned to
move the company’s global headquarters to
California, but when I saw Graphisoft Park, I
gave up those plans on the spot. Not even the
best Silicon Valley companies have their
headquarters in such a beautiful, hospitable
location.”
Dominic Gallello
CEO of Graphisoft R&D, 2003—2008
“SUCCESS IS
GUARANTEED”
“As the director of our office in Munich, I
always try to get our German clients to
come to Budapest for our meetings. Any
time we do meetings at Graphisoft Park,
I know that a successful outcome is
practically guaranteed.”
Johannes Reischbock
General Manager, Graphisoft R&D
Deutschland GmbH
“THEY TAKE US
MORE SERIOUSLY”
“For our company, moving our
headquarters to Graphisoft Park was
a turning point. Since we came here,
our clients and partners definitely take
us more seriously, and doors that we
had knocked on earlier in vain are
now open to us. Meanwhile, our
company has grown: we had six
employees when we came here, now
there are 20 of us.”
Krisztián Törő
Director, Innovent Consulting Kft.
“I’M PROUD TO
INVITE THEM TO
OUR R&D
HEADQUARTERS
AT THE PARK”
“As a representative of both the
Hungarian Association for Innovation
and Thales Nanotechnology, I frequently
meet with the heads of major
corporations such as Boeing Aerospace.
I am always proud to invite them to our
Budapest R & D headquarters, at this
architecturally marvelous Graphisoft
Park.”
Dr. László Ürge
Vice President, Hungarian Innovation
Association
CEO, Thales Nanotechnology Zrt.
INSPIRED BY
ARCHITECTURAL
TRADITIONS
“While planning Graphisoft Park, I was
inspired by the modernist architectural
traditions of the early 20th century ― a
style with a sense of humor and poetry,
low-key yet so enjoyable.”
Ferenc Cságoly
Építész Stúdió, architect of the Park’s
original buildings and its landscaping
concept
PRESERVING HISTORY,
BUILDING THE FUTURE
“In all of its developments, Graphisoft showed
exemplary regard for preservation and for the
area’s archeological heritage. The relics
uncovered on the Park’s territory have
contributed to our body of knowledge and to
our museum’s collection.”
Dr. Paula Zsidi
Director, the Aquincum Museum
Dr. Sándor Bodó
Director General, Budapest Museum of
History
AQUINCUM INSTITUTE OF TECHNOLOGY
AT THE SERVICE OF THE INDUSTRY
California’s Silicon Valley developed under the wing of Stanford University: high-tech industry took
root alongside the campus and its research activities, so that industry could benefit from the
university’s resources. The university provided not only outstanding human resources, but, through
its research, acted as a path-finder for businesses, guiding them towards the newest trends in
knowledge and technology.
Aquincum Institute of Technology (AIT) represents this process in reverse. Here, it is the new
educational campus that is being established alongside existing businesses. Instead of guiding the
industry, this educational institute will be at its service. AIT believes that companies in daily contact
with current market trends are in the best position to sense the major new directions of
technological development. This approach makes AIT different from the world’s leading research
universities; it serves the industry’s needs of today and of tomorrow. It is this approach that inspires
AIT’s educational and research program.
The area now known as Graphisoft Park was earlier the site of the Óbuda Gas Works, built at the
turn of the 19-20th century. The architecture of the remaining buildings evokes this historic era,
when Hungary’s famed tradition of top-notch science education gave the world John Neumann, the
founder of computer science, and a dozen Nobel Prize winners. These landmark buildings are the
home of AIT, which provides instruction not only on the latest research in information science, but
also on the factors that make a software program usable and marketable. The Institute plans to
tailor its course offerings to students from the world’s leading universities arriving to AIT for a
semester or two. These custom-designed courses also represent an exceptional opportunity for
working professionals employed by the firms at Graphisoft Park.
“MUTUAL BENEFITS”
“The tenant firms at Graphisoft Park will
benefit directly from the knowledge of the
highly-trained young graduates of the
planned Institute. The Institute, in turn, will
benefit from joint research projects, student
training programs, and daily interaction
among professors, researchers and
business leaders. These mutual benefits ―
if we can take advantage of them ― are the
main engine behind innovation in the
workplace.”
Jean-Philippe Couftois
President, Microsoft International
AVAILABLE OFFICE
SPACE
 As of 2009, total office space is 45 000 m²
 Average ceiling height of 2.8 meters
 1,600-car underground garage plus
surface parking for 400: a parking space for
every employee.
 By 2014, total office space will be
expanded to 100 000 m².
SERVICES
 All office space is Class A, completely airconditioned, with security systems and cardentry systems.
 Three restaurants and several snack-bar
amenities and coffee shops serve tenants.
 Car wash located in underground garage.
 Technologically well-equipped conference
rooms allow tenants to optimize their space.
 24-hour concierge service ensures security
and assistance to visitors.
 Construction and operation of the Park
managed by Graphisoft Park’s own staff, who
cooperate with the tenants from the design
phase onwards and act as general contractor.
 Professional firms carry out landscaping and
maintenance.
HOW TO GET THERE
 Graphisoft Park is located in the north-west
part of Budapest (known as the Óbuda
district), directly on the Danube, 6 km from the
city center.
 The Park can be approached either from
Szentendrei út or the lower river embankment
road on the Buda side.
 By public transport, take the Szentendre
HÉV or one of the municipal buses, which
connect to the city’s metro system.
 Employees can take advantage of the
Park’s free morning and afternoon shuttle bus
service for easier connections to the city’s
metro system.
 The Park is a half-hour drive from Ferihegy
Airport along the M0 freeway.
 Each year, more employees ride their
bicycles to work, using the bike paths along
and across the Danube.