Sustainable, maritime character
The new office on the Schaardijk in Rotterdam is owned by Van Oord and has been developed by OVG Projectontwikkeling. The around 14,000 sqm building has a sustainable and maritime character. The maritime aspect is emphasized by the waterside location, the use of a lot of wood, and the architectural design with balconies and terraces. All this is reminiscent of the bridge of a ship. Sustainability was an important element in the design and construction, and is present most clearly in the sedum on the roofs and the heat/cold storage system. Van Oord was closely involved from the very beginning in the design and fitting out of the building, and imposed its own stamp on the new premises.

Important training location
Besides somewhere people work, the new building is also somewhere they are trained. For example, the head office has simulators for the company’s most important working vessels. CEO Pieter van Oord explains: ‘The simulators – part of which we developed in house – show the outside view from the trailing suction hopper dredger, the cutter suction dredger, and the backhoe dredger. We use them to train our fleet crew. This training programme forms part of the Van Oord Academy, which comprises all our development and training programmes.’

Extension
There are some 700 employees working at the new building. Van Oord has also purchased an adjoining plot of land for a future extension