Wonderwoods with vertical forest in Utrecht delivered to a.s.r. real estate

14.10.2024

Wonderwoods with vertical forest in Utrecht delivered to a.s.r. real estate

G&S& delivers mixed-use newbuild project to ASR Dutch Mobility Office Fund and ASR Dutch Core Residential Fund

Utrecht, October 14, 2024 – The mixed-use new build project Wonderwoods, designed by MVSA Architects and Stefano Boeri Architetti, was delivered last Wednesday by developer G&S& (part of VolkerWessels) to ASR Dutch Mobility Office Fund and ASR Dutch Core Residential Fund. The project, consisting of two towers with one hectare of vertical forest in the heart of Utrecht, combines living, working and leisure in a unique urban oasis. Construction combination Wonderwoods (Boele & van Eesteren and Kondor Wessels Amsterdam) realized the 80,000 square meter building in less than four years of construction time.

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Wonderwoods has a total program with 14,700 sq. m. of office space, 1,000 sq. m. of restaurant, 1,000 sq. m. of gym,167 owner occupied apartments and 252 rental apartments in Utrecht’s Beurskwartier. The two towers of 104 and 70 meters high offer various facilities including 3,500 m² of hospitality spaces with lunch options, coffee bars and a restaurant and sports facilities. There is also bicycle storage, parking and a shared mobility hub.

A feature of the project is the planting on and in the building. The project has a roof park, several interior gardens, three hundred trees, 75,000 plants and shrubs and is inspired by the vegetation of Utrechtse Heuvelrug National Park.

Diko Ruit, director G&S&: “With Wonderwoods, we are adding something unique to the urban development in Utrecht. Together with our partners a.s.r. real estate, MVSA Architects and Stefano Boeri Architetti, we have not only created a building, but a living landmark that enriches the city’s skyline. This mixed-use new construction project reflects our vision of future-proof development and shows how nature, architecture and functional use can strengthen each other. I am incredibly proud of the team and our contribution to the realization of this beautiful project, but most of all, I look forward to see how Wonderwoods continues to inspire and challenge the city to become greener and more sustainable.”

Office space with winter and roof gardens and atrium

The 11 office floors in the tower designed by MVSA architect Roberto Meyer are designed to provide a healthy and productive work environment. Most of the offices have access to greenery through terraces and winter gardens with facade sections or atriums that can be opened. The office space is owned by the ASR Dutch Mobility Office Fund. Even before completion, it is fully leased to seven companies. The first office tenants will move into the building early next year.

Mid-rent apartments with one hectare of vertical forest on the façade

Of the total of 252 rental apartments, sixty are rented out by the ASR Dutch Core Residential Fund according to the rules of the Middle Rental Action Plan of the Municipality of Utrecht. In addition, over-55s were given priority in order to promote through-flow in the housing market. The first tenants of the rental apartments received the keys in a recent weeks.

Dick Gort, ceo a.s.r. real estate: “With 300 trees and 75,000 plants and shrubs, Wonderwoods is a green eye-catcher at a very central location in Utrecht. The two towers offer space for living, working and relaxation. In the urban environment of the future you will see more and more mixing of functions. Wonderwoods is therefore the concept of the future. I am immensely proud that this unique project is now owned by the ASR Dutch Core Residential Fund and ASR Dutch Mobility Office Fund.”

Introvert versus extrovert

With the completion of Wonderwoods, Utrecht marks a new phase in the urban development of the Beurskwartier. Wonderwoods brings together the visions of renowned architects Stefano Boeri and Roberto Meyer of MVSA Architects. Stefano Boeri’s design, with its understated architecture, envisions a tower with a vertical forest of as much as 4,000 meters of planters and 161 tree boxes. In contrast is MVSA Architects’ extroverted, transparent tower, where greenery manifests itself on the inside, through large atriums and winter gardens, along the facades. The two towers are connected by a walkway and the semi-public rooftop park at a height of 25 meters.

