Case study

CBRE helped Uber with a sustainable and inclusive European headquarters

April 24, 2024

Spacious business lobby with floor-to-ceiling windows, abundant natural light and city views. Contemporary interior design with neutral colour palette, wooden bench with integrated planters, person working on laptop, reception desk with prominent Uber logo, manned by two receptionists, decorative flower arrangement, person at standing desk, man in suit walking through lobby, cloudy sky and buildings in the distance through large windows, professional and welcoming business environment.

In 2019, Uber approached CBRE: they were in urgent need of a new European headquarters, in an easily accessible location in Amsterdam. It had to be sustainable, grow with the organization and also support the sense of community within Uber. That new workplace became the completely renovated and redeveloped Tripolis Park. CBRE helped with the entire process: from project management and workplace concept to interior design.

Office or business lobby area with contemporary design, open ceiling with exposed pipes, neutral colours with wood and orange accents. Reception area with curved wooden desk, waiting area with orange chairs and table, glass wall to separate room, inspiring wall text, people performing different activities. Soft lighting from built-in ceiling lights, professional and modern working environment.
Meeting room or auditorium with contemporary design. The room has multiple rows of orange chairs arranged to the front, patterned floor in shades of grey, light grey walls with windows, recessed lighting fixtures in the ceiling, presentation area with two 'EinsPC' branded digital displays, professional and clean aesthetic suitable for business meetings.
The image depicts an interior space that appears to be a modern office or meeting room. The room is well-lit, with natural light coming through large windows on the right side, offering a view of buildings outside. The color palette includes warm wood tones, grays, and whites, creating a contemporary and professional atmosphere. In the room, there is a meeting table with chairs, a digital display screen with stylized text, and unique pendant light fixtures. A man standing by the window, talking on a mobile phone, adds a dynamic element to the scene, suggesting a working environment in a sleek and modern office setting.
An architectural photograph of an interior with multiple levels, metal stairs and walkways, wooden panels, red window frames, well-lit rooms, atrium, contemporary design, strip lighting, private office, meeting room, lounge area with sofa and coffee table, bright room with high windows, urban environment, faded figure of person on walkway.
Interior space with high ceiling and exposed ducting, light carpeted floor, large curved reception desk with terracotta tiles, planters with lush greenery, informal seating area with stools and high table, open space to other section, people moving through the space, bright and even lighting, contemporary and biophilic design features for a functional and welcoming working environment.
Office space with open floor plan, exposed ceiling with metal air ducts, recessed spotlights and pendant fixtures for lighting, carpet in neutral tones, round tables surrounded by chairs in blue and green tones, planters with lush greenery, people moving and working, windows for natural light, high backrests in shades of red and brown, decorative elements such as plants and books, relaxed and collaborative working environment.
An interior space of an office. The perspective is from a corridor leading to two people standing in the background talking to each other. The corridor has a clean and contemporary design, with a combination of materials and textures that give the space a professional and polished look.
Office interior with two people, whose faces are not directly visible. On the left is a person busy writing on a white board, while on the right is another person sitting at a table with a tablet in hand. The room has a contemporary design with wooden elements, glass walls and a striking yellow accent wall. It appears to be a workspace for both individual work and collaboration.inkell vacant after bankruptcies
Modern office environment with open floor plan, desktop computers, desk chairs and desk lamps, personalised workstations, carpet in main office and wooden floor in relaxation area, relaxation area with built-in bench and plants, exposed ceiling with exposed pipes and lighting fixtures, large windows for natural light, bright painted walls, two people involved in informal conversation, contemporary and well-designed workspace.
An office environment showing in the foreground a desk with a computer screen, a keyboard, a mouse and a notebook. A woman sits at the desk and works on a laptop. She is wearing dark clothes and has long hair. The office has a grey carpeted floor and white desks with black desk chairs. There are several houseplants in the room, providing a green accent. In the background, you can see more desks, some other office chairs and another person walking. The walls are white and part of the wall is decorated with a large, abstract, colourful graphic design in green, black and white. The ceiling is open, revealing the building's pipes and tubes, giving the space an industrial feel. The lighting appears to be a combination of natural light from invisible windows and artificial light from ceiling fixtures. The overall impression is of a clean, bright and well-organised workspace.

