Regional headquarters for PWC, VSB Fonds and CMS, Rijnsweerd Utrecht, The Netherlands 1999 - 2008

Rietveld Architects went to work and arrived at a translucent design of a core building with four wings attached. Light and curves in two of those wings offer a pleasant dynamic and are well adapted to the surrounding buildings. Following an interruption in the development process due to an economic downturn, it became clear that the original 18,000 meters were insufficient. The architect was requested to add another 10,000 m2 to the original design. This was not easily done because 10,000 m2 is considerable. And the building had to become higher, for which permission from the zoning board was needed. Rietveld Architects came to an elegant solution to increase the m2 by connecting the wings at the fourth floor. The curved wings have six levels, the connections between the wings start after the third level and reach up to include the sixth floor. Additionally, the parking facilities needed to be expanded. Digging deeper to include an extra level was possible but expensive and would also require more environmental research. This process could take up to nine months. That is why the choice was made for a valet-system where someone puts the car away in a carrousel (capacity 370). Before leaving the building one has to call in advance to have the car ready. For visitors there is a separate parking lot. An intrinsic quality of the building is that the three tenants (CMS, VSB Fonds and PWC) share the complex without any annoyance to each other or visitors. The optimal organization of the building was reached by designing a core and various wings. The architect was efficient with the available space where rentable space is 93% of the gross footage. As evidenced in the lobby with its horseshoe shaped reception desk, the advantage to this design is that everyone can see each other and a visitor feels welcome. A trade mark of this architect is also that the lobby is full of natural light that is coming in from several sides. From the lobby there is a central corridor that is high and spacious with a striking red wall on the left. It is a simple but effective touch in the building. In the red wall the doors have been hidden in recessed spaces. This adds calm and space. There is an expansive reading table in the waiting area, light from outside and an open space above. In the waiting area there are also three ‘igloos’ for a meeting in privacy. The architect even suggested hanging up curtains for added intimacy. The restaurant ceiling was made extra high to let more light in and has skylights. The offices that are visible were originally meant as meeting rooms but they are in use as Workspaces. Clearly now they have become a place where you are supposed to work. The library is divided over three floors and has connecting circular stairs. Similar to the entrance and the reception area, the curving element breaks the straight design of the library Inconspicuously. In addition to a library and a restaurant, the building also offers an auditorium and a classroom. Text: Lucas Ligtenberg