by
Multi-Functional Cultural Hub, Enschede
Appointment of an architect to design the phased renovation of a listed department store into a multi-functional cultural hub in Enschede, Netherlands.
The Municipality of Enschede has launched an open procedure to appoint a lead architect and integrated design team for the transformation of the former V&D department store into “Het Warenhuis”, a new cultural anchor in the city centre. Located at the corner of Korte Hengelosestraat and Brammelerstraat, the listed building will be adaptively reused to accommodate the city library (minimum 2,000 m² gross floor area), Concordia (film theatre and platform for visual arts), Theatre Sonnevanck, and supporting hospitality functions. Bringing these institutions together under one roof, the project seeks to consolidate dispersed cultural programmes into a shared civic environment within an existing 8,500 m² historic structure.
The commission encompasses a phased, integral design process developed in close collaboration with the municipality, future users and key stakeholders. The brief includes architectural and structural design, building services engineering, building physics and acoustics, heritage-sensitive renovation, interior integration, and cost coordination. As the building has been vacant for several years and holds protected status, the transformation must address technical upgrading, spatial reconfiguration and performance requirements while respecting its monumental character. The ambition is to deliver a contemporary, accessible and sustainable cultural hub that balances architectural quality, operational efficiency and long-term value for the city.
Location
Sector
arts-culture, civic-community, retrofit-refurbishment
Intervention
Renovation
Website
Tender Portal
Tender Stage
One stage tender
Deadline
17 Mar 2026
Project Value/Scale
€ 750k (service fee)
Consultant Team
Lead architect
Structural engineer
Building services engineer (installations)
Acoustic consultant
Building physics consultant
Heritage/restoration specialist (where required)
Cost consultant (external, coordinated with STABU methodology)
Structural engineer
Building services engineer (installations)
Acoustic consultant
Building physics consultant
Heritage/restoration specialist (where required)
Cost consultant (external, coordinated with STABU methodology)
Submission Criteria
Although this is a single-stage open procedure, the 4 highest-scoring tenderers will be selected for a presentation session with the jury.
Submission Deliverables:
– Fee proposal
– ISO 9001 and ISO 14001 (or equivalent; one team member is sufficient)
Vision (max. 6 A4 pages):
– Vision on the design assignment
– Vision on collaboration
– Vision on Total Cost of Ownership
Plan of Approach & Planning:
– Methodology
– Programme and phasing
– Planning strategy
Project Organisation & Capacity:
– Composition of integral design team
– Roles and responsibilities
Reference Projects (≤5 years old):
– Library ≥2,000 m² GFA
– Theatre/film hall ≥70 seats