Tight organization makes exemplary project of Wonderwoods

The shell of the Wonderwoods sustainable construction project in Utrecht's Beurskwartier district is nearing completion, on a relatively small building site with many technical challenges. Construction system and logistics have been developed in detail for this purpose. Facade elements are completely assembled, including plant and tree containers. The first roof garden is already under construction, says project director George van Scheijndel of Bouwcombinatie Wonderwoods (Boele & van Eesteren | Kondor Wessels Amsterdam). Expected completion: construction period 2024.

In the new Beurskwartier, two green towers are rising with 419 rental and owner-occupied apartments and approximately 15,000 m² GFA of offices. The approximately 80,000m² (mixed-use) at the intersection of the Jaarbeurs Boulevard and Croeselaan consists of a plinth of high-rise buildings by Stefano Boeri Architetti and MVSA Architects. Boeri's tower is 104 meters high and has a green facade. In the 70-meter-high tower by MVSA architect Roberto Meyer, greenery comes from within via winter gardens and atriums. The plinth of Wonderwoods features stores and a digital museum. There will be a walkway connecting the towers and a publicly accessible roof garden with a restaurant.

The total of 1 hectare of greenery in and on the facade of Wonderwoods is inspired by the vegetation of the Utrechtse Heuvelrug National Park - a "sister park. Together, the towers contain no less than 360 trees and over 9,600 shrubs and flowering plants. Wonderwoods is further BENG 2021-proof and the office part will be given a BREEAM-NL 'Excellent' labeling. The plant will be connected to the WKO ring for the district and Utrecht's district heating network through newly struck wells. Integrated into the glass of the atrium roof are solar cells that provide power for the grow lights of the plants in the atrium. Underfloor heating and cooling is installed in the apartments and penthouses themselves.

'Exactly as planned'

The two towers have 30 and 21 stories, respectively. To the passerby, the growing uprights are increasingly visible in 2023. The façade closure is almost simultaneous. Already this spring, the first trees and plants were placed, Van Scheijndel said in November. "Nothing in the preparation was left to chance." In part, that has to do with the unique design and the different building systems. "We connected the different parties early in the process to think with us. And now it appears to be working exactly as planned."

Construction of Wonderwoods began in December 2020 with the construction of an in-situ poured parking basement. The Boeri Tower is constructed in wall-width slab; the plinth of the MVSA Tower consists of different construction systems. The precast concrete façade elements are produced and completely finished at construction partner Westo. "The façade elements are assembled plug & play, with only the connections between the elements being provided on site. The MVSA tower is completely at height, the Boeri tower will be wind and watertight in Q1."

Tours

The Boeri Tower is finished with sandwich elements equipped with planters, including soil and irrigation system. In addition, the high-rise is equipped with 161 tree boxes on the balconies. "We started installing the trees back in February this year. We also started setting up the roof garden of the MVSA tower. As long as there is no frost, this can be carried out regardless of the seasons. The suppliers of the greenery - it involves challenging volumes, of course - can handle the production well."

Almost all roofs are green roofs with a retention function. These roofs retain rainwater to later water all the greenery through a fully automatic system. "Even the first green maintenance, through abseilers called 'flying gardeners,' is already underway."

Tours are given every Thursday to representatives of municipalities, developers, investors and contractors. "Such a unique iconic project naturally attracts a lot of professional interest, and there is already a lot to see, including the landscaping. Installation work is also already underway, and we hope to have heat in the buildings before the turn of the year. Around the 2024 construction period, we then hope to be completely finished," Van Scheijndel concludes.