From national heritage
to a circular workspace
Haskoning, DelftWith recycled materials from other offices, a tight budget, and a 113-year-old national monument, Haskoning in Delft faced a clear challenge. The former mining building was renovated to Paris Proof standards, and Haskoning needed a partner who could ensure that their circular ambition was achievable within those boundaries. This is the story of how the open construction team model created the opportunity to make the most of circular economy principles.
High ambition versus
budget and complexity
Haskoning wanted an interior that reflected their leadership in sustainability. But working within a listed monument makes translating the design by Fokkema & Partners into maximum circularity complex. At the same time, costs had to stay within budget. A traditional tender carried too much risk of errors, delays and overspending. The key question: who could guarantee that ambition, reuse and quality would be feasible within the financial framework?
Equality and transparency
created confidence
Haskoning needed full transparency. That’s why we jointly chose a construction-team approach instead of a traditional tender. As an equal partner, this model immediately provided clarity:
1. Financial control: With an open-book budget, Haskoning could see exactly how funds were allocated to circular solutions.
2. Knowledge assurance: They had a partner who continuously advised on materials, reuse and feasibility — always assessed against the reality of the monument.
Tangible
impact
The joint thinking and bold approach paid off:
- Visual impact: Employees now enjoy the impressive “Follies” in the atriums. These six-metre-high, semi-transparent meeting structures give the office a distinct identity.
- Circular reuse: Cabinets from previous offices were repurposed in the new library, and lockers were given a second life. The result: an office that makes Haskoning’s sustainability leadership both visible and tangible.
- Social impact was part of the project as well: 512 linear meters of pine battens were sanded and painted in collaboration with SMO Helmond. Together, they delivered approximately 300 m² of sanding and painting work – a tangible contribution to social return on this project.
The power of expertise
and partnership
Haskoning’s new office shows how ambition and practical reality can come together. By trusting a partner who works transparently and thinks along, Haskoning achieved an interior that delivers quality, precision and circularity.
Gielissen’s role as a knowledge partner within the construction team ensured that the complex ambitions around circularity and budget could be met. A strong example of craftsmanship, reuse and collaboration in a complex project environment.
