Reconstruction of the KPN skyscraper in Rotterdam

When Erasmus Bridge connected the center of Rotterdam with the harbor district of Koop van Zuid more than twenty years ago, a race to build skyscrapers began in the southern part of the city, leading the local peninsula Wilhelminapier to be nicknamed "Manhattan on the Maas." Seventeen years ago, Italian architect Renzo Piano completed one of the first high-rise buildings for the telecommunications company KPN Tower (96m). More towers followed, competing in height: World Port Centre (124m), Montevideo (139m), De Rotterdam (149m), New Orleans (160m), Maastoren (165m). The once-forgotten harbor became a sought-after address that even KPN does not want to abandon, which is why last year the company extended its contract for another twenty years and immediately began renovating its newly returned headquarters. The renovation will be led by Rudolph Eilander and Michiel Raaphorst from the local studio V8 Architects, who openly embrace the legacy of Renzo Piano and also regularly consulted their design with this icon of high-tech architecture.
The skyscraper will gain an entirely new two-story base, where an auditorium for 350 listeners and two restaurants will be created. The front façade will also undergo renovation, with LED indicators, and more than 1,600 working spaces in the high-rise building. The entrance will be circled by a massive pylon. A dignified entry square will thus be created at the busy intersection at the foot of Erasmus Bridge. The most striking element of the new entrance is the subtle cantilevered roof, which will support the nautical impression of the entire building. The ship's mast supporting KPN will finally gain a furled sail. The renovation and completion are expected to be finished by the end of this year.