Heijmans has won the Dutch Government Central Real Estate Agency's tender for the renovation and expansion of a municipal listed building into a new government office in Arnhem's station area. The building, a former post office, will house the Dutch Tax Authority, the Central Real Estate Agency (Rijksvastgoedbedrijf) and the Education Executive Agency (DUO). The contract also includes follow-up maintenance for 15 years and has a total contract value of over € 55 million. Actual construction is expected to start in March 2024 and completion is scheduled for the end of 2025.
Sustainable, circular and connecting
In close cooperation with the client, Heijmans is restoring the original listed value of the former post office, giving the building future value. Heijmans presented its vision to the client on how to connect the building with the local public space, creating an attractive and healthy living environment. Heijmans is living up to its name as a sustainable builder by undertaking the following activities for this circular icon:
- Expanding the building using timber construction;
- Reusing outgoing materials;
- Use of donor and bio-based materials;
- Minimising energy use in buildings and using renewable energy sources, which will reduce CO2 emissions.
Heijmans will also take climate-adaptive measures to better protect the users of the building and its local surroundings against flooding, heat, drought and flooding.
Cooperation according to the DOEN philosophy
A special feature of this project is that public authorities and market players will work together as partners according to the so-called DOEN philosophy. The tender took place on the basis of a design vision developed by Heijmans. In 2023, the main focus will be on the joint fleshing out the design vision for this project by Heijmans and the Dutch Government Real Estate Agency. With the development of the Arnhem station area, the Dutch Government Real Estate Agency and Heijmans aim to jointly contribute to the creation of an attractive living environment and improved sustainability. An area-based approach and the realisation of sustainability ambitions will be the main focus of this project.