The renovation of the Tinbergen Building has been awarded the prestigious BREEAM Excellent certification – and may even achieve BREEAM Outstanding. After the renovation, the building will be brimming with sustainable features. From a nesting box for peregrine falcons to the use of low-carbon concrete, Annemiek Strijker (Sustainability Policy Officer at Real Estate & Facilities) takes us through five sustainable features.
Energy from the ground
After its renovation, the Tinbergen Building will use a thermal energy storage system (TES) for heating and cooling. “This is a sustainable form of geothermal energy where we store summer heat in the ground to heat the building in winter and vice versa,” explains Annemiek. “This not only provides a stable and comfortable indoor climate but also delivers energy savings of 60 to 80 per cent!”
260 solar panels
A total of 260 solar panels will be installed on the roof to supply the building with electricity. “These are bifacial, which means they generate energy on both sides, in combination with light-coloured roofing. The output is comparable to the amount of energy needed to supply 50 households with electricity,” explains Annemiek.
Did you know that the coating on the steel structure for the 19th floor is made from 50% recycled PET bottles? This results in a significant reduction in CO2 emissions.
Significantly lower emissions
Sustainable materials are used in the construction, such as low-carbon aluminium. In addition, low-carbon concrete and steel, as well as partly recycled gypsum, were used. “Low-carbon aluminium has much lower production emissions than traditional aluminium – around 4 kg instead of 15.1 kg of CO2 per kilo,” explains Annemiek. “And it offers the same quality and strength.”
Watching the chicks
A nesting box is being installed on the roof of the Tinbergen Building, where the peregrine falcon can find a safe place for its eggs and chicks. This protected bird species nests at high altitudes and, in the Netherlands, relies mainly on nesting boxes on tall buildings. Annemiek is enthusiastic: “We’re also installing a webcam so you can watch the birds live!”
Harvesting card
Materials from the original Tinbergen Building have also been reused sustainably wherever possible. “We used a harvesting card to identify which materials from the building were suitable for circular use. Among other things, we are reusing air ducts in the building,” concludes Annemiek.
Did you know that the metal interior walls in the building were previously used for the NATO summit in June 2025? By designing the walls so that they could be reused exactly as they were, significant savings were made in terms of raw materials, processing energy and waste.
Top 10% in sustainability
These and many other sustainable features make the renovation of the Tinbergen Building rank among the top 10% most sustainable in the Netherlands. This fits perfectly with the University of Rotterdam’s ambition to make the campus increasingly sustainable and to create a positive societal impact.
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