Full programme

Corporations and Cities Envisioning Corporate Real Estate in the Urban Future

Three-day colloquium Brussels, 26-28 May 2008.

Speakers:
Michael P. Buckley, Director, Real Estate Development program, Columbia University; President, Halcyon LTD Real Estate Advisors and Development Consultants
Jo Coenen, Professor, Delft University of Technology; Former Chief National Architect of the Netherlands
Francis Cuiller, Director, Planning Agency, Municipality of Bordeaux
Michael L. Joroff, Senior Lecturer, Department of Urban Studies and Planning, Massachusetts Institute of Technology
Siim Kallas, Vice-president for Adminstrative Affairs, Audit and Anti-Fraud, European Commission, Brussels
Poalo Tombesi, Associate Dean, Faculty of Architecture Building and Planning, University of Melbourne
John Worthington, co-founder of DEGW strategic design consultancy, Visiting Professor, University of Sheffield and Chalmers University of Technology, Gothenburg


Panelists

Pier Vittorio Aureli, Head of the Capital Cities Research Program, Berlage Institute
Mels Crouwel, Chief Government Architect of the Netherlands
Virginia Gibson, Professor of Real Estate and Planning, University of Reading
Kerstin Hoeger, Lecturer and Senior Researcher, ETH, Zurich
Serge Loumaye, consultant, Price Waterhouse Coopers, Brussels
Veronica Manfredi, Cabinet Member, European Commission
Joost Schrijnen, Professor, Chair of Metropolitan and Regional Design,Delft University of Technology
Aryan Sikkema, Former Director, Building Department, University of Utrecht
Marcel Smets, Chief Government Architect of Flanders; Professor, Department of Architecture, Urban Design and Regional Planning, Catholic University of Leuven
Rudy Stroink, Director, TCN Property Projects, Utrecht
Jacques Van Grimbergen, General Director, Department of Urbanism and Housing, Brussels Capital Region
Flip Verwaaijen, Managing Director, TNT Real Estate

Conference convenor
Hans de Jonge, Professor, Department of Real Estate & Housing, Delft University of Technology

Conference chairs
Rob Docter, Berlage Institute, Rotterdam
Vincent Nadin, Delft University of Technology


Monday 26th of May

08:00 – 09:15 Registration and coffee
09:15 – 09:30  Welcome, opening remarks, and introduction
Herman Vande Putte, project leader of Corporations and Cities; Assistant Professor, Department of Real Estate & Housing, Delft University of Technology
Rob Docter, General Director, Berlage Institute, Rotterdam (transcript)
Hans de Jonge, Professor, Department of Real Estate & Housing, Delft University of Technology (presentation; transcript)
09:30 â€“ 10:00 "An Introduction to Building Europe" Siim Kallas, Vice President for Administrative Affairs, Audit and Anti-Fraud, European Commission, Brussels
10:00 – 11:00    Presentations on history and actual practice
These presentations will explore the common history between cities and corporations, the impact of corporations on the development of cities, and the actual practice of urban planners when managing the accommodation requirements of large-scale corporations
"Architecture, Economy, Politics: Two Cases of Corporate Projects for the City" Pier Vittorio Aureli, Head of the Capital Cities Research Program, Berlage Institute (presentation; transcript)
"Corporate Performance Supported: The Role of Place for Organizations
and Workforce" Michael Joroff, Senior Lecturer, Department of Urban Studies and Planning, Massachusetts Institute of Technology
 
11:00 – 11:30 Coffee 
 
11:30 – 13.00 Panel session on achieving organizational targets
This panel session will highlight the organizational features that impact location and accommodation strategies and steer corporate real estate decision-making as well as discuss the conflicts between the organizational logic and corporate real estate.
"The Turnaround of a Corporate Real Estate Portfolio Under Merging and Outsourcing Pressure" Flip Verwaaijen, Managing Director, TNT Real Estate
"Messy Vitality: Urban Life at Stake On an Isolated Campus" Aryan Sikkema, Former Director, Building Department, University of Utrecht
"You Should Build Better Quality Buildings in this City !" Marcel Smets, Chief Government Architect of Flanders; Professor, Department of Architecture, Urban Design and Regional Planning, Catholic University of Leuven
With a discussion moderated by Michael Joroff, Senior Lecturer, Department of Urban Studies and Planning, Massachusetts Institute of Technology
   
