Rotterdam in development

100 R O T T E R D A M I N D E V E L O P M E N T | 2 0 1 8 SUSTAINABLE RENOVATION International real estate advisor Savills has more than 700 offices throughout the world. Savills has a worldwide environmental policy that sets out the company’s approach to achieving environmental targets and the associated responsibilities Savills has taken on. This is established each year in a Sustainability Roadmap, which records and assesses the progress made in relation to the most important sustainability targets. These targets relate to greenhouse gas emissions, energy audits, an EPC strategy, minimum standards for energy performance, energy efficiency, waste management and recycling, internal communication about sustainability and sustainability training. Savills Nederland also employs a Sustainability Manager to guarantee this progress at a local level. All the existing real estate Savills is renovating is examined critically. Upgrading installations to bring fresh air into the building is one way to promote sustainability. The lighting and the workplace climate are also focus points. Van Niekerken has noticed that there is a lot of talk on the market about sustainability, but he does not see that translated into practice: “Making the right adjustments to the buildings is more important than just getting an A-label on paper.” Van Niekerken: “Wherever possible, we implement the great projects we are realising in Rotterdam together with local professionals. The Municipality of Rotterdam is also really flexible and engaged with these projects. There’s a great deal of energy in Rotterdam, with all the new real estate developments, and there’s a lot of opportunity to redevelop properties dating from the reconstruction. Rotterdam is giving a huge boost to renewal and has a pragmatic approach. Rotterdam is approachable and open to solutions.” STYLISH BLAAK HOUSE The first project Savills got to grips with was Blaak House. Take a step back in time: in the 1950s, together with Blaak 28 and Blaak 40, Blaak 34 made up Rotterdam’s financial district. The building was designed during World War II, and then built after the war. The owner, Real I.S., partnered with Savills and V8 Architects in December 2016 to take on the challenge of transforming this ‘historic pearl’ of about 9,500 m 2 into an iconic office building. The renovation of this monument, Blaak House, has enriched Rotterdam’s architecture, especially for the tenants working in this unique office building: it offers an inspiring working environment to over 800 people. The monument is currently being brought into use in phases. Van Niekerken: “Blaak House is an inspiring place, and the monument is so beautiful that it’s an amazing challenge to restore it to its former glory. Refocusing attention on the original elements is bringing back the heart of the building. This renovation project has been carried out stylishly by everyone involved and has a real wow factor.” PIONEERING TOWER IN ROTTERDAM SOUTH Next to the Erasmus Bridge on the Wilhelminakade stands the famous tower familiar to every Rotterdam resident. Real I.S. also owns this office building, and Savills is ‘Eastpoint’ source: Laura Alvarez