CEO Roland Hofman says that Urbanity Campus Bruntál is not merely an industrial site, but can also deliver stable, long-term benefits for the city and the wider region.

Mr. Hofman, could you please introduce yourself? What is your position at Urbanity and what is your role in the Urbanity Campus Bruntál project?
At Urbanity, we develop next generation industrial parks and bring new life to places that would otherwise remain unused. I co founded the company and now serve as its CEO. I have spent most of my professional life directly in industry, with more than twenty five years close to day to day operations. That experience taught me that buildings are not just about square metres, but above all about the people who spend a large part of their lives in them. That is why today we also think about how our sites will function in the long term, in terms of energy, operations and their relationship to the surrounding environment. We work with modern technologies, renewable energy sources and water management because we believe in this approach and know it is the right path forward. Urbanity Campus Bruntál is a concrete example of this philosophy. We want it to be more than just an industrial site, as our aim is for it to become a stable and long term asset for the city and the region.
 
How did you get from studying finance in Ostrava to developing industrial campuses at Urbanity? What was your journey?
I studied finance at VŠB Technical University of Ostrava and later completed an MBA at the University of Greenwich in London. Even during my studies, I felt most drawn to being as close as possible to real business operations. After graduating, I gained experience in automotive, private equity and crisis management. I worked alongside Zdeněk Šmejkal and Václav Novák at the M.L. Moran Group and gradually moved into leadership roles in industrial companies such as Technistone and Thermolast. This allowed me to understand business from every angle, including production, finance and restructuring. It was there that I fully realised how crucial the working environment is for companies. That insight became one of the key reasons why I later chose to approach industrial development differently from the conventional model.
 
What makes Urbanity Campus different from standard industrial parks?
The fundamental difference is that we are not simply trying to build a production site and stop there. We think about the location as a whole and as something that should function sustainably over the long term. We focus not only on the buildings themselves, but also on how people access the campus, where they park, where they can relax or run daily errands. That is why our campuses also include services such as healthcare facilities or childcare groups. In Tachov, for example, we are now starting the construction of affordable villa style housing that will also accommodate campus employees, which is another step towards reducing long commutes. This approach allows us to continuously improve and adapt our sites as the needs of companies and employees evolve. We want our campuses to be a natural part of the city and not closed off industrial zones.
 
We know Urbanity approaches its projects differently, thinking about cities and people in a broader context. Why is that, and who inspires you?
My approach is rooted mainly in personal experience. I spent many years in operations and saw how strongly the environment influences people’s work and overall well being, and ultimately the quality of their lives. If you look at the history of our region, you will find examples of companies that also thought about people and the city. Tomáš Baťa in Zlín is one example, and another is the Hückl family in Nový Jičín, where I come from. They built a strong hat making industry while also investing in employee facilities and the development of the town. Today they are mentioned less often, but in my view they deserve recognition. These stories remind me that responsible business has a long tradition here. At Urbanity, we strive to build on that legacy under today’s conditions. We do not want to create closed industrial sites, but rather places that will serve cities in the long term.
 
How does this socially responsible approach translate into your projects and the overall functioning of Urbanity?
For us, this is not just something on paper. We try to embed this approach into every project from the very beginning. Already in the planning phase, we consider how people will get to work, where they will park, where they can relax or take care of everyday needs. That is why we integrate services such as childcare, medical care and other employee facilities into our sites. We want to create not just buildings, but functional places where people can work and live well and where they have everything important within easy reach. We also place strong emphasis on the quality of the environment, including light, greenery, architecture and energy efficiency. We know these details significantly influence how people feel at work. Our focus is not on quick results, but on projects that will stand the test of time.
 
Wouldn’t it be cheaper and easier to approach projects purely through numbers and spreadsheets?
In the short term, it certainly would be simpler. Building a facility as quickly and cheaply as possible is always an option. However, we look at projects over a horizon of decades. We retain ownership of most of our sites, so we will live with them for a long time. If we cut corners today, we will pay for it later. Experience has taught me that what seems like a saving at the beginning often becomes more expensive in the long run, whether in operations, maintenance or relationships with people and the city. That is why we strive to balance economic efficiency with quality. Our campus in Tachov has received several awards, including BREEAM Communities certification at the Excellent level, which assesses sustainability across the entire development, from energy and transport to community impact. We have also been recognised at the international GRI Awards in Europe and globally for our approach to sustainability, architecture and long term industrial site operation.
 
Your latest project is in Bruntál. Why did you choose this particular city?
Bruntál was not a random choice. It is a city with a long industrial tradition and strong technical expertise, with many skilled and hardworking people. On a personal level, it is also close to where I come from, so I have a strong connection to the region and want to see it prosper in the long term. Another advantage is its location, as it is close to the borders with Poland and Austria, which is attractive for many companies from both commercial and logistical perspectives. At the same time, we saw an opportunity for a new impulse, not just a single investment but a gradual transformation that can help the city regain confidence. The city’s openness to cooperation was also crucial. When you feel that everyone is working towards the same goal, it makes sense to move forward together.
 
How do you perceive the potential of the Bruntál region?
I believe the Bruntál region has significant, though not yet fully utilised, potential. There is a strong work ethic, technical expertise and a willingness to move things forward. Another advantage is the combination of natural surroundings, accessibility and relatively affordable housing. This can be attractive not only for companies but also for people seeking a high quality place to live. If business, education and thoughtful urban development can be effectively connected, the region could make substantial progress in the coming years, and we aim to contribute to that.
 
How does Urbanity Campus Bruntál fit into the company’s long term strategy?
Bruntál fits naturally into our strategy. We focus on regions outside major urban centres, where industry has a tradition and where a high quality project can make a real difference. We bring experience from Tachov, where we developed a campus of over 100000 square metres, and from Prague, including the Korunní Dvůr project. We are applying this experience in Bruntál, where the campus will cover 50000 square metres. We see Bruntál as one of the pillars of our presence in Northern Moravia and as an opportunity to demonstrate that high quality industrial developments can also thrive outside major cities.
 
What kind of companies would you like to welcome to the campus? Who is it intended for?
The campus is primarily designed for manufacturing and logistics companies seeking a high quality and stable environment for growth. We prefer to work with businesses that think long term, invest in technology and people and are committed to staying in the region. Experience shows that companies that care about their employees and their environment tend to perform better economically, and that benefits everyone, including the company, the city and the region. Our goal is to create a place where people enjoy working and where companies have the conditions for sustainable growth.
 
What comes after the completion of the Bruntál campus? Can we expect more projects in Northern Moravia?
For now, we are fully focused on Bruntál. Each project spans several years, from initial design to stable operation, so it does not end with a ceremonial opening. If we succeed in fulfilling our current goals, we would be glad to apply a similar approach to other locations in Northern Moravia. There are still many brownfields in the region that deserve a new direction. However, we do not want to rush. Every project must make both economic and human sense and the city must be ready for it as well.
 
Why did you choose the Ostrava based studio JA architekti for the campus design?
We prefer to work with partners who know the region well and understand its context. In this respect, JA architekti from Ostrava were a natural choice. They have experience with industrial projects, but at the same time they consider the relationship between buildings, the city and the surrounding environment. They focus not only on technical solutions but on the overall concept. It was also important for us that we could engage in open dialogue and jointly search for solutions. This is not a one sided collaboration but a genuine partnership. Last but not least, we consider it important to support high quality work within the region, especially when such capable partners are available locally.