ZUIDAS SUSTAINABILITY AWARD PRESENTATION at Robert Walters ‘neuro office’

The official presentation of the 2024 Zuidas Sustainability Award is coming up! On Thursday 14 November, a panel of expert judges will announce this year’s award-winning organisations and institutions in six categories. The winner of the Public Choice award will also be announced. The ceremony is being hosted in the cool new Robert Walters neuroscientific office in WTC’s Tower Ten.

A global specialist in talent solutions, Robert Walters opened their new office on May 1st 2024, the first-ever to be designed on the basis of neuroscience research. The brief was to create an environment where people enjoy working and feel at home. “These days, you can work anywhere, but we want to bring our people together in a place where they can excel”, says Jose Bokhorst, managing director of Robert Walters. 

Unconscious brain activity
Of the office designers that took up the challenge to submit their ideas, it was Hoogerwerf Projectinrichting that came up with the winning concept for a ‘neuroscience office’. Neuromarketing agency Neurensics conducted extensive scientific research among employees and external subjects, ranging from in-depth interviews with neuroscientists to fMRI scans measuring unconscious brain activity. This combined to create a clear picture of how the new office should be laid out, with designated zones for specific moods and activities.

Stimulating the senses
Bokhorst explains: “The reception area is styled like a luxury hotel lobby, so you feel welcome the moment you step inside. If you need an energy boost, you can head over to the Arena, where the citrusy scent, red walls and big screens displaying stock exchange figures sharpen your senses. For relaxation, you can go to our Tuscan landscape, with plants, swings, birdsong and the scent of fig trees. And lastly, we have the Grand Café, with a casual restaurant vibe and fresh coffee and food.” This is the perfect spot to have lunch, but also for a quick huddle or to check emails. The design also integrates modern technology, Bokhorst continues. “An app allows you to automatically programme your flex desk, so you only have to figure out your preferred set-up once and then you’re good to go.”

Festive award ceremony
The Zuidas Sustainability Award has six categories: Mobility & Logistics, Water & Greenery/Public Space, Circularity & Waste, Society & Economics, Buildings & Energy and Climate/ General. Winners are selected by a panel of experts consisting of Yvette Watson, Andy van den Dobbelsteen, Margreet van Gastel, Ruth Jansen and Victor Nieuwenhuizen, and will be announced on 14 November. The ceremony is open to the public. Keep an eye on the Hello Zuidas website and social media for the latest news and information on how to attend.

Registration
There’s still time to register for the Zuidas Sustainability Award! Companies and organisations that launched or completed a sustainable initiative after October 2023 can register their project to be in the running for the 2024 Zuidas Sustainability Award. From small-scale initiatives, such as a community sustainability workshop lunch, to a full-scale office retrofitting: everyone has a chance to win.

Registration closes on 1 October. From this date, voting will open for the Public Choice award. Winners will be announced on 14 November 2024.

A joint initiative of Green Business Club Zuidas and Hello Zuidas and Amsterdam Zuidas, the Zuidas Sustainability Award is an annual competition to spotlight projects that are making a real difference on the way to a more sustainable Zuidas.