NEPI Rockcastle breaks ground on its 11,000 sqm extension of Karolinka Shopping Centre in Opole, Poland, where it will be investing €33 million to modernise and expand the largest retail complex in the region
The building permit is in place and the groundbreaking ceremony took place today. Construction starts on 3 September 2026. The shopping centre turns 18 this year and provides 70,000 sqm of retail space and is home to 140 shops.
The extension will add:
🛍️ 30 new retail and service units, with leasing focused on fashion and on brands not yet present in the region
📈 Over 8,000 sqm of new gross leasable area, built between the main entrance and the restaurant zone
🅿️ An underground car park beneath the new section
✨ A fully modernised main façade
🌱 A roof prepared for solar panels, plus rain gardens and green infrastructure, all built to BREEAM standards
Paulina Kurdziel-Świeczka, Asset Manager at NEPI Rockcastle, said: “Our strategy is to develop and modernise key assets in Poland and across our portfolio in CEE. Karolinka has been the market leader in the region for years, and we want to maintain its appeal to consumers by creating new space that responds both to their needs and to the expectations of new tenants. This is one of a number of modernisation projects that we are delivering this year, with significant investment being allocated to raising the quality and appeal of our shopping centres.”
Rafał Elżanowski, Regional Development Director at NEPI Rockcastle, added: “Our selection process is rigorous and we are delighted to find a local partner with the relevant competencies and experience to work with us on delivering this important project. This helps us guarantee knowledge of local conditions and offers real support for the regional economy and for the businesses taking part in the new project.”
Karolinka Shopping Centre will remain open throughout the construction and the new centre is expected to open in the second quarter of 2028.