The office is located in the Groothandelsgebouw, one of Rotterdam’s most iconic post-war buildings by Dutch architect Hugh Maaskant. Completed in 1953, the building was conceived as a “vertical city” for commerce, accommodating companies of different sizes within a large and flexible structural framework. The industrial character and modular organisation have allowed the building to continuously adapt to new tenants and changing working models over time. Within this context, the new Buro Happold office occupies an L-shaped floor plate that is organised to maximise openness while creating clearly defined zones for different types of work.

At the centre of the layout sits the main spatial element of the office: the Agora. Inspired by the public gathering space of the ancient Greek city, the Agora functions as a shared place for meeting, discussion and collective activity. In the office it takes the form of a circular structure that integrates seating, tables and planters. The configuration allows the space to adapt to different uses – including informal work, shared lunches, presentations, internal gatherings or social events. The stepped seating can function as a small tribune for group discussions, while the surrounding counters provide places for short meetings or laptop work. The Agora can host multiple activities, from communal dining to presentations or informal gatherings.