"I wanted to do more research and was looking for more depth; how exactly is the design put together, how are we going to make it? At VDNDP I can work with those very questions. We are the bridge between the beautiful design and its manufacturability."

Tim Huiberts joined us in the middle of the corona pandemic as a Building engineer. 3 months earlier, he completed his college Civil Engineering studies. 

"I first worked at a smaller scale architectural firm for 3 months. A friend knew I wanted to go in a different direction and pointed me to VDNDP. I sent my resume and portfolio. A week later I was here in the office. By now I can say that I couldn't wish for a better employer. Everything is well organized here. I feel heard without distinction of rank and position. Everyone is one of the group. There is a fine working atmosphere."

Where do you find more depth at VDNDP?

"I wanted to be less concerned with just the design. And more about translating the design into reality. Making an attractive picture and meeting the requirements. VDNDP says 'it can be done'."

What do you do as a Building engineer?

"A project starts with the first sketch from another architect. Sometimes that is really a sketch, sometimes it is already further developed. We first examine the possibilities very carefully. We do that by working out detail fragments. This is where all the special nodes of a project come together. We often make several variants to arrive at the architect 's image. Then we model the project into a 3D model in Revit. We work out the design all the way technically, so that the project becomes feasible for the contractor."

What do you like about your work?

"You have a lot of inside information about the agreements, choices made and all the starting points. Then a 3D model can be set up very quickly. Right the first time, because reworking costs a lot of time, money and frustration. We usually work with two modelers, one of whom is the main modeler. We agree, you do the frames, you do the facades. That way we don't get in each other's way. We do a lot of things together."

Who else do you work with?

"Internally we coordinate a lot, for example with the specifiers. They create a complete text file with all the project information; the requirements, material choices and specifications. We create a 3D model that incorporates that information."

As a Building engineer , to what extent do you interact with all parties?

"As a project progresses, the contact increases. At first it is more with the project manager. He speaks with the contractor, goes to meetings. As a Building engineer , you get deeper and deeper into the matter and then you start having more substantive conversations. We get room to grow in that role."

What else makes working at VDNDP attractive to you?

"We sometimes say we are the VDNDP family, which is for a reason. We pay attention to each other. Is someone stressed about a deadline? Does someone want help? Then we see who has room to jump in. You're included in the schedule and budget. You hear how a client reacted. And also very important to me: you know why you have to do something. There is value in that. I get motivated by that."