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09.09.2024

All office spaces and gym Wonderwoods rented before completion

Utrecht, September 9, 2024 – Even before the completion of Wonderwoods, the entire 14,700 square meters of office space and 1,000 square meters of gym have been leased to a total of seven companies. The green office tower, highlighted by a vertical forest of over one hectare and over 80,000 square meters of living and office space, was realized by developer G&S& (part of VolkerWessels) and is owned by the ASR Dutch Mobility Office Fund.

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Photo : © Milan Hofmans

Wonderwoods, located in the heart of Utrecht, consists of two green towers. Designed by MVSA Architects and Stefano Boeri Architetti, the towers offer a perfect balance between work, life and nature. The innovative complex combines modern architecture with sustainable building techniques. The rental of the office spaces, spread over 11 floors, underscores Wonderwoods’ attractiveness to both national and international companies.

Wonderwoods will house a total of seven office tenants after completion. In the tower designed by Stefano Boeri Architetti, SportCity will occupy the second floor with approximately 1,050 sq. m. of leasable floor area (LFA). The sports club consciously chose the green, inspiring environment offered by the tower. This suits SportCity’s focus on physical and mental health.

Four new tenants have signed for the offices in the MVSA tower, each for different floors. Sweco, a major player in architecture and engineering consulting, will house its employees on the sixth and seventh floors, totaling approximately 1,352 sqm. Tsavo, which focuses on organizing sustainability, will lease approximately 696 sqm on the eighth floor. adesso, a leading IT consulting company, has leased approximately 608 sqm on the ninth floor, and Kramp, Europe’s largest supplier of parts and accessories for the agricultural sector, will occupy the tenth and eleventh floors, having leased approximately 1,238 sqm for this building.

In addition to these new tenants, Henkel, Eurail B.V. and Spaces previously chose Wonderwoods. Henkel, a world leader in consumer products and adhesives, leases office space of over 2,500 sqm, Eurail B.V., the company behind the Interrail and Eurail Passes, leases office space of approximately 2,230 sqm on the fifth floor, and Spaces a label of the international IWG has committed to approximately 6,000 sqm on the second and third floors.

Dennis van de Ven, director of G&S&: “We are extremely proud to have been able to fill Wonderwoods with such a diverse and renowned range of tenants. This confirms our vision to create a future-oriented office concept that attracts companies that value sustainability, well-being and an inspiring working environment. We look forward to welcoming these companies.”

Pieter Vandeginste, fund director ASR Dutch Mobility Office Fund: “We are delighted with the tenants who will take up residence in this special office near Utrecht Central Station. The fact that it is already fully rented before completion shows that Wonderwoods fits well with the current need for high-quality office space that facilitates hybrid working, in a location with amenities and near major intercity stations.”

Wonderwoods, which in addition to office space also offers space for 419 apartments, hospitality facilities and public spaces, is expected to contribute positively to the vitality of the city of Utrecht. With an focus on sustainability and innovation, the complex is seen as a pioneer in the development of urban spaces where work, life and nature go hand in hand.

On behalf of developer G&S&, leasing of Wonderwoods has been in the hands of CBRE, JLL and BOLD real estate solutions. On the legal side, G&S& has been assisted by Habraken Rutten Advocaten. On behalf of a.s.r. real estate, manager of the ASR Dutch Mobility Office Fund, Van Gool Elburg Vastgoedadviseurs has been involved. Advisors involved on behalf of tenants were Schoeman (Kramp), JLL (Henkel & Sweco), Brecheisen (Tsavo) and Huurdersland (adesso).

24.06.2024

Henkel signs up Wonderwoods Utrecht as new headquarters

Utrecht, June 24, 2024 – Wonderwoods, the iconic green office tower in the heart of Utrecht, welcomes Henkel as its new tenant. Henkel, the world leader in consumer products and adhesives, will move into Wonderwoods’ The Boutique Offices on the fourth floor. The company is leasing over 2,500 square feet of office space to provide its Dutch sales and marketing teams with an inspiring workplace. The green office tower is being realized by developer G&S& and is owned by the ASR Dutch Mobility Office Fund. Wonderwoods is part of the new center area Beurskwartier.

