Tower Ten

Tower Ten, the tenth and newest World Trade Center office building on the Amsterdam Zuidas, offers a modern working environment with a focus on sustainability, energy efficiency and employee well-being. CBRE developed a new workspace strategy for a leading international commercial real estate company on the eleventh and twelfth floors of Tower Ten. Ahrend refurbished existing workplaces, revitalised office chairs, conference chairs and conference tables and advised on new circular furniture. 'Our Circular Hub, straightforward logistics, well thought-out sliding plans and a perfect delivery make Ahrend a reliable partner with a focus on sustainability.'

Hybrid workplace strategy

The client's question to CBRE was: How will our way of working change in the near future and what will bring the teams closer together? CBRE developed a hybrid workplace strategy with a balance between open and closed spaces. To allow employees to interact more naturally, all workspaces are spread over the two floors with various rooms for meetings, brainstorming sessions and gatherings.

Condition: circular design

More and more organizations are reporting on their impact on people and the environment. That was one of the reasons for this company to move to Tower Ten: Built according to WELL Building Standards with BREEAM Excellent certificate. The design also had to be as sustainable and circular as possible. 'Reuse of existing furniture was a condition,' says Rob Gimberg, account manager at Ahrend. 'For our experts at the Circular Hub, this is a dream assignment. Especially if the furniture used in the new space is given a slightly different function.'

‘Ahrend is a reliable partner with a focus on sustainability’

Michelle Oskam Project Manager at CBRE

As good as new

The challenge was not only to bring existing furniture back into top condition and/or to upholster it in new colours. 'The Circular Hub has created "new" workspaces.' For example, existing sit-stand workstations from another brand have been fitted with refurbished table tops and acoustic screens. Existing Ahrend coupé workspaces have been converted and reupholstered, Wilkhahn On task chairs have been given thicker seat cushions and we have refurbished and reupholstered the leather of Vitra conference chairs. Everything is as good as new again.'

Higher occupancy rate

The working environment is not just furnished with refurbished workspaces. To complement the furnishings, the client opted for workstations refurbished by Ahrend that had previously used in other offices. As little as possible new furniture was used, such as Ahrend Balance Trio workspaces and Qabin Call boxes. Rob is proud of the result: 'The employees feel at home there. I understand that the occupancy rate is on average 25 to 30 percent higher than at the old location. Of course I'm proud of that!'

CBRE on Ahrend

'Sustainability is a high priority for this client and is therefore very important to us when selecting suppliers. We knew that Ahrend attaches great importance to circularity, and they are not unique in this respect. But this designer does set itself apart with the Circular Hub; Ahrend itself ensures reuse and redeployment in this expertise centre. That is really special, just like all the logistics surrounding it.
During the refurbishment process, employees had to be able to continue working undisturbed: Ahrend supplied temporary furniture for this purpose. Their logistical mindset and actions have taken a big load off my mind. Deliveries were streamlined, right down to the day, in different shifts and at the final location. And this also applies to cable management and the moving and relocation of IT equipment. We also outsourced that to Ahrend. Everything was so well and thoroughly prepared. And the result is beautiful: Everything looks new and fresh. 'Our Circular Hub, straightforward logistics, well thought-out sliding plans and excellent delivery make Ahrend a reliable partner with a focus on sustainability.'

Michelle Oskam, Project Manager at CBRE

Photography: Stijn Poelstra