The Zuidas district needed a landmark commercial tower that would set a new standard for sustainable office space in Amsterdam. The client, a major Dutch development firm, required a 12-floor mixed-use building that combined Class A office space with ground-floor retail and an underground parking facility — all while achieving BREEAM Excellent certification and completing within a tight 14-month timeline.
The site presented significant engineering challenges: a high water table typical of Amsterdam, proximity to existing structures requiring careful foundation work, and strict noise regulations due to the residential neighbourhood bordering the development zone.
Cornerstone assembled a dedicated team of 45 professionals including structural engineers, sustainability consultants, and specialist subcontractors. We implemented a phased construction methodology that allowed parallel workstreams — foundation and structural work proceeded simultaneously with facade prefabrication off-site, saving nearly 3 months from the traditional timeline.
Our project management team deployed real-time BIM (Building Information Modelling) coordination, allowing all trades to work from a single digital source of truth. Weekly client walkthroughs and a dedicated online portal gave the stakeholders full visibility into progress, costs, and any emerging decisions.
Achieving BREEAM Excellent required sustainability to be embedded in every decision. We specified triple-glazed curtain walling with integrated solar shading, a heat recovery ventilation system, and a 200kW rooftop solar array. The building's energy performance exceeds Dutch building code requirements by 35%, and the rainwater harvesting system reduces mains water consumption by 40%.
The Meridian Tower was delivered 2 weeks ahead of the 14-month schedule and within 1.5% of the original budget — a remarkable achievement for a project of this scale. The building achieved BREEAM Excellent certification on first assessment, and all 12 floors of office space were pre-let before practical completion.
The tower has become a landmark in the Zuidas district and has been shortlisted for the Dutch Construction Award 2024. The client has since engaged Cornerstone for two additional commercial projects in Rotterdam.