EMA

Following the agency’s decision to relocate from London after Brexit, design and engineering commenced in March 2018, with the building successfully completed and commissioned just 18 months later in November 2019.

Delivering an 81-metre-high office tower with over 15,000 m² of façade within such an ambitious timeframe presented a significant challenge. Success depended on innovative façade engineering solutions, carefully designed to accelerate both manufacturing and installation without compromising quality or performance.

The building’s podium incorporates approximately 4,800 m² of stick-built curtain walling, selected for its flexibility and short lead time. Installation commenced as soon as the superstructure reached the third floor, enabling valuable programme gains at an early stage. The high-rise tower, meanwhile, was clad using a unitised façade system, offering the perfect balance between off-site manufacturing efficiency and rapid on-site installation. As construction progressed, the façade installation closely followed the advancing structure, maintaining the demanding project schedule.

Meeting the November 2019 completion deadline required more than technical excellence alone. It demanded exceptional collaboration, trust, and commitment from every party involved. A shared focus on a single objective enabled the project team to deliver one of Europe’s most prestigious office developments within an extraordinarily compressed programme.

Beyond its architectural presence, the EMA headquarters is a benchmark for sustainability. The building achieved a BREEAM Excellent rating and meets Nearly Zero Energy Building (NZEB) standards. High-quality, sustainable materials were selected throughout, while the distinctive façade fins, extending more than 750 mm from the building line, provide effective solar shading and significantly reduce cooling demand during the summer months.

Today, the EMA headquarters stands as a symbol of innovation, sustainability, and international collaboration, reinforcing Amsterdam’s position as a leading European business and institutional hub.

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