2020 12 21 Year in Review 2020

The Year in Review: 2020

22.12.2020 - Publications, Project updates

As we see the current pandemic unfold, words like “challenge” and “crisis” come to mind. 2020 has also provided a unique opportunity to reflect, as we witness the withstanding and incredible resilience of the human spirit. Despite this very challenging year, there’s still plenty to be thankful for.

We are grateful for the many people on the front line of this pandemic and for all that they continue to do: doctors, nurses, first responders, scientists. The list goes on. 2020 has showed the profession's deep ability to adapt, collaborate, exchange and work in an interdisciplinary way.

Above all, we are committed to maintaining the high standard of our projects. 2020 has proven to be a success for our projects both in the Netherlands and internationally. For Rotterdam, Mecanoo presented its vision for Museum Boijmans Van Beuningen, with the renovation due to start in 2022. Plans for our Maritime Center were revealed, which will provide a new scenic route for Rotterdam, located in the middle of the water of the Rijnhaven. We designed the new RET Metro interior and completed the interior transformation of Blaak555 in the heart of the city.

For Amsterdam, we presented our masterplan for Marktkwartier, which will create a lively new green residential neighbourhood. Renovation began on De Nederlandsche Bank at Frederiksplein. The Xior team, of which we are part of, were awarded the tender for the last building plot at Overhoeks, the Brink Tower will connect two neighbourhoods in Amsterdam-North.


In the UK, Mecanoo worked alongside the University of Cambridge to deliver 232 affordable key worker housing in their Eddington development, Northwest Cambridge. Both KAMPUS, a new neighbourhood located at the former Manchester Metropolitan University campus, and the Manchester Engineering Campus Development aka MECD are adding the finishing touches with openings expected mid-2021.  

Mecanoo were selected as the winner of the international architectural competition for the development of the Senezh Management LAB in Russia, which will feature a learning zone, park zone and waterfront area. In the USA, both Martin Luther King Jr. Memorial Library in Washington D.C. and NYPL’s Stavros Niarchos Foundation Library in New York are now open, albeit with restrictions due to the pandemic, with official public openings scheduled for 2021. The library trilogy wouldn’t be completed without mentioning the Tainan Library with official opening January 2021. 

We would like to wish you all a very Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year. Stay safe and continue to take care of yourself and each other.
 
If you would like to discuss a press enquiry reach out to us at pr@mecanoo.nl
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