Lee Towers, 2020
2020
Lee Towers
Location
Galileistraat, Rotterdam
Size
±80,000 m²
Type
Mixed-Use Development
A bold transformation of an abandoned office complex into 880 high-end residential lofts — turning a neglected industrial zone into a new Rotterdam landmark.
Building Development
From Risk Zone to Residential Icon
What began as a high-risk acquisition in Rotterdam’s Keileweg area became one of the city’s most talked-about success stories. Bakkers | Hommen saw potential where others didn’t — reimagining the former municipal office as a modern vertical neighborhood.
Urban Lofts
Public Amenities
Merwe-Vierhavens — M4H
our story
Key Milestones in Redevelopment
Our journey
2016
2016
2017
2017
2018
2018
2019
2019
2020
2020
2021
2021
Acquisition of the former UWV complex
Design development with municipal alignment
Construction permit obtained within 1 year
Renovation and residential conversion works
Completion and first residents move in
Full occupancy achieved, winning market recognition
Gallery
Statistics
Setting the Standard for Urban Conversion
Rotterdam’s largest office-to-residential transformation, built in record time.
SURFACE AREA (m2)
80K SURFACE AREA (m2)
INVEESTMENT VALUE (€)
110M INVEESTMENT VALUE (€)
TOTAL RESIDENTIAL APARTMENTS
880 TOTAL RESIDENTIAL APARTMENTS
Challenge
Turning a Reputation Problem into an Opportunity
Located in a stigmatized industrial area, the complex suffered from neglect and image issues. Most investors walked away. The challenge was to prove that strategic vision and public-private collaboration could redefine the area’s narrative.
Approach
Small Teams, Big Momentum
Bakkers | Hommen broke convention by operating in fast sprints with compact multidisciplinary teams. This flexibility led to a permit within 12 months and completion within 3 years — an industry-defining pace for projects of this scale.
impact
A New Symbol of Rotterdam’s Reinvention
Lee Towers embodies Bakkers | Hommen’s philosophy: seeing potential where others see risk. The project redefined Rotterdam’s western edge and became an emblem of adaptive urban transformation.
Social Impact
Environmental Impact
Economic Impact
