[Updated Oct 2020] A guide to serviced offices and office space for rent in Porto Alegre as well as general information that may be useful if you are considering renting office space in the city.
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History & Geography
Porto Alegre is one of the largest cities in Brazil as well as being a cultural and economic hub. The capital of the state of Rio Grande, Porto Alegre has a population of 1.5 million people and is the southernmost regional capital in the country. The city is located north of the Lagoa dos Patos coastal lagoon to the southeast of the country. Porto Alegre sits on the east bank of the Rio Guaiba on the river’s mouth on the coast of the Pacific Ocean. The city was founded in 1772 by immigrants from Portugal, mostly from the Azores. It quickly became the capital of the region as colonists started to develop the surrounding area. By 1822, the year that Brazil gained its independence from Portugal, the city had grown to over 12,000 inhabitants and was prospering. The slave trade was largely unknown in Porto Alegre, as was the gold rush, but the city still benefitted greatly form independence. Between 1845 and 1860 Porto Alegre embarked on an expansive and ambitious construction programme which produced it’s busy and lucrative port facilities. In 1864 a local French trader established Porto Alegre’s first tram, running between the Menino Deus district and the waterfront area of the city. Porto Alegre continued to expand and by the end of the 19th century had a population of 73,000 people. In 1962 the city opened its famous Jardin Botanico (botanical gardens), rates as among the best on the continent. And in 1963 Porto Alegre announced itself on the world stage by hosting the World University Games. The event was a stunning success and left the city with a host of excellent sporting facilities. During the latter half of the 20th century, Porto Alegre’s population increased and many of the rural poor from surrounding areas gravitated towards the city. Today Porto Alegre has a population of 1.5 million and one of Brazil’s most well-known cities.
Economy
Porto Alegre has traditionally had a vibrant and expansive economy, and that remains true to this day. The city’s port is still a major part of its economy and is the largest port in the area. Because of its location at the junction of five rivers, Porto Alegre has always been a trading and logistics hub. The lands surrounding Porto Alegre are rich and fertile and produce large amounts of beef, rice, soybeans, and leather. All of which are exported through the city’s port to destinations around the world. Of late advanced electronics innovation has become a big business in Porto Alegre and the city recently constructed the Electronics Technology Centre to boost the production of electronic circuits and advanced semiconductors. In total the Brazilian government has invested over USD 200 million in the ETC. The lumber industry, fuelled by the surrounding forests, is also a steady contributor to the economy and employs thousands of residents of the city. Among the largest companies in the city are Petroleo Ipiranga, Zaffari, RBS, General Motors, and Dell Computers.
Culture & Tourism
Brazil has a large tourism industry and Porto Alegre benefits from this. Porto Alegre lacks the fame of Rio or Sau Paulo but is still an attractive and fascinating city in its own right. Porto Alegre has a large amount of architectural site of interest, chief amongst these are Piratini Palace and the Public Market. Piratini Palace is the seat of the State Government and was built in 1896. The Public Market was built in 1869 and features a myriad of shops and restaurants. Many tourists also visit the Praca da Matriz, a square in the heart of downtown. Porto Alegre is also well-known for its botanical gardens. The garden has over 700 plant species and is also the location of the Natural Sciences Museum. Nature-lovers will also want to visit the Moinhos de Ventos Park, which features a large lake, jogging paths, and miles of grassy fields and trees. Porto Alegre also has an exciting and diverse nightlife scene. The ‘SoHo’, area of the city especially is known for its pubs, clubs, bars, and restaurants. Live music is popular in the city and many bars will have a live music contingent. Porto Alegre has two rival football teams, Gremio and Inter, each with their own stadium.
Transportation
Porto Alegre is served by the Salgado Filho International Airport which provides flights all over Brazil and to many other South American countries. The city itself is well served by public transportation. The main form of this is the metro, used by most of the city’s commuters. Many also use the city’s ubiquitous autobuses which run between the main suburbs and neighbourhoods of the city. Porto Alegre also has almost 4,000 licensed taxis and 317 taxi stops scattered throughout the city. Regular taxis are coloured orange whereas the airport taxis are coloured white.
Office space for rent in Porto Alegre
The Brazilian economy has been adversely affected by the continuing economic downturn, especially the state of some of the European economies such as Spain. Overall unemployment in the country did drop during 2012 however, leading many forecasters to predict that the country’s economy is starting to slowly recover. There are few major projects in the pipeline however which may mean that the city’s vacancy rate will start to drop incrementally. Most Grade A office space in Porto Alegre is located in the city’s central business district, though there a number of industrial parks scattered around the city’s outer suburbs.
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