‘this building creates connection’

The garden still needs to be planted, but Fugro’s new headquarters is already in full use. Did the geo data specialists in Nootdorp get what they hoped for, and how did they experience working with cepezed? We asked project director Michiel Dessens, who was involved from start to finish.
 

Fugro had an ambitious brief. Does that ambition typify Fugro?
“Fugro wants to express what it stands for. In 2021, together with 4Building, we drew up a list of ambitions. Connection was the most important. We meant that in several ways. The building had to connect employees with each other and with Fugro. It also had to connect stakeholders, clients and shareholders. And we wanted it connected to the existing Fugro office next door, to the neighbouring companies, and to the natural surroundings. The new building also needed to be sustainable and safe. Safety is paramount at Fugro, both in terms of social safety, meaning feeling free to be yourself, and physical safety such as fall protection. In addition, we wanted a building that was flexible in use. We needed to be able to relocate a department, lease a wing to third parties, and retain the option to expand. Because we value the Fugro identity, we wanted an experience layer in the building, a narrative layer showing what Fugro stands for, how innovative and sustainable we are as a company, and one that would make staff proud.”

Did cepezed immediately understand this?
“We organised a tender with several architects. When choosing, it was essential that Fugro found the design fitting and appealing, but equally decisive was the ability to partner. We were looking for an architect we could collaborate with comfortably, who could listen well and think along with us. In that respect, cepezed clearly stood out above the other firms.”

Did that ability to partner lead to the result you wanted?
“Absolutely. Throughout the design process, you consistently came up with elegant yet practical solutions. The building has turned out beautifully and is exactly what we wanted. You can literally see the drawings in the final outcome. We got what you promised, and it is pleasant to use.”

Do colleagues who were less involved in the design process feel the same?
“Before this headquarters, we had worked for sixty years in an office in Leidschendam. Many colleagues now realise how outdated that building was. They say things like ‘It is so nice here.’ Perhaps I can illustrate this with two anecdotes. Two colleagues had worked in that old building for ten years without ever running into each other. In the new building they met almost immediately. Another colleague told me she had struggled with a problem for over two months in the old office, but in the new building she naturally ended up talking to someone at the coffee machine who offered a solution.”

Why do you think the building works so well, what resonates with your colleagues?
“The building is open and filled with daylight, it feels comfortable, there is a pleasant atmosphere and beautiful natural materials have been used. Fugro’s mission is ‘Together we create a safe and liveable world’ and this building delivers on that. You see the meeting areas constantly being used, not just for chats, but for all kinds of work related discussions.”

How did the ‘experience layer’ take shape?“Everyone experiences a building differently. One person primarily observes what they see, while another is more influenced by what they hear or smell. The building responds to those senses. That is why an additional layer was introduced, one that connects all users in different ways to our sustainable projects, people and geo data, and shows how innovations have shaped Fugro into the company it is today.”

How did the headquarters become a building where everyone feels safe?
“By using greenery, natural materials and light, we created a pleasant working environment with considerable attention to the right acoustics. But inclusion is also about offering the facilities people need. There is a lactation room, a prayer room, and good amenities for people with disabilities. Where partitions are used around workspaces and meeting areas, they are made of glass to maintain an open and transparent atmosphere. We also pay attention to employee wellbeing through facilities such as high quality bicycle parking and a fitness room, and of course by encouraging the use of the stairs.”

Is the BREEAM Outstanding label an important ambition for you?
“The label itself is not the goal, but we do aim for a sustainable and biodiverse headquarters that demonstrates that it is possible. ‘We prepare for tomorrow’ and ‘we do what is right’ are two of our company values. A certification like this confirms that these are not empty statements. The ambition also gave us guidance - we targeted BREEAM Outstanding. It served as a framework for making design decisions.”

What were difficult sustainability related choices?
“It was not so much about choosing between two sustainable options. It was about weighing cheaper and less sustainable solutions against more expensive and more sustainable ones. If you truly stand for something, you must be willing to invest.”

Can you give an example of such a more expensive sustainable solution?
“The water management system developed by Fugro itself is a good example. The solution we eventually implemented, with buffers in the garden, a shell layer to filter excess rainwater, and the reuse of rainwater, demonstrates that you can manage water on your site in a responsible and sustainable way.”

What surprised you most about working with cepezed?
“That your team is so flexible. I am often a project director, but not for new build projects, so I do not frequently work with architects. We had expected architects to be reluctant to let go of their own ideas and their own sense of what is aesthetically pleasing. But throughout the design process, you wanted to work with us to create something both elegant and practically usable.”

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