Droogbak

^{Image: Bram Vreugdenhil}

Originally constructed in 1884 and designated as the National Heritage Site in 2001, the historic Droogbak building, between 2019 and 2021, underwent one of the most substantial heritage-office renovations in the Netherlands to fulfil PIMCO Prime Real Estate’s vision to transform the asset into a smart, highly collaborative workplace.

The value-creation strategy saw a complete remodeling of the entrance and internal courtyard, turning it from a library into a bright open atrium which now serves as a hub for social connectivity. The open floor levels are linked via a sculptured spiral staircase while the interior facades now boast co-working ‘sky boxes’ to further promote user collaboration.

In addition, the heating, ventilation and air conditioning systems have been fully modernized while the internal acoustics have also been enhanced with the deployment of sound-absorbing features to boost user comfort, concentration and productivity. Finally, PIMCO Prime’s proprietary smart upgrade program has been deployed on Droogbak to provide users with a highly connected, digital workplace, and one where the internal environment is monitored and autonomously adjusted in real time by the building’s management system.

Following the transformation, Droogbak achieved LEED ‘platinum’ certification as well as WELL and WiredScore certifications, and was operationally aligned to the CRREM 2040 decarbonization pathway At stabilization, the asset’s value had increased by more than 13 percent.

Overall, the work to modernize Droogbak showcases PIMCO Prime’s capabilities in restoring historic buildings and, in doing so, fulfilling tenant and user demands for the modern workspace while creating long-term value and resilience within our client’s portfolio.