Eleni Chatzi Nestoros
Building physics consultant Haskoning
Amabel Chiarito
Real estate project manager at Haskoning
Text Elise Spetter
© Photos Guus Schoonewille
Eleni Chatzi Nestoros was looking for a new job when she attended an Alumni Event at Haskoning. There she met Amabel Chiarito, who gave a presentation on the redevelopment of the former Mijnbouw (Mining Engineering) faculty building. This listed building will become the engineering firm’s new office in Delft.
The aim of the event was to give young Delft alumni an inside look at an innovative organisation that employs many Delft alumni. Some of them were invited to talk about their projects, and what Eleni saw and heard motivated her to apply for a vacancy. She’s now Amabel’s new colleague. Amabel Chiarito has been working as a consultant and project manager within Haskoning’s real estate team since late 2023. She graduated cum laude in Architecture in 2021 and is working on the renovation of the Mijnbouw building. Last May, the company moved its offices from Rotterdam and The Hague to Delft, where this historic building has been transformed into a sustainable, Paris-proof office: in other words, a building that meets the climate targets of the Paris Agreement.
Haskoning organised the event along with TU Delft because the firm wants to inform and attract new talent, says Amabel. “Our motto is ‘enhancing society together’. We notice that this resonates quite strongly with the younger generation in particular. At university, we learned to answer ambitious questions, something we continue to do in our company. We want other alumni to see this.” The merger of the Rotterdam and The Hague offices will bring around 800 employees to Delft. Amabel: “From the design of informal spaces to the collaboration between business lines, we gave the workplace concept a lot of thought. For example, we’re bringing the furniture from the Rotterdam and Delft offices with us and the trees from the former courtyard gardens have been turned into meeting tables. Departments have also been strategically located within the existing architecture to facilitate collaboration.”
‘TU Delft produces a lot of talent’
‘I got so much more out of it than expected’
Building connections
Eleni Chatzi Nestoros studied architecture in Greece, then did a master’s degree in Building Technology at TU Delft and was looking for a job. “I didn’t have huge expectations going into the event but got so much more out of it than expected.” “I wanted to build connections and get insight into how the company works. I have now not only learned about the company but also Haskoning’s commitment to sustainability
The working environment was inspiring and I was struck by how engaged employees from different departments are.” Eleni and Amabel cannot wait to move to the Mjnbouw building. What makes this particular building so special? “There’s a big contrast between the classic exterior and the modern, industrial interior,” says Amabel. “The beamed wooden roof construction gives the building a typical Delft look, which can also be seen in many other historic canal houses in the city.” Both women are pleased that the new office is located on the Delft campus. Eleni: “It makes everything more accessible – from facilities to restaurants to social events with colleagues.” The origin of the Alumni Event is a textbook example of how Haskoning and TU Delft will continue to work together in the future, Amabel stressed. “This is important because TU Delft produces a lot of talent. Having an on-campus presence was a strategic choice. With companies, start-ups and students, it’s bursting with knowledge and we want to be an active part of this ecosystem.”
Interested in organising an (alumni) event at your company? Send an email to [email protected] and we will be in touch shortly to discuss the various options.