Popma ter Steege Architecten

What Popma ter Steege Architecten does

Popma ter Steege Architecten (PTSA) is a seven-person Dutch architecture practice founded in 2011 and headquartered in Leiden, Netherlands. The firm is led by partners Josse Popma and Jan Willem ter Steege and specializes in circular architecture, applying a controlled design methodology centered on Paris Proof CO2 budgets, donor-material reuse, biobased materials, and a 'collage architecture' aesthetic that treats reclaimed materials as a design asset rather than a constraint. Its technical core is a portfolio of repeatable circular design products (15 documented for the Kantoor vol Afval project) and a track record of sustainability firsts, including the first Paris Proof building in the Netherlands (Biopartner 5 at 212kg CO2 eq./m2) and a BREEAM Excellent-certified laboratory (Nucleus Building for BaseClear).

PTSA generates revenue through project-based professional services — architectural design for new builds, renovations, and adaptive reuse across laboratories, offices, educational facilities, public buildings, and residential developments — supplemented by publication royalties from the 'Reuse to Reduce' book. Clients are acquired through architecture competitions, direct commissions, and referrals, and span Dutch central government (Rijksvastgoedbedrijf, Gemeente Leiden), research and life sciences institutions (Biopartner Center Leiden, BaseClear, Universiteit Leiden, UvA), private enterprises (Vink Bouw), and social enterprises (DZB Leiden, Stichting Kringloopbedrijf het Warenhuis). The firm has no external funding, no subsidiaries, and no disclosed revenue, operating as an independent privately held practice with a clear thought-leadership posture in Dutch circular construction.

The practice has won the European Steel Design Award (2023), Nationale Staalprijs (2022), BNA Gebouw van het Jaar Publieksprijs (2025), NRP Gulden Feniks (2025), Transition Award Bouw (2025), Dutch Design Award (2021), and multiple other recognitions. Distribution is direct and project-based, augmented by a content-led marketing mix of a portfolio website, LinkedIn, Instagram, newsletter, and earned media via podcast features (Change Inc. / nlmtd 'Mastering Transitions', 2026). Pricing is quote-based and not publicly disclosed.

Name

Popma ter Steege Architecten

Legal name

Popma ter Steege Architecten

Website

https://ptsa.nl

Company type

Private

Founded year

2011

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

PTSA is a seven-person Leiden-based architecture practice that designs circular, Paris Proof buildings and renovations for Dutch government, research, education, and private clients, reusing donor steel, bricks, and biobased materials to meet CO2 budgets.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Architectural Services

NAICS

Architectural Services (54131), Commercial and Institutional Building Construction (23622)

akta.pro primary industry

Architectural Reconfiguration & Structural Alterations (HSAPAEAB)

Keywords

• Circular architecture design
• Sustainable building renovation
• Paris Proof buildings
• Architectural design services
• Material reuse design

Headquarters

HQ city

Leiden

HQ country

Netherlands

HQ region

Europe

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Technology or R&D, Marketing or Sales

Revenue model

1. Architecture Services: PTSA generates revenue through architectural design services for new construction and renovation projects. Projects span laboratories, offices, educational facilities, public buildings, and residential developments.
2. Publication Royalties: Published the book 'Reuse to Reduce' through Jap Sam Books, showcasing their architectural philosophy and circular design methodology.

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels1 record

Marketing channels10 records

Core offering

PTSA provides architectural design services for new construction and renovation projects, specializing in circular and sustainable architecture. Their practice focuses on Paris Proof buildings, donor-material reuse, CO2 budgeting, and collage aesthetics across laboratories, offices, educational facilities, public buildings, and residential developments. They also publish thought-leadership content including the book 'Reuse to Reduce' through Jap Sam Books.

Product overview

PTSA (Popma ter Steege Architecten) is a leading Dutch architecture firm specializing in circular design and sustainable architecture. The firm operates as a project-based practice rather than a software product company, delivering architectural services across multiple built projects. Their portfolio includes landmark circular economy projects like Biopartner 5 (first Paris Proof building in the Netherlands), Kantoor vol Afval (circular government office renovation), and the Gymzaal Oppenheimstraat (school-to-gymnasium conversion). They also authored the book 'Reuse to Reduce' documenting their approach to circular architecture. The firm works across diverse building types including laboratories, offices, educational facilities, public spaces, and temporary pavilions, all united by themes of material reuse, CO2 budgeting, and collage aesthetics.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Biopartner 5 High-tech incubator laboratory building on Leiden Bio Science Park featuring large-scale reuse of construction materials including 165,000 kg of donor steel from the University of Leiden laboratory and 18 reused toilet bowls and washbasins from an international accounting firm headquarters, achieving 212kg CO2 eq./m2 emissions. Designed for Biopartner Center Leiden.
• Kantoor vol Afval (KaVA) Circular renovation of a 2,140m2 government office for the Rijksvastgoedbedrijf (National Government Real Estate Agency), achieving 70% material reuse and 50% CO2 reduction through the development of 15 'circular products' and reuse strategies, including materials from donor buildings such as ABN AMRO bank.
• Gymzaal Oppenheimstraat Conversion of a school building into a 1,575m2 double gymnasium for surrounding schools in Leiden's protected cityscape, featuring the 'Schuifplan' cutting technique where extracted materials form the new facade, with 50% donor steel from a demolished municipal sports hall and reused brick claddings. Designed for Gemeente Leiden.
• Kantoor Vink Bouw 1,015m2 office renovation for construction company Vink Bouw in Nieuwkoop showcasing sustainable business practices through reuse of system walls, ceilings, and lighting, complemented with biobased materials and losmaakbaar (demountable) detailing.
• Circulair Warenhuis 200m2 temporary concept store for circular design, designed as a narrative installation about the value of reuse for Stichting Kringloopbedrijf het Warenhuis, featuring products developed from circular economy rest streams by Dutch designers and four Leiden museums. Winner of the Dutch Design Award 2021.
• Technolab Leiden 980m2 learning landscape for science education at Bètaplein, Leiden, featuring workshop spaces, woodworking areas, and robotics/programming rooms for primary and secondary school students. Designed for Technolab Leiden.
• Studieruimtes Universiteit van Amsterdam

Quantifiable outcome

• First Paris Proof building in Netherlands - Biopartner 5 achieved 212kg CO2 eq./m2 (vs. 250kg standard for 2021)
• +4 more outcomes

Named customers10 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature4 records

Partnerships

20 partnerships are on record, tiered minor, core and supporting.

