Goede Doelen Loterijen, Amsterdam

Benthem Crouwel Architects transformed a long-term vacant and neglected building in Amsterdam South into a high-quality, inspiring and sustainable office for all employees of the Goede Doelen Loterijen. A new workplace where all 600 employees feel at home. A particularly sustainable building, important for this organization that promotes sustainability as one of its core values. The social purpose and idealism of the Goede Doelen Loterijen are now visible in their housing, a transparent and accessible building for employees and for the neighborhood. All sustainability measures make the building an energy-positive building that has received the BREEAM 'Outstanding' certification.

The employees were invited to think about the functions and to help design their new building. The building will have a public restaurant, a studio where TV programs Koffietijd and RTL Live! are recorded, a hall and auditorium for exhibitions and lectures. It will be an open building for employees, beneficiaries, the neighborhood and its residents.
With around 2,400 m2 of solar panels, the roof is also an important generator of sustainable energy. In addition, rainwater is collected, which is partly used to irrigate the roof garden, and also serves for toilet flushing and sprinkler installation.

The building is heated and cooled via a heat-cold storage system. Concrete from the existing structure has been reused, and all newly applied materials have been tested for durability. Furthermore, various innovative sustainability solutions have been applied, such as "smart panels" in the facades that can charge smartphones through solar energy, and a worm hotel on the roof where compost is processed. All newly used materials have been tested for their durability and can also be used again in the next phase of the building's life. The building is also very "socially sustainable": a comfortable and inspiring workplace as a home for all GDL employees. But the building is not just for the employees: a public restaurant with a lively square, an auditorium that can also be used by the neighborhood and a TV studio that connects this building with the communities and the city.