13:00 – 14:15 Lunch
    
14:15 – 15:00  "What's the Bottom-Line ? Thoughts on Urban Planning Decision-Making"
Jo Coenen, Professor, Delft University of Technology; Former Chief National Architect of the Netherlands
  
15:00 – 16:15  Parallel paper sessions
  
1. Corporate Location Choices
This session will address the consequences of changing occupier preferences and increasing corporate sizes on space supply. The South Axis development in Amsterdam will be presented.
Presenters:
Monique Arkesteijn, Delft University of Technology
Pi de Bruijn, Architekten Cie, Amsterdam
Tapio Hietanen, Helsinki University of Technology
Roberto Rocco, Delft University of Technology
Moderator:
Vedran Mimica, Berlage Institute, Rotterdam
 
2. Urban Planning Tools
This session discusses the positioning of functions in the urban context through the support of computer-aided decision models.
Presenters:
Erwin Heurkens, Delft University of Technology
Joost van den Hoek, Inbo Architects and Urbanists, Amsterdam
Peter-Paul van Loon, Delft University of Technology
Tim Love, Northern University, Boston
Moderator:
Rob Docter, Berlage Institute, Rotterdam
 
3 - Recycling Redundant Corporate Real Estate Into the Urban Realm, part 1
This session will explore how to divest surplus properties, the best strategies to add value for organizations, and the matching of the goals of the owning organization with those of the city. The new urban quarter at the former Pirelli Bicocca site in Milan and the conversion of the Shell Overhoeksgebied in Amsterdam will be presented.
Presenters:
Peter-Jan Kannegieter, Municipality of Amsterdam
Livia Piperno, Pirelli & C.Real Estate s.p.a., Milan
Herman Vande Putte, Delft University of Technology
Eric-Jan De Rooij, ING Real Estate
Paolo Simonetti, Municipality of Milan
Moderator:
Hans de Jonge, Delft University of Technology
 
16:15 – 16:45 Coffee break
 
16.45 – 18:00 Parallel paper sessions
 
4. Corporate Space
This session highlights the impact of fast changing accommodation requirements on building typologies. Strategies for dealing with this phenomenon, by exploring buildings without function, will be presented.
Presenters:
Frank Bijdendijk, Woningcorporatie Het Oosten, Amsterdam
Tony Fretton, Delft University of Technology
Nicola Gillen, degw, London
Hilde Remöy, Delft University of Technology
Moderator:
Pier Vittorio Aureli, Berlage Institute, Rotterdam
 
5. Working in the Network City
This session analyzes the possibilities and consequences of the network city for offices, work-life integration and service firms. The redevelopment of the Oosterdok Eiland in Amsterdam will be presented.
Presenters:
Anne-Lize Hoftijzer, Bouwfonds mab, Hoevelaken
Robert Kloosterman, University of Amsterdam
Lora Nicolaou, degw, London
Eva Stegmeijer, University of Amsterdam
Ziona Strelitz, zza Research and Consulting, London
Gerrit van Vegchel, ING Real Estate, Amsterdam
Moderator:
Michael Joroff, Massachusetts Institute of Technology
 
6 - Recycling Redundant Corporate Real Estate Into the Urban Realm, part 2
This session continues the exploration on how to divest surplus properties, the best strategies to add value for organizations, and the matching of the goals of the owning organization with those of the city. The Lingotto buildings and the Turin neighborhood rehabilitation projects by Fiat, as well as the Sphinx urban quarter in Maastricht, will be presented.
Presenters:
Bram van Beek, Arcadis, Amersfoort
Jo Coenen, Delft University of Technology
Franco Corsico, Municipality of Turin
Fabrizio Settime, ipi s.p.a., Turin
Moderator:
Hans de Jonge, Delft University of Technology
 
18.00 – 18.30 Reception
 
18:30 – 20.15 Public evening lectures
 
"The Impact of the Corporate Use of Space On and Within the Public Realm"
John Worthington, co-founder, DEGW, London; Visiting Professor,
University of Sheffield and Chalmers University of Technology, Gothenburg
 
"Towards a Polycentric Metropolis: Urban Governance and the Case of Bordeaux"
Francis Cuillier, Director, Planning Agency, Municipality of Bordeaux

Tuesday 27th of May

07:00 – 08:30 Breakfast 
 
08:30 – 09:10 "Between Schumpeterville and Malthustown: Urban Design in the Land of Extremes"
Paolo Tombesi, Associate Dean, Faculty of Architecture Building and Planning,
University of Melbourne
 
09:10 – 10:30  Presentations on the accommodation of Europe in Brussels
These presentations will address the ambition of the European Commission to create an efficient and sustainable accommodation policy in Brussels.
 
