Around Town - Coolse Poort Grand Opening

For the opening, we developed a visual concept inspired by the building itself. The striking purplish-red facade and reflective windows formed the basis for the color palette and choice of materials. Reflective elements appeared throughout the space, from a large étagère and DJ booth to a gleaming bow at the entrance, through which we literally presented the Coolse Poort as a gift.

We also carried the theme through to the hospitality experience. Together with our catering partner, we developed a menu that references the building’s nickname,De Rode Croot, the city of Rotterdam, and the international character of Aroundtown.

The official opening ceremony took place on the 15th floor. Together with the alderman, the guests counted from 0 to 10 in true Rotterdam style. At ten, the Coolse Poort was officially opened with spectacular special effects set against the Rotterdam skyline. Throughout the evening, guests also had the opportunity to explore the building’s various new features.

During the preparations, the 15th floor was still part of the redevelopment project and had virtually no facilities. As a result, additional power, technical equipment, furnishings, and all the necessities for the event had to be specially installed. At the same time, the completely bare space gave us the freedom to create an inviting skylounge from scratch.

Logistically, the location also required extra attention. All materials had to be transported to the 15th floor, while construction work in the building continued as scheduled. By coordinating closely with all parties involved and adapting flexibly, we were able to carry out the construction and our production side by side without incurring any delays.

The project brought together a variety of interests. We worked with Aroundtown’s international marketing team in Berlin, the property manager in Rotterdam, and the commercial organization. Each team brought its own wishes and priorities to the table.

Our added value lay in bringing all these requirements together into a single, strong overall concept and taking full responsibility for the production. From the invitation process and creative concept to catering, technical support, styling, hospitality, and ultimately even waste disposal: we took responsibility for the entire event.

Our collaboration with Aroundtown was characterized by direct communication, mutual flexibility, and a great deal of trust. The combination of the local team in Rotterdam and the international client in Berlin created an interesting dynamic.

Since the opening event was an important and new milestone for Aroundtown, we worked closely together throughout the process to ensure that all expectations were properly aligned. Even though we didn’t meet part of the international team in person until the day of the event, the collaboration remained pleasant and smooth throughout the entire process.

For one evening, a bare floor in the middle of a construction project was transformed into an atmospheric skylounge with a spectacular view of Rotterdam. From the Coolse Poort, guests looked out over landmarks such as the Erasmus Bridge and the Euromast while getting to know the renovated building and its various features.

With a strong visual concept, customized hospitality, and a spectacular opening ceremony, Aroundtown’s flagship project received the grand opening it deserved. The contrast with the still-unfinished floor below made the transformation all the more evident. The result was a memorable evening that both Aroundtown and the guests in attendance looked back on with great enthusiasm.