During the exciting heyday of the Amsterdam School, roughly between 1915 and 1935, some of the most gifted architects worked for the Department of Public Works for shorter or longer periods of time. For example, the famous "Amsterdam School trio" Michel de Klerk, Piet Kramer and Joan van der Meij were employed part-time by this municipal institution. Public Works was engaged on the one hand in the construction and maintenance of roads, bridges and landscaping, and on the other hand built to the hilt. In particular, the Buildings Department designed the City Hall on the Oudezijds Voorburgwal, the Central Market Halls, dozens of schools, university buildings, bathhouses and offices. She also did the design of transformer houses and street furniture. Public Works deliberately chose Amsterdam School architects. Director Andries Bos then wanted "modern," contemporary architects. He himself brought in Joan van der Meij in 1911, with Piet Kramer in his wake. He encouraged Allard Hulshoff, appointed director of the Buildings Department in 1915, to attract more talent. Thus Nico Lansdorp, Gerrit Jan Rutgers, Albert Boeken and Ad Grimmon ("architect-intérieur") joined; Anton Kurvers and Pieter Marnette became designers of street furniture, and Hildo Krop took charge of sculpture. Bos and Hulshoff were keen for their architects to work intensively together, creating a recognizable house style, strongly influenced by the creative ideas of the Amsterdam School.