The next major tech rental in Munich’s Tucherpark after the opening of the AI factory at the beginning of February is reported by Commerz Real and Hines. As the asset manager of Commerzbank and the globally active real estate investment manager announce, the international software company JetBrains has decided to relocate its Munich headquarters to the so-called Rufhaus, and to rent the entire building with around 21,500 square meters for at least 12 years.
Founded in 2000 and headquartered in Amsterdam, the company manufactures intelligent tools for software development that are trusted by over 15 million users worldwide, including 88 of the world’s 100 largest companies. JetBrains has so far been based in Munich with a central engineering and innovation center at Christoph-Rapparini-Bogen 23 in Neuhausen-Nymphenburg. Around 500 employees work there on around 14,000 square meters for almost all JetBrains products as well as in the areas of marketing, design and administration. The new space in Tucherpark is to be occupied from 2029 and will create additional capacity and a suitable environment for further growth to around 750 employees.
The Rufhaus – formerly the Technical Centre of the Hypovereinsbank (HVB) – is a listed building on the Eisbach created in 1972 by Tucherpark architect Sep Ruf. It is currently being extensively renovated and restored to its original form as part of the further development of the entire quarter. The revitalization is being accompanied by the Dutch architectural firm Kempe Thill. After completion, the aim is to make the building CO2-neutral operation; the corresponding concepts are currently being examined. JetBrains will be responsible for the tenant fit-out itself and has commissioned the Munich office of the European architecture group Mirror with the overall planning. This had emerged as the winner of an architectural competition that JetBrains held parallel to the lease negotiations.
JetBrains says it takes a modern approach to workplace design, moving away from traditional open floor plans in favor of spaces tailored to different ways of working. Employees benefit from an on-site restaurant with free meals, a barista coffee bar, and dedicated event spaces for lectures, meetings, and community events. Rooms for relaxation, music and recreation are also intended to promote well-being.
“After the opening of the AI factory already had an enormous signal effect, we are now setting another strong accent for Munich as a high-tech location with JetBrains,” says Mario Schüttauf, Managing Director of Commerz Real Investmentgesellschaft and manager of the real estate fund Hausinvest, whose portfolio includes Tucherpark in a joint venture with Hines. Leading tech companies such as Apple, Microsoft and Meta have already opened locations in Munich. In addition, there are renowned research institutions such as the Munich Technology Center (MTZ) and the Garching campus of the Technical University. At the beginning of February, one of the first so-called AI factories in Germany and the first in Bavaria went into operation in the former HVB data center. To this end, Commerz Real and Hines had signed a 13-year lease agreement with the operator Polarise. The anchor user of the first expansion stage is the Telekom subsidiary T-Systems.
Schüttauf is confident about the further planning in Tucherpark: “With our future-oriented overall concept for Tucherpark and the location on the Eisbach in the English Garden, we are really creating a district here that will set new standards,” emphasizes the manager. “We are experiencing clear interest from companies and are already in talks with other potential tenants.”
JLL acted as a brokerage company on the lease. The lease negotiations for JetBrains were conducted by KVL Projektentwicklung Plus, Hogan Lovells provided legal advice.
