Platform on new construction, renovation, restoration and transformation
Ballast Nedam moved to new headquarters on Euclideslaan in Utrecht in early 2026. Builder Heddes Bouw & Ontwikkeling converted the existing office building from the 1990s into a contemporary workplace. OTH Architects drew the design and &CREW provided the project and construction management.
On the outside, the entrance area was addressed. The facade on the first floor was extended, making the reception area more spacious and open. This was easy for Heddes to achieve structurally, says Hans Guichelaar, head of Minor Construction. “The basic construction was already there, so we could build on that.” The site also required intervention. The parking access was moved so that traffic no longer drives past the entrance. “The strip along the facade has now become pedestrianized and greened,” says Walter van Gurp, general manager of Ballast Nedam Asset Management. According to both men, the most challenging part was in the height difference of the site. “Constructively, the work on the roadway from the parking deck to ground level was still the most challenging.”
When the renovation started, there were still tenants in the building. That affected planning and logistics. “We had to take noise pollution into account, for example. That affected the phasing,” says Guichelaar. Van Gurp adds: “We made a temporary entrance, keeping traffic flows apart as much as possible.” In the final phase, crossing was not always avoidable. “Then we deployed a safety officer as much as possible, escorting visitors and tenant employees across the construction site.”
Inside, all floors were thoroughly redone. Facilities included a work café, meeting rooms, open workstations, concentration areas and informal spaces. Climate systems, lighting, ceilings and floor finishes were renewed. The building thus tells the story of Ballast Nedam. Sustainability was a hard requirement, says Van Gurp. “We are going for at least A+++ and BREEAM. We are now demonstrating that.” According to him, a conscious decision was made to reuse. “What was not yet needed, we are not yet demolishing. In addition, we looked to what extent we could upgrade the building.” This included a new air handling unit, heat recovery, additional roof insulation, LED lighting and solar panels.
Construction time became tighter because of delayed permitting. “You then see time slipping through your fingers,” says Van Gurp. Guichelaar adds that this caused exterior and interior work to get mixed up. Still, the finish line was reached, thanks in part to intensive coordination. “That was intensive and demanded a lot from our teams, side contractors and subcontractors. But thanks to the flexibility of all parties, weekly consultations and enormous motivation on all sides, it worked out well,” Guichelaar said. Van Gurp is pleased with the results. “From the first day we were in, you can see that the renovation had the intended effect. We are really proud of that.”
