Toy giant opens first branches in the Netherlands

'In a pleasant shopping climate, it is nicer to store'

On March 24, a major Irish toy giant opened its first two Dutch branches, at Bigshops Parkboulevard in Rotterdam and in shopping center Akerpoort in Amsterdam. Two or three more stores will be added later this year, and eventually the chain even wants to grow to about 20 stores! For the realization of the stores, the toy giant works with a fixed team of project manager, subcontractors and installers. Within this team, BLR-Bimon is responsible for climate control and plumbing.

The assortment in the stores is wide. Besides games and toys, you can find all kinds of baby gear. From strollers to cribs, baths and other products for the baby's room. The toy giant also offers a wide range of outdoor toys, from playhouses and trampolines to scooters, bicycles and rollerblades. To present all these products clearly, quite a lot of retail space is needed. For example, the branches in Rotterdam and Amsterdam have an area of about 1,900 square meters, which places specific demands on the climate system.

Sustainable, gas-free and comfortable

"We were approached at an early stage by C-M-C Bouwkundig Adviesbureau to help think about the climate technology for both sites," says Jan Paul Birkhoff, director of BLR-Bimon. "A sustainable and gas-free solution was the starting point here. In addition, much attention was paid to comfort. Because in a pleasant shopping climate it is nicer to store. In both Rotterdam and Amsterdam, we advised and installed a 2-pipe VRF system from Mitsubishi Heavy Industries, which cleverly combines heating, cooling and heat recovery. Underlying both systems is an air-to-air heat pump that converts energy from outside air into usable heat for the retail spaces. Cassette units were chosen as the delivery system, providing careful and draft-free air distribution. And the air curtains at the entrances and exits are also connected to the heat pump system."

Thanks to the air curtains, visitors receive a warm welcome immediately upon entering the building. "In addition, indoor and outdoor climates are strictly separated, so no energy is wasted," Birkhoff said. "Also, the air curtain functions as an invisible barrier against insects, dust, leaves and/or street debris. A special air box guarantees even air distribution across the entire entrance width."

Good and smooth assembly process

Both branches are housed in existing buildings, which were completely gutted for their new function. Including the climate control systems. "Typical of renovations and transformations are the unexpected issues that come to light," Birkhoff knows. "But in these projects, that wasn't too bad at all. The installation went incredibly well and smoothly." Biggest challenge, he says, involved the heat pump outdoor unit in Rotterdam, which was set up in a technical room for aesthetic reasons. "Here, special grilles in the front and rear facade ensure proper air intake and air discharge."

Third branch

Following the climate installations, BLR-Bimon also took care of the plumbing in both store locations. Both for the toilet areas and the kitchens in the canteens. Recently, BLR-Bimon also started the installation of the climate installations in a third branch, in shopping center Hoog Catharijne in Utrecht. "Unique to this branch is that with our system we have to connect to the central system of WKO and district heating," concludes Birkhoff. "For this reason, we chose water-lined units (fan coil units), which make efficient use of the heat and cold supplied by the shopping center. The same goes for the air curtains, which also perfectly combine comfort and energy efficiency."