The Platform: a new place in Utrecht to live, work, eat, go out and exercise. It is designed as a smart and sustainable MicroCity, focused on a healthy lifestyle in an inspiring environment, with plenty of air, light and greenery. On top of the future bus and streetcar station of the Uithof line. A challenging and unique project because of its location, complexity, logistics and collaboration. 'You only build a project like this once.' Says Marc van den Boom, project manager at Bouw21.
This project was designed by VenhoevenCS on behalf of ABC-Planontwikkeling and is being executed by the contractor: Bouw21. VDNDP, as the elaborating architectural firm, provides the Building engineer and structural execution engineering and coordinates the installations. But how does everyone experience the construction process of this impressive project? We let the following team members talk about it: Jan Hillen, Marc van den Boom and Cock Waardenburg of Bouw21, Arjen Zaal of VenhoevenCS and Fred Alebregtse and Nico Hesseling of VDNDP.
Unique project
What makes this project so special? Cock Waardenburg: "It's better to ask what doesn't make this project special. Waardenburg is the construction site manager at Bouw21 and has the extensive task of controlling, maintaining and monitoring the planning, quality and progress of Het Platform. The location, complexity, logistics and collaboration are all things that make this project unique. 'It starts with the fact that we started on someone else's work. A work that was already six meters above ground level.' Jan Hillen, director at Bouw21: 'You are boarding a moving train, which is not ideal.' Then there were special protocols in place in connection with the bus and streetcar tracks. All sorts of things have to be arranged in terms of safety forms, applications and permits. The Platform is a huge project with a lot of complexities.
"It's better to ask what makes this project not special."
Cock Waardenburg - Construction 21
Building on a postage stamp
A major challenge at Het Platform is the complicated location and especially the lack of space, as Waardenburg puts it, "Building on a postage stamp. The project is located right next to Utrecht Central Station and Hoog Catharijne. Around the building is being built the bus and streetcar station of the Uithof line, the new entrance to Hoog Catharijne, the ramp of the station square and the bicycle parking. As a result, a small working area is available and, for example, two large cranes could not be placed next to the construction. These cranes were therefore placed on the second floor of Het Platform, and they can only be lifted out again when the project is as good as finished. Cock: 'You understand that we had to pull some tricks out of the closet for this.' The Platform is also a real challenge in terms of logistics. The supply and removal of both the activities of the NS and ProRail and those of the construction run through one road, 24 hours a day there are people to supervise this properly. These bottlenecks require creative solutions, something Fred Alebregtse, senior project manager at VDNDP, supports the team in. 'As a team, we have to keep discussing and sparring about how we are going to do it and what we have to pay attention to so that we can spot and solve things as well and quickly as possible.'
Working together
'For us it is very nice that VDNDP is also present on the construction site. They work for another company but at Het Platform we are all one team and that's how I experience it. VDNDP fits perfectly in the team, there are short lines and everything is handled well.' Says Marc van de Boom. Team VDNDP is very close to the work preparation at Het Platform. They think along, help the contractor where necessary and contribute a piece of technical know-how. Within this project, maximum use is made of each other's qualities. Nico Hesseling, working as an architectural modeler at VDNDP: 'We work in a shack at Het Platform together with the men from Bouw21. It gives satisfaction to see directly around you what you are working on.' With a large project like this, it is very important to keep planning well, which is why VDNDP has planning meetings, installation meetings and scrum sessions every week.
"VDNDP fits the team perfectly, there are short lines and everything is handled well."
Marc van de Boom - Construction 21
For VenhoevenCS it was new to cooperate in this way with an elaborating architectural firm like VDNDP. Arjen Zaal, architect at VenhoevenCS: 'At first we had the idea that we might not be hooked up because of VDNDP's arrival but in the end this was not the case at all. We are well informed, supported and involved in the whole process.' It is clear that there is a special way of working together within Het Platform. Jan Hillen also agrees: 'I think there is a unique way of working together within Het Platform with a kind of alliance contract. That is something you don't see very often in the Netherlands and in which VDNDP also plays a special role.'
The Platform was built on top of the then future bus and streetcar station of the Uithof line. The location, complexity, logistics and collaboration made the project challenging and unique.
