The firm's history dates back to 1929. That's when B. Merkelbach (1901-1961) associated with C.J.F. Karsten (1904-1979) to form Merkelbach and Karsten, Architects. This collaboration ended in 1949. From 1949 to 1955, P. Elling (1897-1962) was Merkelbach's new partner and the firm was called Merkelbach and Elling, Architects. In 1955, Merkelbach left the association and changed the name to Prof. P. Elling architect B.N.A.. After the death of Elling in 1962, A. van Gelderen and K. Visser took over the firm, the name of the firm changed to: Bureau Elling, Visser and Van Gelderen. From 1964 to 1977 A. de Leeuw and H.C. Hoogewoning were also part of the bureau and the name was: Bureau Elling, Visser, Van Gelderen, De Leeuw and Hoogewoning and finally from 1979 to 1998 the bureau was called Bureau Elling BV Visser Van Gelderen architects BNA.