NWO Utrecht to relocate in 2019
On Wednesday 9 May, the NWO executive board signed a new lease contract for a different building for NWO Utrecht. The relocation will take place at the start of 2019: a location with more workplaces, also for flex workers from The Hague, a large and more professional meeting centre and a sustainable design. The building, named Nova Zemla, is located on the Winthontlaan 2 in Utrecht, a stone's throw away from the A12 and close to the fast tram stop.
The project group had already commenced preparations but now a start can be made on the actual arrangements needed to realise the relocation. NWO will be able to relocate to the new building during the course of 2019.
For the design, the same basic principles will be used as in The Hague, but tailored as much as possible to the wishes of the building's future users. Utrecht will receive its own 'look & feel'. The aim is to realise a design that really connects with science. The number of meeting rooms will also be doubled, as a result of which NWO will need to make less use of externally hired meeting rooms. In the future, NWO Utrecht will also have to offer more space to colleagues from The Hague as well as to external visitors from committees or boards, for example.
Over the next few weeks a lot of effort will be put into realising the final design so that a tender process for the various aspects such as furniture, walls and equipment can be started. The project group has also been given a clear instruction to furnish and equip the building as sustainably as possible.