Audi's new flagship

PHB De Combi realized on behalf of Wittebrug Autogroep the largest Audi Terminal in Europe, at the Forepark in The Hague, directly adjacent to the A12 and A4 motorways and next to the ADO The Hague Stadium. Despite several delays, the team managed to complete the building within the agreed 260 working days. The terminal consists of two showrooms, a state-of-the-art workshop and office space.

The Audi Terminal was designed by Jacobs Architekten of Eindhoven and its management was in the hands of KBMA (Kroeze Bouwmanagement) of Wijchen. In total, the building covers about 6,400 m2. Project manager Bart van Beek of PHB De Combi of Elst said, "It was a very nice project to work on, with various technical highlights, which fit the luxury look of the Audi brand."

High level of finishing

The exterior of the building is characterized by sandwich panels with a high insulation value that follow the facade. A special perforated Audi sheet in aluminum color is applied to these. The only one in the world, this Audi Terminal has an atrium with a glass roof. "Inside, various technical feats can be seen, such as an angled curved balustrade that depicts a kind of highway.     

A luxury garage like this required a high level of finish. This can be seen in the tiles and wall finishes, and in the fact that the level of finish of the workshop (with 25 recessed lifting platforms) is as high as that of the office space." Despite the luxury of the Audi Terminal, sustainability has also been considered. For example, the building is equipped with underfloor heating. The building is heated by means of a heat pump, energy is generated by 1,156 solar panels and computer-controlled blinds have been installed. 

All noses in the same direction

"The biggest challenge of this construction was getting the noses of the subcontractors and ancillary contractors in the same direction," says Van Beek. "We had 260 working days of construction time, but beyond our control, we faced significant delays." In all, there were 75 working days of delays at multiple points in the process. "As a result, we had to continuously adjust our schedule, reconsider capacity and engage in discussions with all other parties involved. An intensive process that required flexibility and commitment from everyone."

Still, PHB De Combi managed to finish the building within the agreed time. "What matters is that the overall planning is correct. I am proud that it still succeeded. We certainly didn't do it alone; for this to succeed, everyone was needed. All parties involved were willing to put their own interests aside for the greater good." A beautiful celebration opened the new Audi Terminal in November.