EDGE Stadium: how to reuse and upgrade one of our own designs

What could be better for the future than to increase the sustainability of an office building from 2001, which was already sustainable at the time, and transform it into a contemporary workspace, while reusing existing building parts and materials? That is what atelier PRO did with the former Forum building in Amsterdam, now EDGE Stadium, on behalf of developer EDGE.

The complex consists of two long office wings, which were widened and topped up with an additional floor, adding a total of around 10,000 m² to the existing floor area of 19,000 m². The central atrium has been retained, expanded with a wooden roof structure and given a new appearance; it has been redesigned as a lush green space where users can come together, acting as the heart of the building. The pavilion in the rear of the atrium was dismantled, extended and given a new facade; the heart-shaped, copper-clad pavilion at the front was incorporated in the new design and now serves as the eye-catcher of the atrium.

Because the building already met a great number of the requirements, many elements from the existing structure could be reused and upgraded. For example, all the existing wooden window frames and beams have been given a place in the new design. However, sustainability is not only a matter of design, but also depends on aspects like planting and installations; smart technological measures play an important supporting role here.

The installations have been renewed and adapted to today's requirements; a thermal storage system was installed in 2001 for heating and cooling - for those days quite unique - and today’s design is based on this. When it comes to sustainability, the highest standards - BREEAM Excellent and WELL Core & Shell Gold - have been adhered to. The building is also the first R2S (Ready2Services)-certified building with two stars in the Netherlands; this label is used to measure a building's "smart connectivity," or performance through smart technology.