With an almost perfect occupancy rate, the Ibis Hotel is one of the most profitable hotels in Amsterdam. For the construction of the original hotel (1988-1992) the council allowed for future expansion. In 2001, Ruland + Partner Architekten bna, now Ruland Architecten, was asked to research options for doubling the capacity. The city plan was also amended at the time, expansion of the hotel was now allowed at the rear of the building only, over the railroad tracks.

The design takes into account the city planning boundary conditions as well as the sensitivity of the location. The existing hotel is not held in high regard by the public and the expansion plans initially met with a lot of criticism. Fears that the new building would detract from the Cuypers bocage and obscure the view of the monumental roof construction of the Central Station have proved unfounded.

The building is mounted on its ‘feet’ asymmetrically; the five portals have been distributed with even specing but the building juts out further on the east side than on the west side. The shape of the sheet steel and concrete portals has been determined by the demands of ProRail concerning crowd flow and the desire to put as little mass as possible on the railway platforms.

The façades have been clad in Tecuzinn©, a copper cladding with a tin-coated upper layer that over time shows the patina of the copper. The material is resistant against the metal shavings released by stopping trains and overhead wires. The façade is marked moreover by the varying constructions of the façade openings. The curved prefab concrete shell elements on the underside of the building have been attached between the portals. The concrete finish has been left in sight and is illuminated at night by the lights incorporated into the portals.