The renovation of the historic Mining Engineering Building (Mijnbouwkunde) at TU Delft, in the Netherlands, represents a significant step in sustainable office transformation. Designed and engineered by Haskoning, the project has turned a 1912 monumental structure into a Paris Proof workplace — an office that meets the stringent energy targets of the Paris Agreement while preserving its architectural heritage.
Adaptive reuse and design strategy
The central design intervention is the creation of two glass-covered atriums — East and West — that form the heart of the building. Slender glass roofs, supported by steel columns, enclose the former open courtyards, improving spatial comfort and energy efficiency. By transforming exterior walls into insulated interior partitions, the atriums reduce transmission losses without compromising the historic façades. This approach avoids additional insulation and protects key heritage features, including a restored Second World War stained-glass window.
Circularity guided the design. The atrium structures are demountable, allowing future disassembly and reuse. Interior finishes and fixtures emphasise material recovery: reused glass panels from Haskoning’s Rotterdam office now serve as whiteboards, carpets are made from recycled materials supplied by Opnieuw Vloeren, and wood flooring has been reused from previous projects. Recycled PET bottles were used to 3D-print the legs of the reception desk, while wind turbine blades were repurposed into tabletops.
Energy and environmental performance
The building has been freed from fossil fuels. Heat pumps, an Aquifer Thermal Energy Storage (ATES) system, and climate ceilings for low-temperature heating and cooling have replaced traditional systems. The glass atrium roofs accommodate over 600 solar panels supplied by Solar NRG, generating approximately 25 percent of the building’s total energy demand. Together, these systems have reduced annual energy consumption from 4 million kWh to 975,000 kWh, resulting in a performance of 70 kWh/m² per year and representing an 80 percent reduction compared to pre-renovation levels.
Circular construction and material reuse
The project reuses 100 percent of the building’s façade and structural frame. Approximately 6,500 square metres of roof insulation, 10,000 square metres of façade reduction, and 2,000 square metres of HR++ glazing contribute to improved performance. Interior materials are designed for longevity, flexibility, and minimal embodied carbon, calculated at 200 kgCO2e/m² GFA. The use of modular, remanufactured elements and reused materials from Haskoning’s other offices supports the circular strategy.
Certification and legacy
The building holds an A++++ energy label and targets BREEAM-NL In-Use v6.1.1 ‘Excellent’ certification, one of the highest achievable for a listed heritage building. The renovation shows that historic structures can be upgraded to meet demanding sustainability standards. Through adaptive reuse, renewable energy, and circular construction, the Delft office provides a benchmark for climate-resilient heritage renovation in Europe.