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Photo: Milan Hofmans

Its innovative character and central location in Utrecht were important factors in Henkel’s decision to locate its new office in Wonderwoods. “We are proud to welcome Henkel to Wonderwoods,” Dennis van de Ven, director of G&S&, developer of Wonderwoods, commented. “Their choice of our green building is a confirmation of our commitment to a sustainable future and to offer inspiring office spaces. “The Boutique Offices in the tower by MVSA Architects are spread over 11 floors (570 sqm to 3,200 sqm) and are BREEAM Excellent certified. Wonderwoods was awarded best Mixed-Use project in the Netherlands on behalf of the European Property Awards.

Henkel’s new office at Wonderwoods will not only provide a modern and comfortable working environment for employees, but has also been designed with sustainability, energy efficiency and a healthy and productive working environment in mind. With state-of-the-art facilities and an inspiring environment, the office will be a breeding ground for innovation and creativity.

Nico Eyers, Head of Puchasing Henkel BeneFrance: “For us, it is very important to be able to offer our employees a workplace with all possible facilities in line with today’s needs around smart working. In addition, the sustainability of our new location was also an important criterion for us and we are pleased to have found a unique place where ‘green’ is central, both in terms of environment and sustainability performance.”

Natural elements

Wonderwoods aims to enrich the urban environment with natural elements. The project, located in the Beurskwartier of Utrecht, consists of two remarkable green towers of 104 and 73 meters high with approximately 1.5 hectares of vertical forest. It will be the eye-catcher of the head of the Beurskwartier.

In addition to the greenery, Wonderwoods also includes a mix of housing and office spaces. A total of 167 owner-occupied homes, more than 252 rental units and more than 15,000 square meters of office space will be built. The project is being built by Bouwcombinatie Wonderwoods, a collaboration between Kondor Wessels Amsterdam and Boele & van Eesteren, both part of VolkerWessels.

G&S& and Henkel were collegially assisted in the commercial process by CBRE, JLL and BOLD real estate solutions. Legal advice has been provided by Habraken Rutten Advocaten. a.s.r. real estate has been advised in the leasing process by Van Gool Elburg.

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Photos: Milan Hofmans

10.12.2021

Wonderwoods best Mixed-Use project in the Netherlands!

On the 2^nd of December 2021 Wonderwoods has been crownd as the best Mixed-Use project in the Netherlands by the European Property Awards.

The European Property Awards hosted a virtual ceremony to announce all winners in the different categories. Five other Dutch projects competed to become the winner in the Mixed-Use category for the Netherlands. The European Property Awards are judged by an independent jury of more than 80 experts from the sector. The judging focuses on design, quality, service, innovation, originality and commitment to sustainability.

‘The European Property Award is a globally renowned award. It’s always great to receive recognition for a project that you and the team and all those externally involved work on with so much love and passion. For us, Wonderwoods is much more than just a building. We are bringing a piece of biodiversity back to the city and reconnecting people with nature. It is our ambition to serve as an example to other cities. – Ivo Taal, Senior Developer bij G&S Vastgoed

Healthy and safe buildings with REDEFINE Real Estate

After COVID-19, the world will never be the same again. From now on, health comes first. But how do you create offices that are healthy,productive and safe work enviornments.BNP Paribas Real Estate Advisor Estate, design agency MMEK and real estate developer G&S Vastgoed are combining their knowledge in the REDEFINE Real Estate platform. REDEFINE Real Estate is a closed user platform that continues to develop, from which everyone can draw and contribute. The founding fathers have their say.