• Change Inc.minorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 5 May 2026Media partner for 'Mastering Transitions' podcast series featuring Josse Popma discussing PTSA's work on circularity and architecture transitions.
• nlmtdminorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 5 May 2026Podcast production partner for 'Mastering Transitions' series featuring PTSA's circular architecture approach.
• Stone 22coreImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerProject management partner for Biopartner 5 and Nucleus Building projects. Provides project coordination services.
• IMd Raadgevende IngenieurscoreImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerStructural engineering partner for multiple projects including Biopartner 5, Zwembad Haarlem Noord, and Paviljoen The Field. Collaborated on innovative Da Vinci Knoop grid structure.
• Deerns NederlandcoreImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerInstallations, sustainability, and building physics consultant for Biopartner 5, Kantoor vol Afval, and Nucleus Building projects.
• Lodewijk BaljonsupportingImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerLandscape design partner for Biopartner 5 campus project.
• De Vries en VerburgcoreImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerMain contractor for Biopartner 5 construction.
• Raw ColorsupportingImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerColor consulting partner for Kantoor vol Afval project, developed color palette as connecting layer. Also collaborated on Circulair Warenhuis graphic design.
• Studio Simone PostsupportingImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerCarpet design partner for Kantoor vol Afval interior.
• Baljon LandschapsarchitectensupportingImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerLandscape architecture partner for Kantoor Vink Bouw project.
• Nelissen IngenieursbureausupportingImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerInstallations, building physics, and fire safety consultant for Gymzaal Oppenheimstraat project.
• Du Prie bouw en ontwikkelingcoreImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerContractor for Gymzaal Oppenheimstraat school-to-gymnasium conversion.
• MeerburgcoreImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerContractor for Technolab Leiden learning landscape project.
• burobordosupportingImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerCurator and production partner for Circulair Warenhuis concept store.
• LOLA Landscape RotterdamsupportingImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerLandscape design partner for De Stal park surroundings.
• Bouwbedrijf HuurmancoreImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerConstruction partner for De Stal renovation and expansion.
• Beelen NextsupportingImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerMaterial supplier for Paviljoen The Field, providing reclaimed building materials.
• Universiteit LeidensupportingStrategic or Co-development PartnerMaterial supplier for Paviljoen The Field, providing reclaimed materials from demolished buildings. Also collaborated on 'Reuse to Reduce' book publication.
• Level 5supportingImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerRoof element supplier for Paviljoen The Field pavilion.
• Jap Sam BookssupportingImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerPublisher of PTSA's book 'Reuse to Reduce' on circular architecture.

Scale indicators6 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• RAU Architects: Dutch architecture firm with a comparable focus on circular architecture and regenerative design, working on similar institutional and public-sector projects in the Netherlands and Europe. Most direct conceptual peer to PTSA on circular methodology.
• Mecanoo: Major Dutch architecture firm with a strong public-sector portfolio across education, culture, and housing. Comparable to PTSA in serving Dutch institutional clients, though at significantly larger scale and broader typological reach.
• MVRDV: Internationally recognized Dutch architecture firm with a sustainability-led practice and major Dutch public-sector commissions. Overlaps with PTSA on Dutch institutional and renovation work, but at much larger scale and with broader sustainability scope.
• ZUS (Zones Urbaines Sensibles): Dutch architecture and urbanism practice focused on sustainable public space and adaptive reuse, including park and infrastructure projects comparable to PTSA's Morspark work. Direct peer in Dutch sustainability-led practice.
• Benthem Crouwel Architects: Established Dutch architecture firm with significant work in public transport, education, and cultural buildings. Comparable to PTSA as a Dutch practice serving institutional and government clients with technically rigorous design.
• Powerhouse Company: Dutch architecture firm known for energy-positive and sustainability-led building design across offices, residential, and public buildings. Comparable to PTSA on Dutch sustainability practice and similar public-facing typologies.
• De Architekten Cie. Amsterdam-based architecture firm with a broad portfolio of Dutch public-sector and housing projects, including sustainability-led work. Comparable to PTSA as a Dutch practice serving institutional clients and addressing circularity in building design.
• cepezed: Dutch architecture firm specializing in sustainable, demountable, and industrial building methods for offices, labs, and public buildings. Closely aligned with PTSA on circular and Paris Proof building delivery for Dutch institutional clients.
• UNStudio: Amsterdam-based architecture network with deep Dutch roots and a sustainability-focused portfolio spanning offices, public buildings, and infrastructure. Comparable to PTSA as a Dutch-rooted practice serving institutional clients with sustainability-forward design.

Emerging players

• i29 architects: Amsterdam-based architecture and interior design firm with a sustainability-oriented, material-driven approach to residential, cultural, and public projects. Comparable to PTSA on interior-led reuse strategies and Dutch sustainability focus, though smaller and earlier-stage.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/popma_tersteege
• Facebookfacebook.com/popmaentersteege
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/popma-ter-steege-architecten
• Instagraminstagram.com/popma_ter_steege

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles2 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Popma ter Steege Architecten