New conference facility connects the RAI with Amsterdam city centre
Amsterdam RAI will begin the construction of a new multipurpose conference/office building with a first-class restaurant by October this year. The RAI made the announcement on the closing day of the real estate exhibition PROVADA. The design by Benthem Crouwel Architects will be realised on the city-centre side of the RAI complex (on the Scheldeplein square). BAM Utiliteitsbouw and Kropman Installatietechniek will be responsible for the realisation of the multifunctional, sustainable and progressive building under the supervision of project office Res & Smit. This new facility reflects the RAI’s continued investment in sustainable growth, which will reinforce its position as an international leader in the exhibition and conference sector. The new building will be taken into service on the 1st of May 2015.
The RAI’s new building is a third-generation exhibition venue in which exhibitions, conferences and office functions will be united. It will give the RAI a new, modern face as seen from the centre of Amsterdam. In terms of function, it will be a full-service conference centre with reception lounge, conference areas and break-out rooms, complemented by flexible office space on the upper floors. At the same time, the building will offer a full-service entrance to the exhibition halls behind (Halls 4 and 5). The addition of a premium restaurant will complete the concept.
Design by Benthem Crouwel Architects
Mels Crouwel of Benthem Crouwel Architects has drawn a design that blends in seamlessly with the existing complex while also offering a new, contemporary look within the relevant planning frameworks. The new building will be an extension of the Europa Hall, which was recently nominated as a national monument. The most eye-catching element, apart from the atrium, is the ‘green lung’ for urban farming. This will allow the building to supply its own vegetables and herbs for the restaurant on the ground floor.
Partners
BAM Utiliteitsbouw will be the building contractor for the new complex. Kropman Installatietechniek will be responsible for all engineering works. As the project office, Res & Smit will guide the building process according to the LEAN method. Other involved partners include the engineering agencies Nelissen, Van Rossum and LBP SIGHT.
Sustainable building
Only the most sustainable technologies will be applied in the development of the compact building. Together with its partners, Amsterdam RAI aims to be the first conference centre in the Netherlands to achieve BREEAM-NL Excellent level – the sustainability seal of approval from the Dutch Green Building Council (DGBC).
Investing for international multi-day events
Over the past decade, Amsterdam RAI has invested more than € 140 million in high-quality contemporary facilities for international multi-day events, all of which have significant economic value to the Amsterdam region. The new building at the Scheldeplein will be the first project resulting from the ‘future spatial vision’ for the RAI, which was prepared jointly by Amsterdam RAI and the City of Amsterdam (Zuidas Amsterdam Development Office). The new building will be operational on the 1st of May 2015.
