Multi Netherlands opens city centre project FORUM Rotterdam

The opening ceremony included the presentation of the book FORUM Rotterdam – ‘Non-stop stad’ (non-stop city), commissioned by the developer and the investors.

Patrick van Dooyeweert, Chief Investment & Development Officer: “FORUM Rotterdam is an excellent example of an innovative city centre redevelopment project, transforming and intensifying the use of space in a city centre. The various sections with their mix of functions, the many stakeholders and the prominent location in Rotterdam’s core shopping district made this a highly complex project. Multi is proud to open FORUM Rotterdam and to give Rotterdam a new iconic spot in the city centre, where people will enjoy shopping, working, living and spending quality time.”

The project

FORUM Rotterdam is centrally located between Rotterdam’s main shopping streets Coolsingel, Binnenwegplein, Lijnbaan and Beurstraverse, and consists of around 64,000 sq m of space for retail, food & beverage outlets, offices and apartments. The project started in late summer 2017 and has been delivered in phases to the various end users and investors from 2019. The final part of the project will be completed in October 2020.

FORUM Rotterdam consists of five sub-projects: the renovated National Monument on Coolsingel, the redevelopment and expansion of the Lijnbaan shops, the new Primark building, the conversion of the old office tower into 103 apartments and the realisation of a completely new underground dispatch basement that connects all of the sub-projects.

National Monument

The renovated National Monument on the Coolsingel has been acquired by Deka Immobilien GmbH. This prestigious building houses the famous Rotterdam bookshop, Donner, with entrances on the Coolsingel and the Binnenwegplein. With two floors, including a mezzanine and an atrium at the rear, this is the biggest bookshop in the Netherlands. In addition, the catering outlets, Starbucks and Bagels & Beans, are located on the Van Oldenbarneveltplaats, which makes this side of the building a significant part of the city centre. The building now also has three complete office floors, including a new floor under the distinctive green roof.

Lijnbaan

The shops on the Lijnbaan, from Hollister to ICI Paris XL and the G-Star store, have been redeveloped. The new façade and changed layout of the retail units offer new and existing tenants the opportunity of optimum presentation to shoppers. Syntrus Achmea Real Estate & Finance and a.s.r. real estate will retain these shops in their portfolio. The shops are leased to the leading chains, Hollister, Costes, Seven Sisters, Distrikt Nørrebro, G-Star, ICI Paris XL and La Place. A new branch of fitness chain Fit For Free has been realised on the second floor on the Lijnbaan, with an entrance on the Van Oldenbarneveltplaats.

Primark

A Primark store, located on the ground and first floors, will occupy the centre of FORUM Rotterdam, between the National Monument on Coolsingel and the shops on the Lijnbaan, and ranging from the Beurstraverse to the fully restored façade of the former Jungerhans building on the Binnenwegplein. The second floor of this part of the building consists of office space.

Residential building

The former office tower, located in the middle of the planning area, has been transformed into a residential complex with 103 apartments in the medium-priced rental segment. Syntrus Achmea Real Estate & Finance acquired these apartments from Multi on behalf of its clients. The apartments vary in size, from 85 to 120 sq m, and will be completed in mid-October.

Dispatch basement

An underground dispatch basement has been realised beneath the project, equipped with two large truck elevators. All the users of FORUM Rotterdam can be supplied underground through this basement.

Design

FORUM Rotterdam was designed by an internationally renowned Rotterdam-based architectural team, consisting of OMA (Office for Metropolitan Architecture) and WDJA (Wessel de Jonge Architecten).

The book: FORUM Rotterdam – ‘Non-stop stad’ (non-stop city)

In Rotterdam, not much stays the same. Not now, and not in the past either. The historic energy of Rotterdam is nowhere as concentrated as in the area between Coolsingel, Van Oldenbarneveltplaats, Lijnbaan and Binnenwegplein: the current FORUM Rotterdam.

This microcosm, of historic bank building, modern apartment tower and new shops, houses a rich history. At one time here, the sick were cared for in the then state-of-the-art Coolsingel Hospital, efficient banking was carried out by the Rotterdam Bank Association, and pedestrian shopping was the latest invention. Time and again, the builders believed in a better future in an even better form. With this book, today’s planners are giving its remarkable story back to Rotterdam.

Multi Netherlands

Multi Netherlands is part of Multi Corporation, a leading pan-European integrated service platform for retail real estate assets, managing about 100 retail assets across Europe and Turkey.