Inholland

High sustainability ambitions

From three locations spread across Amsterdam and Diemen, Inholland University of Applied Sciences moved with almost all its courses to a large new building on Zeeburgereiland, in Amsterdam's IJ river. The total floor area covers about 30 thousand square meters and the building has nine floors. The municipality of Amsterdam set high sustainability ambitions for the new building. This resulted in an almost energy-neutral building (BENG) with solar panels in the facades, rainwater collection, heat and cold storage and a modular/flexible designed building in which circularity plays an important role.

Circularly designed

Niels Bakker, account manager at Ahrend, also sees the sustainability ambition reflected in the loose design. 'A lot of furniture has been moved with us and is being reused. In addition, we supplied the impressive atrium with many different communal functions and the many different meeting, teaching and collaboration spaces: Ahrend 314 and Aero (meeting) tables, various Ahrend Well chairs, Ahrend Engage train benches, armchairs (HAY), stools (Pola) and lounge sofas (Muuto). All furniture meets high sustainability requirements. Ahrend furniture is designed in a circular way and can be given a second or third life as a whole, in parts or as a raw material.'

Project management

For this comprehensive project, Ahrend provided not only individual furniture but also project management of delivery and relocation. Niels: 'Not a superfluous luxury, because the design of reused and new furniture on the right floor, delivering place and time, was quite a puzzle. This became more complex due to the delayed building completion, while the opening date remained unchanged. It is special how our project managers realized storage, delivery and relocation within a short time. I am proud of our efforts, flexibility, commitment and creativity for this mega assignment, but I am very proud of the final result.'

Inholland University of Applied Sciences about Ahrend

'We have been working with Ahrend for some time. The size of this project was unique and was carried out by them in a relatively short period of time. Despite the fact that the completion of the building was delayed, the location was able to open fully furnished after the summer holidays. This is partly due to the flexibility and solution-oriented approach of Ahrend's Furniture Service Team.
Of course, there is more than being able to sit in a restaurant, at a desk in a classroom or meeting room: the overall picture is beautiful and it works. This final image is due to the pleasant and smooth cooperation in the triangle Ahrend, Zenber Architects and Inholland University of Applied Sciences. Together, we carefully chose the products, colours and materials that match the design and fit into the mix of furniture used. It is nice to see that all the different rooms and the various furniture are experienced as pleasant and are used intensively by our students and colleagues.

Ilonka van Tol, Advisor and contract manager housing at Inholland University of Applied Sciences

Photography: Stijn Poelstra