Building safely and thoughtfully in turbulent times

New building next to old building

The Ashram College in Alphen aan den Rijn is getting a new building on its own grounds on the Marsdiep. During the construction work, classes in the existing building will continue as usual. Only the auditorium and four gymnasiums have already been demolished to make way for the new building.

The Ashram College houses a vmbo, havo, atheneum and gymnasium. Renovation of the 1970s building was no longer an option, so new construction was chosen next to the existing school building. The new school building is characterized by generous expanses of glass, set pieces in orange/brown and typical round brickwork. Furthermore, the school - with the help of a thermal energy storage system and solar panels - will be energy-neutral. Where possible
materials reused.

A tight construction site

For ADS Group Construction, the realization of Ashram College is quite complex. One reason for this is the location. With 1,450 school-age children in the immediate vicinity, safety is an important issue. Because the new building will be built next to the old school, the construction site is limited. "The site is only accessible from one side," says Peter Spijkerbosch, project manager of ADS Group Construction. "For spatial and safety reasons, we set up the mobile cranes in the middle of the building at the site of the void. This causes quite a disruption in the schedule, but this way the movement of large precast elements brings the least risk with
itself."

Complex steel structures

Technical challenges arise with the steel structure. To promote the multifunctionality of spaces, there are large spans, voids and trusses in several places. It requires heavy structures to absorb the forces in these places. The laminated beams with roof boxes at the three voids are impressive. They give the entrance a spatial and natural look.

Challenging facades

The masonry in the facades is done butt joint-free with thin-bed mortar. "This requires seasoned craftsmen. While bricklaying, the mason must consider the dressing, color and method of grouting. In other places, vertical stone strips, glued to sheet metal and composite panel finishes. Add to that the many sloping surfaces, curves, unusual colors and diverse materials, and it will be clear that this adds additional
demands attention."

Troubled times

The blinds are hung "concealed. When it is lowered, it is caught in the cavity. Technically no problem, but the contractor has to take this into account already during the sizing. And then the consequences of corona and the war in Ukraine come into play. Spijkerbosch: "The work was contracted at the end of 2021 and started in the spring of 2022, a turbulent time. Prices, delivery times, surcharges: everything became uncertain. As a result, we had to optimize a lot. The site paving was downsized and for the roof terrace we only put in the infrastructure, to be able to build it in better times."