AKZONOBEL
OPEN WORKSPACE FOR COLLABORATION, KNOWLEDGE SHARING, INSPIRATION AND CONNECTION
GLASS PALACE ON THE ZUIDAS
Multinational AkzoNobel has located its global headquarters on Amsterdam’s business district Zuidas. Collaboration, innovation, creativity, meeting and winning together: the building exudes these base values which were paramount in its design.
These values resulted in a magnificent building with a high-profile concept. For AkzoNobel, it reflects how the company wants to work and present itself. Heritage, art and its products are inextricably linked.
Piet Schalkwijk and Harry Wolbrink, project managers at AkzoNobel
Collaboration is key
Piet Schalkwijk and Harry Wolbrink, both project managers at AkzoNobel: “What did we learn from this construction? The future belongs to companies that take into account the client’s perspective, have the ability to represent their client’s best interests and are able to build good relationships with an open atmosphere.”
Everything comes together
“We gave Dura Vermeer a real challenge by asking for a building that is integral to the things that matter to AkzoNobel. Dura Vermeer was asked to merge different functions into one place, uniting our top management in the Netherlands as well as corporate and business management, while at the same time reducing our carbon footprint. The result of this challenge is visible in both the exterior as well as the interior. It’s a high-profile building with a high-profile concept, and represents how we want to work and present ourselves in terms of heritage, art and products.”
Experience, reputation and solidity
“Our selection of the right construction partner for such an intensive project is based on their experience, reputation and solidity, which resulted in Dura Vermeer as partner. Then the real game begins: winning our trust, showing professionalism, being solution-focused and committed. That’s done by keeping promises and remaining calm and in control in all situations. We certainly had our issues and tough discussions throughout the project, but collaboration has been the key to making the building what it is. Our click with project management and execution played an important role and the fact that we met the completion deadline is partly due to the good relationship that we built.”
AN INDOOR CLIMATE THAT ENCOURAGES ENCOUNTERS
A special feature of the building is its climate façade. It uses daylight, solar heat and fresh air in a clever way. Different types of glass play with light reflections and refraction throughout the day and the seasons.
As a direct link to AkzoNobel’s products, the wooden elements are finished with durable, high-quality coatings in gradual colours.
The extremely healthy indoor climate ensures a pleasant work environment. Because there is enough space for meetings, the global headquarters is also a place where clients like to drop by to work.