“When Uber approached us for this assignment, they were still in an office at the Amstel station,” says Johan Bakker, project manager at CBRE. 'The company grew significantly, and there was a shortage of workplaces. So they needed a larger office – preferably as soon as possible. There were some conditions: the new office had to be located in Amsterdam and meet high standards in the field of sustainability, well-being and inclusivity.'

From Dutch soil

About six kilometers from the old office - just behind the Olympic stadium, next to the A10 - is the Tripolis Park. Designed by the Dutch architect Aldo van Eyck, completed in 1994 and partly monumental since 2019. “The campus was almost completely empty, because the buildings were no longer suitable for office spaces,” says Johan. 'After the Rotterdam architectural firm MVRDV provided the design, developer Flow started redeveloping the campus in 2020. When Uber signed for the 'T300' building and part of the Venster - one of the offices on campus - the renovation had just started.'

“The developer's goal was to make the buildings more rentable again, but to leave the original construction intact as much as possible,” Johan continues. 'A modern building section has now been added to the old Tripolis building, which has partly been placed over the original building. With the aim: adding more efficient meters. The two parts now form an interesting contrast. The old design by the famous architect Van Eyck, supplemented with a new design by the leading architectural firm MVRDV.'

Office hub

Uber's Amsterdam location is its EMEA headquarters. The mobility (taxis) and delivery (Uber Eats) departments are located there, as well as the management, support teams and software engineers. In total, more than a thousand people work there. Uber had a big wish for the new office: all these people - with different nationalities and positions - should feel at home there.

Separate, yet together

“The design and layout of the office had to support that sense of community,” says Johan. According to Bas Tijssen, this worked out well. He is a Senior Workplace Manager at Uber and was closely involved in the housing project. 'Our office has several neighborhoods where people from one team work together. Because we want colleagues to meet each other, there is a central lobby, a large restaurant and a huddle bar for team activities.'

An architectural space with a multi-level atrium, stairs, walkways and a glass facade that lets in natural light. The design includes a mix of materials such as glass, metal and dark wood-like cladding. Visible structural elements such as beams and columns are painted in dark colours. People are present in the space, but the focus is on the spatial layout and materials that create a contemporary and dynamic environment.
An interior space with an open ceiling where green plants hang, two moving people in dark and red clothes, a counter with display windows for food, small potted plants and an area with more counters and kitchen equipment. The image exudes a contemporary and welcoming atmosphere.
An office cafeteria or break room with several seating areas with different tables and chairs. Neutral colour scheme with light wooden floors, white and grey surfaces, and warm brown accents from the wooden chairs. People at tables, windows with natural light, plants adding greenery, visible black pipes on the ceiling. Modern and minimalist lighting, decorative circular element on the ceiling. An inviting space for relaxation and informal work.
An indoor setting that resembles a modern office or coworking space. The focus is on a person sitting on a couch with a cushion, using a laptop on a small table. The person is wearing a dark jacket and has light-coloured hair that is tied back. In front of them is another black chair and a round table with a marble-like top. The floor is wood and there are additional tables and chairs in the background, indicating a communal workspace. The room is well lit, with large windows letting in natural light, and there are also artificial lighting fixtures on the ceiling, including a circular lamp that follows the curve of the ceiling. On the right-hand side of the picture is a large, abstract mural featuring plant-like shapes in green, black and beige colours. The overall atmosphere of the room is clean, modern and conducive to work or study.
Office interior with open layout, informal seating area, workstations, planter, staircase, industrial elements, natural and artificial light, people working and moving, warm wood tones and green plants.
An interior space with burgundy armchairs, round coffee tables, and a kitchenette with people at the counter and high tables with bar stools. Industrial ceiling elements and lighting add to the contemporary atmosphere.
An office bar with a person on a high bar stool at a coral pink counter, an employee behind the counter at a sink, and two people on dark stools in the middle. Background with large windows and unique curved metal ceiling structures. Stylish and contemporary atmosphere with warm and neutral colours.
Modern and stylish office interior with open floor plan, neutral colour palette of shades of grey, white and natural wood tones. Sitting area with curved wooden bench, round grey upholstered stools, person in black coat and cap on stool with smartphone. Split-level design with steps to raised platform, seating options, circular carpet, large decorative lighting fixture. Wall with artistic line drawing, people in different state of work and movement, open ceiling, large windows for natural light. Collaborative, comfortable and modern working environment.
Modern office environment with contemporary design and open floor plan. Person at desk with laptop, large green plant. Workstation with two computer screens, keyboard, mouse and desk lamp, light grey office chairs. Motion blur to the right. Partially enclosed space with glass walls, vertical blinds. Neutral colours, light and airy, natural light, light hardwood floor. Professional and calm working environment.

