Omnam Group brings the former postkantoor on the Coolsingel in Rotterdam to the next stage of its redevelopment, by starting construction of the 155-meter high residential tower this summer.
From vision to realisation
Omnam’s problem-solving abilities have enabled the management and running of highly complex developments such as POST Rotterdam. The transformation of POST is a master class in redevelopment, ensuring every part start at the right time and every piece is in place. In developing the best solution for this beautiful challenge, Omnam has carefully selected a team of leading experts in their field to drive this project from vision to reality.
David Zisser, Founder & CEO Omnam Group: “The most remarkable and unique developments in the world aren’t the obvious ones, but those that require a vision, drive, and a solution-oriented mind-set. POST is the perfect embodiment of this. Under the direct management of our Head of Design and Engineering, Idan Sade, the team has worked tirelessly with a holistic approach and deep respect for the dynamics of Rotterdam to get the POST project to where it is now: an irrevocable permit, the perfect team of experts, the Intercontinental Hotel Group with their Kimpton brand as hotel operator and with Amvest as a major buyer of the POST residential apartments”.
Alderman Kurvers (Building and Housing): “This ambitious plan is going to become reality. I am delighted that the renovation and redevelopment of POST Rotterdam is about to start after more than ten years of vacancy. The beautiful monument in the heart of Rotterdam will blossom again with a hotel, catering establishments and 305 apartments. This will bring a lot of liveliness to the new Coolsingel, which is turning into a green city boulevard”.
City living reaches new heights
The POST-Tower contains a total of 305 apartments with 70 different layouts and 43 floors. Ooms Makelaars and Christies Real Estate have been involved early in the process for the sale of the 102 apartments to private buyers. Colliers International brought Amvest to the table as the buyer of 203 apartments. The real estate market in Rotterdam is booming and in fact is catching up with any other major hub in Europe. There could not be a better time to buy one of the few remaining apartments at POST.
Irrevocable permit
Mid-March 2021, the Council of State left the original building permit intact. Since then, the multiple teams working on the POST project have been accelerating the construction preparations.
Drees & Sommer Netherlands is responsible for project and process management for the POST project. Senior project manager Rutger Laurs and managing director Michel de Haan supervised the permit process and provide stakeholder management. "A permit process requires a lot of work, involving a procedure that goes all the way up to the Council of State. Such a process cannot succeed without good collaboration, a lot of research and solid arguments. In the end, we succeeded in meeting all the conditions for implementing the plan," says Rutger Laurs.
"We supervise the design team, and we are involved - in close consultation with Omnam - in the tendering and contract formation for the new Tower and the further development of the monumental part of the POST project" adds Michel de Haan. "Omnam is an international project developer with an impressive portfolio. Our knowledge of the Dutch real estate market and local laws and regulations really adds value to the project."
A new (joint-)venture
BESIX Nederland and Rizzani de Eccher (Netherlands Branch) have joined hands in yet another prestigious construction project, and through their “The POST Bouw Joint-Venture” are delighted to add their mark to the skyline of Rotterdam with the new POST-Tower. The two groups have an established track record in working together and share the same values and approach in tackling complex projects internationally.
The two JV-partners bring complementary skillsets, which together with their command of a vast and articulated supply chain, will greatly benefit the POST re-development. The JV is well equipped to bring their experience and know-how to this master re-development situated in the heart of the city, which will see a 155m tower rising from one of the only three city landmarks that have survived WW2 unscathed. The challenges are particularly daunting in terms of logistics and avoiding disruption to one of the city’s most bustling areas. BESIX Nederland and Rizzani de Eccher Netherlands are proud to work with Omnam and the Municipality of Rotterdam on this project, which once completed, will attract international acclaim and boost the image of the city. POST Rotterdam will provide a striking example of the mix of between modern architecture and the rehabilitation of historical buildings.
The construction
As things stand the construction will start in summer 2021. In the second quarter of 2023, the POST-Tower with its elegant character will have arisen from the Coolsingel and be clearly visible. The facade will be placed around the building like a second skin, using high-quality materials. The Rodezand wing will make way for a new entrance and form the plinth of the tower. In its current state, the monumental post office does not connect the Coolsingel to the Rodezand, the Stadhuisstraat and the Meent. To create this connection, the tower will stand, as it were, on an 18-metre high table. The columns (table legs) of 2.5 x 2.5 metres will open up the re-developped POST to its surroundings and create an urban cosiness both in and around the building; where old meets new and inside meets outside.
About OMNAM Group
Omnam Group is a pioneering global real estate group with a vision to source and transform the ordinary into iconic destinations in European city hubs. Omnam creates highly polished, design-led projects that push the boundaries of innovation and construction to deliver significant added value to local communities and investors. Omnam’s global network and local presence in 9 cities around the world, strengthen the synergies between the best local partners and global brands. The group’s expertise lies in large-scale developments encompassing hotels, aparthotels, residential, mixed-use developments and complex building conversions. Omnam has a proven track record working with global hotel brands such as Four Seaons, IHG and Marriott International. For more information on Omnam Group, visit: www.omnamgroup.com
About Drees & Sommer
Drees & Sommer is your innovative partner for consulting, planning, construction and operation. The leading European consulting, planning and project management enterprise, Drees & Sommer has supported private and public clients and investors for 50 years in all aspects of real estate and infrastructure – both analog and digital. Through future-oriented consulting, the enterprise can offer solutions for successful buildings, profitable real estate portfolios, people-oriented working environments, and visionary mobility concepts. The company’s 3,820 employees work from 46 locations around the world, including three Dutch offices in Amsterdam, Rotterdam and Eindhoven. The project managers and consultants work in interdisciplinary teams to provide support for clients from a wide variety of sectors. All the services provided by the partner-run company take into consideration both economic and ecological concerns. Drees & Sommer calls this holistic approach ‘the blue way’. www.dreso.nl / www.dreso.com
About The POST Bouw JV
With the realization of De Maastoren, Montevideo and New Orleans at the Kop van Zuid and the Terraced Tower at the Boompjes, BESIX Nederland has already a rich history of high-rise buildings in Rotterdam. Likewise, Rizzani de Eccher is known for its landmark Y-Towers project in Amsterdam, which with its two towers of over 100 metres in height will redefine the skyline of Amsterdam-Noord, just across the IJ. Furthermore, Rizzani de Eccher is not entirely new to the city of Rotterdam: the cable stays of Rotterdam’s most defining landmark, the Erasmus bridge, bear the hallmark of Tensa, one of Rizzani de Eccher’s bridge division subsidiaries.
About BESIX Group
BESIX is a leading Belgian group, based in Brussels and operating in 25 countries and on 5 continents, in the construction, real estate development and concessions sectors. Active since 1909, its iconic achievements include Dubai's Burj Khalifa, the tallest tower in the world, buildings of the European Parliament in Brussels as well as the Grand Egyptian Museum, on the Giza pyramids plateau. The Group's engineering department enables BESIX to carry out complex and unique projects, particularly in terms of technical and environmental aspects.
About Rizzani De Eccher
Rizzani de Eccher is a global contractor with ongoing operations in 25 countries, including the Netherlands, and boasts successfully executed projects in more than 70 countries the world over. The group, whose origins date back to 1831, is still owned and actively managed by the de Eccher family, now at the 3rd generation. The group brings together a number of operating units that are market leaders in the areas of civil engineering, general building construction (design & build), infrastructure development, and the design and manufacturing of special construction equipment for very complex projects.