"More than Efficiency and Representation: The Future Accommodation Policy of the European Commission"
Veronica Manfredi, Cabinet Member, European Commission
 
"Densifying, Mixing, Grouping: Redeveloping the Leopold Quarter Business District"
Jacques Van Grimbergen, General Director, Department of Urbanism and Housing, Brussels Capital Region
 
"Infrastructures, Equipments, and Comfort of Life: Planning the International Development of Brussels"
Serge Loumaye, consultant, Price Waterhouse Coopers, Brussels
 
"Dispersion and Concentration: Urban Principles for Accommodating Europe"
Joachim Declerck, Director, Centre for Architectural Research and Development, Berlage Institute, Rotterdam
 
10:30 – 10:45 Coffee
 
10:45 – 12.15 Panel session on clustering strategies and location choices
This panel session highlights the impact of clustering and location choices on labor availability and retention, accessibility, knowledge spill-overs and competitive advantage in general.  
 
"Transforming the Randstad Region into a Cohesive Metropolis"
Joost Schrijnen, Professor, Chair of Metropolitan and Regional Design,Delft University of Technology
 
"Corporate Urbanism Transposing Urban Reality: Relations Between Corporate and University Campuses with their Host City"
Kerstin Hoeger, Lecturer and Senior Researcher, ETH, Zurich
 
"Business Change, the Impact of Large-Scale Organizations"
Virginia Gibson, Professor of Real Estate and Planning, University of Reading
 
"The Critical Mass of Agglomeration: Myths and Truths of the Synergy Effects of Clustering"
Hans de Jonge, Professor, Department of Real Estate & Housing, Delft University of Technology
 
   With a discussion moderated by John Worthington, co-founder, DEGW, London; Visiting Professor, University of Sheffield and Chalmers University of Technology, Gothenburg
 
12:15 – 13:30 Lunch
       
13:30 – 14:15 "Taking Advantage: The Role of Corporations in Mixed-Use and High-Density Development"
Michael Buckley, Director, Real Estate Development Program, Columbia University
 
14:15 – 15:30 Parallel paper sessions
 
7 - The Impact of Corporations
This session explores the influence of corporate decisions on city planning, the underlying questions for cities in planning corporations on their territory, and the consequences of different location choices. The Academic Hospitals Gasthuisberg in Leuven will be presented.
Presenters:
Kees Doevendans, Eindhoven University of Technology
Filip Geerts, Delft University of Technology
Stefan Kurath, HafenCity University, Hamburg
Wim Tambeur, Academic Hospitals Gasthuisberg, Leuven
Moderator:
Virginia Gibson, University of Reading
  
8. Campus models
This session will present different campus strategies, along with the latest research findings on corporate clustering advantages and oÂŞcemarket stratification habits. The City of Louvain-la-Neuve will be presented.
Presenters:
Bernard Declève, Université Catholique de Louvain
Francesca Frassoldati, University of Ferrara
Alexandra den Heijer, Delft University of Technology
Marty van der Klundert, RDH Architects, Goes
Phillip Koppels, Delft University of Technology
David Vanderburgh, Université Catholique de Louvain
Moderator:
Michael Buckley, Columbia University
 
9. The image of the city
This session presents examples in Europe and the Middle East that illustrate how corporate accommodations can form the image, branding, and representation of a city. The development of the Maastoren in Rotterdam is presented.
Presentations:
"Rebranding the city - the case of Eindhoven" Dave Havermans, Eindhoven University of Technology (presentation)
"Maastoren Rotterdam" Fokkeline Lakerveld, ovg Project Development, Rotterdam & Harry Vlaardingerbroek, Deloitte, Rotterdam (presentation)
"The Dubai effect archipelago" Neyran Turan, Harvard University (presentation)
Moderator:
Vedran Mimica, Berlage Institute, Rotterdam
 
15:30 – 16:00 Coffee
 
16:00 – 17:40 Panel session on triggering symbiosis
This panel session will investigate the tools to construct sustainable relations between corporations and cities. The aim is to look for future corporate real estate strategies that will create competitive strength for corporations and cities alike.
  
