Multi Netherlands, part of Blackstone-backed Multi Corporation, has opened its latest city centre project, Forum Rotterdam.
The inner-city regeneration project was developed by Multi Netherlands; investors include Deka Immobilien, Primark Netherlands, Syntrus Achmea Real Estate & Finance and ASR Real Estate.
Forum Rotterdam is located between Rotterdam’s main shopping streets Coolsingel, Binnenwegplein, Lijnbaan and Beurstraverse, and consists of around 64,000 m2 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.
Patrick van Dooyeweert, Multi Netherland's chief investment & development officer said: '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 development 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.
The renovated National Monument on the Coolsingel, which is now a mixed-use space including retail and offices, has been acquired by Deka Immobilien.
This prestigious building houses Rotterdam bookshop, Donner, the biggest bookshop in the Netherlands. The building now also has three complete office floors, including a new floor under a green roof.
The shops on the Lijnbaan, from Hollister to ICI Paris XL and the G-Star store, have been redeveloped.
Syntrus Achmea Real Estate & Finance and ASR 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.
A Primark store, located on the ground and first floors, will occupy the centre of Forum Rotterdam. The second floor of this part of the building consists of office space.
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.
An underground dispatch basement has been realised beneath the project, equipped with two large truck elevators.
Forum Rotterdam was designed by a Rotterdam-based architectural team, consisting of OMA (Office for Metropolitan Architecture) and WDJA (Wessel de Jonge Architecten).
