World Trade Center (WTC) Rotterdam | Worthy transformation of Rotterdam's trade icon

For more than eighty years, Rotterdam's international commercial spirit has been embodied by the World Trade Center (WTC) Rotterdam. An iconic building with a rich history - and an equally rich future. For the past three years, Van Wijnen has been transforming the building, completed in 1937, into a modern and pleasant place to work and stay.

WTC Rotterdam stands right in the center, between Coolsingel, Meent and Beursplein. The rock-solid building survived the bombing in May 1937 and served as a hiding place for people in hiding during the war years. It took until the 1980s until the high-rise section, the distinctive green tower, was built. Since 2015, Bouwinvest has owned WTC Rotterdam.

Transformation high-rise buildings

Taking the historical value into account, Bouwinvest, in collaboration with property manager Cushman & Wakefield, is giving the building a new future. The coordination and structural execution of this work is in the hands of Van Wijnen, led by superintendents Sven van Hamelen and Richard Onderstal. They explain the work. "In the high-rise section, we are demolishing the floors bare," Van Hamelen begins. "We take out all the interior walls and installations and then rebuild the spaces. We plaster the walls, install cooling ceilings and install new installations. Of the 23 floors, we have now transformed nine. We are transforming the remaining floors in phases, depending on the move-out of sitting tenants."

Upgrade low-rise buildings

"The facades, parking garage, general areas and leasable spaces of the low-rise section
undergo a major upgrade," Onderstal adds. "We already tackled the reception hall, meeting room and Business Center last year. The entrance and coffee room have also become very nice. We are currently preparing to replace the facades on the Meent side. The second, third and fourth floors will have a hotel function. These floors will be stripped bare and delivered as shells. Given the monumental character of the building (national monument), we are reusing as many old materials as possible."
The fifth and sixth floors, intended for offices, will also be delivered by Van Wijnen as shells. Other major work in the low-rise section includes the installation of escalators and modification of the company kitchen.

Unburdening the client

"Our main role in this project is to relieve the client (limited inconvenience; it should be like we're not there)," Onderstal continued. "For example, we take care of all additional work. For example, when the installer of the sprinkler system wants a ceiling plate installed. Or when recesses have to be made in the concrete. And then there are the surprises that come with an eighty-year-old building, such as outdated cast-iron pipes. We also do the associated repair work."

Non-standard solutions

The historical value and prominent location give the project an extra dimension. Bouwinvest, the municipality, but also the Rotterdammers will ensure that the upgrade is worthy of the building. This requires non-standard solutions, particularly in the facade renovation. For example, custom molds are made for the window frames. To determine the right facade color, an extensive color palette was developed and applied to one of the facades for review. 

One team

"On this project, the trick is to do your job as invisibly as possible," says Van Hamelen. "We inconvenience the tenants, visitors and other users of the property as little as possible. We schedule nuisance activities, such as drilling, outside of office hours and activities. Even if, for example, a room is rented out at the last minute. This requires flexibility. From us, but also from our sub- and ancillary contractors. The fact that we have worked together for a long time is a great advantage. We know where to find each other quickly and speak to each other easily. As one team, we ensure that this characteristic building again fully meets the wishes and requirements of now and later."