Powerhouse Company has unveiled its plans for the Floating Office Rotterdam (FOR), the new headquarters of the Global Center on Adaptation (GCA). This spring the construction of the energy-neutral and self-sufficient structure, constructed entirely out of timber, will start. The GCA will be housed in the Rijnhaven in Rotterdam for a period of 5 to 10 years. The design boasts a wide range of state-of-the-art sustainability measures, such as heat exchange through the harbor water.
The GCA launched with the mandate to encourage the development of measures to manage the effects of climate change through technology, planning and investment. The GCA moves communities, cities and countries to proactively prepare for the disruptive effects of climate change with urgency, fierce determination and foresight. The Commission is led by former UN-Chairman Ban Ki-moon, Microsoft founder Bill Gates and Managing Director of the IMF, Kristalina Georgieva.
In September 2018, the Municipality of Rotterdam proudly welcomed the GCA and has since worked hard to create a unique and truly exceptional building for this prestigious institute. FOR is expected to be opened by the Secretary General Ban Ki-moon and the Mayor of Rotterdam Aboutaleb, during the international Summit on Adaptation in the fall of 2020.
“As the world’s climate changes, extreme weather events and rising sea levels present new challenges for architects. Embedding resilient features into a design before disaster strikes not only makes economic sense but it can also help us to mitigate against climate change. I am delighted that the GCA will be housed in a building that showcases pioneering climate resilient office design and I hope it will inspire others to future-proof their infrastructure,” said Prof. Dr. Patrick Verkooijen, CEO of the GCA.