NBC Congrescentrum gets sustainable makeover after fire

Just imagine – you’ve got the chance to rebuild your business from the ground up. What sustainable choices would you make? Justin van Hooijdonk, Managing Director of NBC Congrescentrum in Nieuwegein, decided to fully embrace sustainability after a devastating fire forced him to regroup in 2022.

Sustainable materials

Part of the centre had been damaged by fire and smoke and was torn down to make way for a sustainable, future-proof event venue. The grand opening was held in March, one and a half years after the fire. Central to the new structure are sustainable materials, with many having been salvaged during demolition and given a new lease of life to minimise the use of new materials.

A smart climate control system

Since the circular rebuild, the convention centre has further deepened its commitment to sustainability. The various rooftops are now fitted out with solar panels. The energy they produce heats and cools the two main event rooms and 22 other spaces. Thanks in part to a new smart climate control system, the convention centre’s energy requirements have been reduced by 70%. Developed in-house, the system uses follow-the-crowd technology to automatically redirect warm or cold air to areas where guests are present, thereby eliminating the need to cool or heat any unused spaces.

Subsidy Expertise

ABN AMRO was closely involved in the renovation process, not only by providing the necessary financing, but also by sharing its expertise in subsidies. It’s just one more way ABN AMRO is helping its clients make the transition to sustainability. A wide range of subsidies facilitating the transition are available in the Netherlands, but many entrepreneurs aren’t aware of all the options.

A high sustainability score

Subsidy expert Iris Rijneveld of Corporate Banking’s Sustainability Expertise Team helped her NBC Congrescentrum contacts identify and apply for the right subsidies. To that end, the centre set its sights on obtaining a GPR Building Certificate. The score recorded on the certificate is a measure of how sustainable a particular building or design is. Buildings are assessed on a scale of one to ten in five categories: energy, environment, health, user quality and future value. Those meeting the GPR Building standards are eligible for funding in the form of an Environmental Investment Allowance (Milieu-investeringsaftrek in Dutch).

Having been issued the certificate after scoring an impressive eight or higher in each of the sustainability categories, NBC Congrescentrum is very proud of its result. The subsidy, Iris says, is the cherry on the cake: “By helping our clients obtain subsidies, we can make it that much easier for businesses to take the next step towards becoming more sustainable.”