"From Offices to Housing, From Schools to Offices, From Homes to Hotels, From..."
Mels Crouwel, Chief Government Architect of the Netherlands
  
"Leaving Most Things-or Even Everything-to the Market"
Rudy Stroink, Director, TCN Property Projects, Utrecht
  
With responses by John Worthington, co-founder, degw, London; Michael Buckley, Director, Real Estate Development Program, Columbia University; and Vincent Nadin, Professor, Department of Urbanism, Delft University of Technology
  
Moderated by Hans de Jonge, Professor, Department of Real Estate & Housing,Delft University of Technology
 
17:40 – 17:45 Concluding remarks
Herman Vande Putte, project leader of Corporations and Cities; Assistant Professor, Department of Real Estate & Housing, Delft University of Technology
    
19:00 – 23:00    Gala dinner
Cocktails and guided tour of the Coudenberg archaeological site
Dinner at the Bellevue Museum overlooking the Royal Palace gardens

Wednesday 28th of May

09:00 – 12:00 Parallel excursions
  
  1. Brussels: From the Inside Out
Brussels is a fascinating city for those who live in it, but also for those who merely observe it. It's a complex and controversial place, where at least two cultures meet. Brussels, home of Art Nouveau, can be unexpectedly charming; while at the same time a battlefield of real estate speculation that can also inspire indignation. The city's astonishing rejuvenation will in any case surprise you. This excursion focuses on the socio-historical implications of corporate decisions from a variety of different scales and urban intensities. Guided bus tour and city walk
 
2. Brussels: From the Perspective of Corporate Architecture
From the mid-19th century, Art Nouveau and Art Deco periods, up to early 20th century modernism to 1950s and '70s corporate modernism, leading corporations have left theirmark of power, wealth, and vision through realization of significant architectural landmarks throughout Brussels. Starting from the art deco Flagey building, the former headquarters of Belgian Radio and Television headquarters and venue of the colloquium, this excursion reveals the contribution of value-added buildings and the damage of inappropriate corporate architecture to the urban scenery. Guided bus tour and city walk.
 
3. Brussels: Business Districts
   Touring the European Quarter, the European Parliament, and the Berlaymont buildings, the focus of this excursion is to the confrontation with the insatiable office demands and its effect on the existing streetscape and residents. In addition, this excursion will visit the emerging business parks along the city's periphery, the airport area, the tgv- station areas, and the Brussels's newest inner city business pole, the converted Turn and Taxis Freight Port. Guided bus tour and city walk.
  
12:00 – 13:30 Lunch break
  
13:30 – 16.30 Parallel seminars
 
1. Multi-Actor Urban Decision-Making
During the past decade, the various actors involved in urban management and urban planning have been faced with changes in the way urban plans are made and decisions are taken. The traditional approach, featuring hierarchical planning and central decision-making, has shifted to multi actor interaction planning with pluricentric decision arenas. This seminar will highlight one of the newest decision making approaches in the field of urban planning to enable multi-actor cooperation occurring in corporate strategies and governance. It will report on the mid-results of a 10-year research project, conducted by the Port of Rotterdam Authority and the Delft University of Technology, to better support the Stadshavens redevelopment project decision-making processes. It is applicable in all complex land use and real estate projects and in concession auctions as well. Practical and theoretical presentations will alternate with hands-on experience and feedback. Two case studies in Rotterdam will be presented: the Heijsehaven study, the city's old port area; and the Laurenskwartier study, which is part of the city center and in need of a functional and technical upgrade.
Presenters:
Peter-Paul van Loon, Delft University of Technology
Bert Enserink, Delft University of Technology
Susanne Bronkhorst, Fakton, Rotterdam
Yvette Govaart, Fakton, Rotterdam
Erik Pruyt, Delft University of Technology
Erwin Heurkens, Delft University of Technology
Moderator:
Vincent Nadin, Delft University of Technology
 
2. Envisioning Compatible Strategies
Based on the papers presented at the colloquium, this round-table format seminar is a unique debriefing, brainstorming, and design session consisting of evaluation and peer review as well as open discussion. Selected presentations will be repositioned in different frameworks to make them discussable and comparable. The intention is to compare and contrast these presentations with each other to sharpen their central thesis and to stimulate the emergence of new solutions. Finally, newly invented accommodation strategies will be tested on their compatibility with the goals of urban and corporate planners.
Respondents:
Michael Buckley, Columbia University
Hans de Jonge, Delft University of Technology
Joachim Declerck, Berlage Institute, Rotterdam
Moderator:
Herman Vande Putte, Delft University of Technology
    
16:30 – 17:00    Closing Reception

 

The full programme brochure can be downloaded here (pdf, 1 MB)