The Stadholders, The Hague | 'Always connected'

On one of the most sought-after residential and business locations in The Hague, main contractor Waal will soon deliver two of the three buildings of the luxury apartment plan De Stadhouders. The plan includes three buildings named after the stadholders Frederik Hendrik, Maurits and Casimir. Intal joined the project at an early stage and developed and delivered the aluminum façade solutions according to the unique Intal Method and together with Waal.

"The Stadhouders is a project that is right up our alley," begins Johan Andringa. "We were asked at a very early stage by Waal to help think about a fully-fledged and good facade solution. A role as we like it and in which we can optimally apply our expertise and flexibility as a system house. After all, we can quickly reach for new solutions and developments if necessary. We have demonstrated this pre-eminently at De Stadhouders." As Waal's regular partner, Intal provided for the supply and installation of nearly 7,500 m² of aluminum Intaltherm window frames and curtain walls.

Project-based facade solution

"In addition to IT77 window frames and IT55 curtain walls, a version of French balconies designed specifically for this project was used," Andringa explains. "Initially, the architect had the idea of installing large steel tubes in front of the window frames to emphasize the vertical articulation in the facade. However, that turned out to be unnecessarily expensive and difficult to fix. We came up with an alternative in aluminum without compromising the intended aesthetic principles. The frame consists of two hinged parts with a mullion. An aggravation in the form of an aluminum curtain wall profile, which in turn is integrated into the French balcony system, is attached to that center post. Such a solution did not yet exist. The highly repetitive nature justified a project-based engineering solution. Through clever engineering, completely in 3D/BIM, and thanks to optimal coordination and cooperation with Waal, also during execution, we were able to reproduce the intended image of the vertical lines in the window frames and facade very well."

During the realization of The Stadholders, Intal was in close contact with Waal on all fronts, both formally and from time to time informally.

Feel connected

Customers always take center stage. Intal therefore places great value on optimum cooperation with its customers. As a developer and manufacturer of aluminum window and door systems for all sectors of construction, Intal is constantly in communication. "In connection with our customers, the market, our products and our own employees," explains Shanna van Riel of the Intal process section Business Relations. "My focus is 100% on retaining and creating satisfied customers. Also during the realization of De Stadhouders, Intal has been in close contact with Waal on all fronts, both formally and from time to time informally. Think of interim evaluations on the construction to make improvements again based on these, but also sharing successes such as attentions in the form of a cake for everyone to a Mountain Bike Clinic."

Andre van der Ent, work planner at Waal, can confirm this: "There was close mutual contact during the project. It was precisely the informal contact that made it just that little bit different from standard. I can't think of anything at all that could have made the collaboration even better." A nice compliment.

Clear communication, transparency, continuous improvement, fulfilling agreements and optimal coordination between the various disciplines characterize project The Stadholders, according to Andringa. "The third building is now being realized. But the result so far is to everyone's satisfaction and certainly tastes like more. Indeed, the next project with Waal is already on the drawing board."