Working the Dutch way

Uber has a global standard for the workplace concept of every office worldwide. This includes sufficient space for seating and standing areas, meeting rooms, call boxes and stand-up spots.' It was up to CBRE to translate that global standard into the high-quality Dutch standards. Johan: 'We had to take into account legislation and regulations - including the Working Conditions Act.'

Office with (monumental) character

There was also an existing design for the interior design, namely that of the London architectural firm Perkins & Will. “Our interior architects have further developed this into a new technical design,” says Johan. “We had to take the monumental character of the building into account.” Bas confirms: “That was an interesting challenge. For example, there were columns, portal structures and stuccowork that we wanted to preserve, as well as the old spiral staircase. It runs from the basement all the way to the highest roof terrace.'

Green, green, green

But there was another demand from Uber. “We think it is important that local materials are used as much as possible, and we only want to use responsible FSC wood,” says Bas. This is also in line with Uber's high standards in the field of sustainability. “Together with the developer, we have maximized and increased the sustainability label of the building,” says Johan. 'The office will soon have the BREAAM-NL qualification Outstanding, which is the highest qualification.'

By bike

Sustainability is also an important part of Uber's policy. “That is one of the reasons we asked CBRE for an office that is easily accessible by bicycle and public transport,” says Bas. “At Uber we are encouraged not to use our own car.”

The head office itself also exudes sustainability. “We have made green roofs and, among other things, coffee cups from coffee grounds,” says Bas. 'Of course we separate our waste, but we go one step further: we grow our own oyster mushrooms, make compost and grow herbs in a greenhouse. We have a lot of vegetarian and vegan food in our restaurant. Because we want to throw away as little as possible, we serve everything chilled.'

Happy employee, productive employee

Uber not only applies high standards in the field of sustainability, the well-being of colleagues is also high on the agenda. “Together we have worked towards the Platinum certificate from WELL,” says Johan. 'This required various measures - it was up to us to always see what fit within the planning and budget.' In the office you will now find a water tap every seventy meters with cold, boiling and sparkling water. “A lot of greenery has also been added to the interior,” says Bas. We also have a yoga room and a library, and employees can use an app to control the temperature and biodynamic lighting in each room.'

According to Uber, that well-being also lies in inclusivity. So they asked CBRE: how do we create a workplace for everyone? “There are gender-free toilets, sufficient pumping rooms and a prayer room,” says Johan. “All areas are also wheelchair accessible.”

Overcoming obstacles

After the location was leased, CBRE became the driving force for the continuation of the entire housing project. And also had to ensure that the process with contractor, developer and designers continued. 'We of course encountered obstacles along the way - think of the corona crisis or the war in Ukraine. That all influences such a project,” says Johan. 'It was all the more important that we kept an overview. We have advised Uber every step of the way, for example in the field of sustainability and delivery rounds. We also carried out the technical assessments of the building - our construction knowledge came in handy for this.'

Building on each other

"We were able to do our work exceptionally well because we have a trusted relationship with Uber," Johan adds. "We understand what they value." Bas confirms this. "At CBRE, they understand exactly what we want. They were able to fully support us. They were involved in the entire process, from transaction and project management to local architecture. It was great for us to have one reliable partner."

Surprising office

Since the second quarter of 2023, Uber officially occupies the Tripolis Park. Bas says, "This office fits us very well: it's an exciting, almost playful building with beautiful views. As you walk around, you constantly discover new places and are constantly surprised. Many monumental elements have been preserved, and the bridges between departments symbolize the connection between the old and the new." Johan adds, "Uber wanted an office that could grow with the organization and also meet their high demands and standards. I think we have succeeded in that!"

Related Services

Item 0 Item 1 Item 2 Item 3

Related case studies

View all case studies
Item 0 Item 0 Item 0 Item 0 Item 0 Item 0