Mecanoo architecten has been selected to make a design study for the new municipal offices of Delft, part of which will incorporate the new railway station. Thirty-five architectural offices took part in the selection. Besides Mecanoo, Kraaijvanger Urbis (Rotterdam), OMA (Rotterdam), Rudy Uytenhaak Architectenbureau (Amsterdam) and Soeters Van Eldonk Ponec (Amsterdam) have been selected for the second round. The offices will present their designs in mid-May. It is anticipated that an architect will be recommended to the City Council in September.
The municipal offices will accommodate municipal employees. Offices that are currently distributed around the city will be situated in the new building. The municipal counters will also be moving here. The municipal offices are being combined with the hall of the new Delft railway station. The new building is coming on the north side of the Station Square (the Houttuinen side), largely above the railway tunnel. Construction of the station and the municipal offices is scheduled to start in 2009. The station is due to be completed in 2011 when the first trains run through the new tunnel. The municipal offices are expected to be completely finished in 2013.
The city council as well as the inhabitants of Delft are involved in the selection process. The selection committee consists of the mayor, the alderman for real estate, three representatives of the organisation of civil servants, Prof. Joan Busquets as urban designer of the Railway Zone, and the Railway Architect, representing Dutch Railways and ProRail.
Source: Mecanoo
