A city park 45 meters off the ground. That is what will make the Central Park office building in the new ‘Central Business District’ of Utrecht unique. The land and pile-driving activities had already commenced in January 2019 but construction officially started on April 4, 2019. Central Park is an Angelo Gordon/APF International development that has been sold to Bouwinvest Office Fund. Designed by GROUP A, this remarkable building is being constructed by Bouwcombinatie Westflank Noord, a collaboration of the construction companies Wessels Zeist and Wessels Rijssen.
One third already leased
(press release of APF International IM of April 10, 2019)
The 22-storey, 90-meter high office building is being erected between the district council building and residential high-rise ‘De Syp’, next to Utrecht Centraal train station. The building will accommodate multiple tenants. The indoor park surrounded by glass will be located 45 meters off the ground at the heart of the office building. All the building’s occupants will be able to use the park as a place to meet and enjoy fabulous views of the city. The building will also feature 28,000 m2 of office space and 500 m2 of hospitality space. Central Park is an Angelo Gordon/APF International development that has been sold to Bouwinvest Office Fund. Designed by GROUP A, this remarkable building is being constructed by Bouwcombinatie Westflank Noord, a collaboration of the Wessels Zeist and Wessels Rijssen construction companies. JLL, responsible for letting out the building, has already secured tenants for around a third of the space, with ABN AMRO leasing 2,550 m2 on part of the ground floor and the first and second floors.
Milestone
On the 4th of April guests were invited to view the Central Park construction site from Metro City Kitchen restaurant. They saw a site in the midst of development, a site where the efforts of various parties will ensure the realisation of the new building in the coming years. Some of the parties took the opportunity to say a few words at the event.
Marinus den Harder of VolkerWessels made the first speech, expanding on the company’s role in the heart of Utrecht. “The future lies in the city,” he said. “Inner-city developments have their own set of dynamics and that does not always make it easy. These are precisely the challenges that builders and developers have to address in the coming years.” Dick van Hal, CEO of Bouwinvest, acknowledged the exceptional character of the new building and shared his thoughts on why it will be a good addition to the investor’s real estate portfolio. “It is an office building with gorgeous architecture, a park that promotes meeting face-to-face and a location in the middle of the Netherlands next to Utrecht Centraal train station. It really is an office for the future.”
Victor Everhardt, a city councilor for the Central train station area, shared a final few words on his vision for the city of Utrecht and more specifically for the neighbourhood. “Utrecht is focused on promoting healthy urban living: a balanced mix of living, working and recreating aimed at keeping the city buzzing. This is also important to the Stationsgebied area. Having this building at this location contributes to this.” Everhardt proceeded to hoist a construction flag, marking the official start of construction.
This is a translation of the Dutch press release.
Central Park website: https://www.centralpark-utrecht.nl/
Wessels Rijssen website: https://www.wesselsrijssen.nl/nl/projecten/detail/central-park