In the 1980s, Amsterdam’s port relocated to the west, and derelict shipyards and a dilapidated industrial compound were left behind. Urban planners envisioned a new commercial sector and saw no point in retaining existing structures. Thanks to the architect’s persist-ence, the crane equipment – dating to 1952 – that had been used to load ships was converted into an extraordinary building. “Kraanspoor” (crane track) consists primarily of steel and glass. The massive base is 270 metres long, stands 13 metres above the water’s surface and has a width of 8.50 m. The structural investigations determined that the sea side is more strongly dimensioned to compensate for the uneven loads caused by the cranes’ movement. Correspondingly, the three-storey, 13.5 m wide office complex rests asymmetrically on the base. Steel columns hoist the building 3 m above the bridge structure. Adaptations to the base were kept to a minimum.