Preparing construction projects with the flexibility and creativity of professionals

With the purchase of a plot of land for his new business premises, the oncoming developer is not there yet. The number of obstacles he has to overcome before the first spade can be driven into the ground is increasing rapidly. Permit procedures are becoming more complicated, requirements are becoming higher and developments are happening faster than ever. Engineering companies that deal with these issues more often are a godsend. 

This was also discovered by Weerts Logistics Parks, which purchased a plot of land for its new distribution center on an industrial estate in Oosterhout, Brabant. It had the business premises of former owner Knauff demolished and, together with Archicom, a label of Vicoma Consultancy & Engineering, drew up plans for the upcoming new building. "Companies like Weerts Logistics Parks prefer to go for a greenfield location," says Anthony Verhoeven, engineer and senior architect at Archicom. "But those are hardly available anymore."

Greenfields versus brownfields

Greenfield locations include Roosendaal, Venlo and Tilburg, for example. The industrial parks here have the ideal facilities for large-scale logistics companies. The size of the lots, the road network and the zoning plans are geared to it. The entrepreneur assigned to a so-called brownfield location will have to arrange more himself to have the premises meet his needs in the short and long term.

The wish list

"Weerts Logistics Parks wanted to optimize the 125,000-square-foot plot and 75,000-square-foot gross floor area for its users," Verhoeven says. "To be able to respond flexibly to the market, the property had to be easily split into several units and be equipped with all market-compliant facilities." Thus began the preparation process for the Weerts Logistics Parks premises, which would take a total of two years.

Regular and specific challenges

"For many issues, such as column spacing, fire safety provisions and water storage systems, we have solutions available. But there are always specific challenges involved. For example, the Department of Public Works indicated that the Weerts Logistics Parks plot had to remain partially undeveloped for possible expansion of the A27. Did we have spare parking in that case? We figured we could then build a parking garage behind the premises. However, this would be at the expense of the obligatory wadi planned here. This problem could be solved again by halving and deepening the wadi."

Supply ammunition

"Such trajectories require creativity, flexibility and persuasion. The entrepreneur conducts the interviews himself; we provide the ammunition. We ensure that the entrepreneur can firmly substantiate his pleas. Coincidentally, we have two great advantages for this. We are energized by complex challenges and do not shy away from tough discussions. In addition, we have engineers and architects under one roof. Once we have come up with a solution, we can work out its design, which puts the entrepreneur in a stronger position. He can get the proof right away
at supply."

So for Weerts Logistics Parks, all the lights were finally green for the construction of its new business location. It will own a building with 67 loading docks, 64,000 m2 of shop floor, 6,000 m2 of mezzanine floor and four offices. All conditions and facilities are then in place, for now and the future.  

New Logistic Centre for Weerts Logistic Park in Oosterhout: Over 2,000 m2 of aluminum window frames and nearly 2,500 m2 of aluminum curtain walls

On behalf of main contractor Willy Naessens Netherlands, facade builder JM van Delft & zn of Drunen has been trusted to fit the new Logistic Centre for Weerts Logistic Park in Oosterhout with various aluminum facade elements. 

Text | JM van Delft & zn Image | Archicom

With over 2,000 m2 of aluminum window frames, nearly 2,500 m2 of aluminum curtain walls and an extremely short lead time, it was a big job for the facade builder. The new building was divided into four phases: A through D. The production and assembly of all window frames and curtain walls was also done entirely in phases, similar to the phasing of the entire new building. Speed was the biggest challenge here. 

High construction rate

To stay ahead of the general contractor, the pace had to remain high. After all, Willy Naessens wanted the entire construction closed before the floors were poured. To be able to meet the final delivery, the speed was high from the start. Quite a challenge, you might say. However, when the facade builder promises something, they go for it to the full 100%. In this project, too, it succeeded in keeping its promise! The long collaboration between the two companies has been of great added value.

Pleasant cooperation

Both parties know better than anyone how to build on each other and over the years have been able to establish a rock-solid communication. As a result, they were able to identify and anticipate any bottlenecks that could arise during a fast turnaround time such as this. The four phases have therefore been assembled completely, successfully and as agreed. The final touches are still being added to the proverbial 'i', after which the building can be put into full use. JM van Delft & zn proudly looks back on another pleasant cooperation with one of its regular partners and on a splendid final result.