FORUM Rotterdam | Rotterdam

FORUM Rotterdam: Multiple transformation within tight contours

The city block between Coolsingel, Koopgoot, Binnenwegplein and Lijnbaan can be considered one of Rotterdam's hotspots. This transformation project will provide space for 30,000 m² of stores and restaurants, 5,600 m² of offices and 103 free sector rental apartments by the end of 2019. "Building sections have been stripped and are being fitted with new facades. Inside, everything will be stripped bare and refurbished," say project director Sander Seppen and project manager Alexander Stroetenga of coordinating main contractor Sprangers Bouwbedrijf.

FORUM Rotterdam is a multiple transformation: the existing ensemble of buildings around a courtyard involves a national monument from the 1940s, retail premises from the reconstruction period and a former ABN AMRO office tower from the 1970s. The latter will be transformed into a residential complex with 103 free sector rental apartments. The apartments are spread over ten floors. With striking round balconies in the shape of a petal, this OMA-designed tower will become a new landmark. FORUM Rotterdam also contains approximately 30,000 m² of stores and restaurants. The existing stores on Lijnbaan will be expanded at the rear and fitted with imposing glass facades, with Hollister as the eye-catcher on the corner of Koopgoot and Lijnbaan. Primark, as the main tenant, will be assigned the heart of the renewed city block. With entrances on the Koopgoot and Binnenwegplein, as well as a retail area of 12,000 m², this store will be the largest European branch of the Irish fashion chain. The so-called Jungerhan building on Binnenwegplein has been completely demolished and will be rebuilt in the old style. In the monumental bank building on Coolsingel, Donner will open the largest bookstore in the Netherlands. Office space is planned on the remaining floors of this national monument renovated under the design responsibility of Wessel de Jonge Architects. 

The national monument on Coolsingel with transformed office tower. (Image: Bart-Jan van Nies)

Implementation
Tendering, logistics and execution of "FORUM II," as the project has been named after the redevelopment, are being commissioned by Multi and coordinated by Sprangers Bouwbedrijf, which is also handling the main executive work. Secondary contractor is Van Mierlo-Dinkq for the renovation of the national monument. The installation work has also been tendered separately. Says Seppen, "We tendered as the main contractor for a fully developed structural design, which we feasibly engineered for execution. In the summer of 2017, we started the work: stripping the office tower and demolishing the existing structures, including part of G-Star's store on the Koopgoot, as well as furnishing the construction sites." Logistically, the space is minuscule, even an underground solution had to be found for supplying the stores during the operating phase. On the Koopgoot side there will be two large elevators in which trucks will be taken to an underground supply street. "For the supply of construction equipment and materials, we also have only two gates on Coolsingel at our disposal," says Stroetenga. "Both can handle one truck at a time; the supply during construction therefore takes place via several 'hubs' and just-in-time."

The Lijnbaan stores will feature imposing glass facades.

'A lot of prefab'
Three separate construction streams were created for Lijnbaan, Primark and the office tower above. Sprangers Bouwbedrijf is also coordinating Van Mierlo-Dinkq's work on the national monument. At its core, the city block is being completely transformed. Constructively-technically, breaking up a hybrid building mass is no mean feat. Stroetenga: "Floors and structures are demolished and refaced. There is a lot of prefab work, for example in the columns, walls and façade finishes." Due to the lack of sufficient construction site, a tower crane was placed on top of the future residential tower. "It is public area with many players and in good cooperation with the client, municipality, tenants and utility companies, the best logistical solutions were sought within tight contours. Coolsingel is being redeveloped at the same time and we have to coordinate with this project as well. Donner's store was moved internally during the project and Hollister will remain open throughout the transformation." The removal of the tower crane will equally be a feat, Seppen said. "A helicopter was even considered as an alternative, but that proved unrealizable. A project like this is challenging in many areas and clear sub-agreements have been made, so we hope to complete our work by the end of 2019." As a construction contractor, Sprangers Bouwbedrijf was able to start a learning process with its "own team of young and old," as in a guild. You can't really think of a better project to learn the various aspects of the trade.