The establishment of REDEFINE Real Estate started with COVID-19, but the virus was only the cause’. That’s what Alexander Ververgaert, COO of BNP Paribas Real Estate in the Netherlands, says. Together with Martijn Meeske, founder of design agency MMEK, he stood at the foundation of this knowledge platform. Ververgaert: Wellbeing has been part of our office use for some time now, but COVID-19 is forcing us to redefine the concepts of ‘healthy’ and ‘safe’ office maintenance. In the meantime we have seen that social distancing also has an impact on our productivity. Meeske: ‘Social distancing is a good first step towards a healthy and safe environment, but building technology must also be included in this. In addition, well-being in the office is also determined by the extent to which the user experience is influenced. In order to gain as much insight as possible into this, MMEK has conducted scientific research and also consulted with universities. Meeske: ‘We’re not only talking about virus experts and medical disciplines, but also about psychology, for example. We want to see questions like ‘what does green do with people? It turns out that many people are already working on this health theme, but there is a lack of combination of knowledge. With REDEFINE Real Estate we do this and follow a more holistic approach.

For BNP Paribas Real Estate, MMEK and G&S Vastgoed it is clear that there will be a world before and a world after COVID-19. Jason Blackmore, Managing Director of G&S Vastgoed: ‘Employees are facing the facts, and will demand a safe working environment from their empoyer, this will continue after COVID-19. But in many office buildings this is not the case yet. In addition, the existing office environments do not provide the opportunity to work together in a productive way. This is a lesson COVID-19 has thaught us, now we have to to something with it. Therefore G&S Vastgoed is launching customer of REDEFINE Real Estate Where advice of the knowledge platform is applied in the offices of Wonderwoods,, the multifunctional, green towers that are being developed at Utrecht Central Station. When REDEFINE Real Estate Crossed our path, the Wonderwoods drawings were actually finished. However we went back to the drawing board to modify them,’ says developer Mischa Moritz of G&S Vastgoed. For instance, we have changed elevators, routing and interfaces.

Don’t these kinds of adjustments make buildings priceless? Blackmore: ‘I think that from now on office users will always opt for the healthiest building. Companies that compete to attract employees will have to anticipate this. That will indeed require extra investment. However, these extra investments also mean that more people can work on fewer square meters, which means that less space is needed’. Sicco Posthumus, CEO BNP Paribas Netherlands, adds: ‘A building can easily stand for 50 years. But the installations in it age within 15 years, making the building less usable and decreasing in value. If we can make the installation spaces more flexible, making the building usable for much longer, then the initial investments can be easily recouped’. Posthumus continues: ‘ Most importantly, an employee who feels comfortable is much more productive. And that’s the most important driver of a company’s profits’.

This brings the story back to the keyword of REDEFINE Real Estate, the user. Erik van Kuijk, co-founder of MMEK, goes deeper into this: ‘Every user is different and will fill spaces differently because he uses them differently, partly depending on the (company) culture. This means that the design must be adaptable per user, flexible. REDEFINE Real Estate is therefore not a fixed list that is ticked off’. Van Kuijk emphasizes: ‘If there’s one thing we’ve learned in this COVID-19 crisis, it’s that behaviour that stems from our culture is extremely difficult to change. A meter and a half distance just doesn’t suit us. But we know that if you bury it in a spatial design, the problem of ‘misuse’ of a space can be reduced.

REDEFINE Real Estate is a knowledge platform. The platform was founded by real estate consultant BNP Paribas Real Estate , design agency MMEK and real estate developer G&S Vastgoed. G&S Vastgoed is the Utrecht-based multi-functional project Wonderwoods launching customer where the advice of the knowledge platform is applied. The founding fathers are now in talks with internationally operating engineering firm Arcadis to broaden the knowledge platform even further. REDEFINE Real Estate is not an institute that issues certifications. The long-term goal of creating healthy, productive and safe buildings is paramount. The way in which that goal is achieved is flexible: after all, users are all different, techniques are getting better and knowledge is constantly increasing.

REDEFINE Real Estate is a closed user platfrom in which complementary companies with a proved track record contribute by making use of knowledge and expertise in the field of healthy, safe and productive work enviornments.