Durable system walls resistant to salty sea air in Lauwersoog

The construction of the Wadden Sea World Heritage Center in Lauwersoog is in full swing. One of the last construction partners who will soon be allowed to work in this impressive building is Brakel Systeemwanden. We speak with sales manager Niels Geniets.

The experience and research center in the port of Lauwersoog is not just any building. It is being built to a design by the Danish architectural firm Dorte Mandrup in collaboration with the Team 4 architects. Important is the choice of materials that can withstand the climate of Lauwersoog and the building's location outside the dike. This applies to the outside of the building, but also to the materials used on the inside.  

Meanwhile, Brakel Systeemwanden's assemblers have started delivering and building the walls, Geniets says. "We make the walls for the laboratories in the building, but also for the offices. For this we use corrosion-resistant steel: an electrolytically galvanized material that stands up well to the salty air." 

'That's how sustainable the system is' 

Brakel Systeemwanden specializes in - the name says it all - system walls. "We work with a system that was devised 50 years ago by architect Jaap Bongers and whose patent has since been transferred to us. The basis of that system has always remained the same. Of course, we have continued to innovate it in order to serve the connection with the architects and construction world ever better and more completely. But the walls from 50 years ago still stand their ground. For example, when we remodel, we spray paint these old walls in a more modern color and put them back in place. If it is necessary, when we expand, we replenish the materials and then the warranty starts all over again. That's how sustainable the system is." 

Major player in the laboratory world 

That sustainable system will soon also be found throughout the WEC: in the laboratories, offices and in parts of the seal sanctuary. "We have been working with Bouwgroep Dijkstra Draisma for years and now so with the Architects of Team 4. The architects were very enthusiastic and knew that we are a big player in the 'lab world' as well," Geniets explains. The systems from Brakel Systeemwanden meet ML1 and ML2 requirements, among others. "In addition, the material also had to be able to withstand salty air, it had to be fire-resistant in some cases, preferably in a single system and also look nice and modern. Then it makes sense that they come to us." Another advantage of Brakel Systeemwanden? "We only work with our own people. Design, drawing, work preparation, project management, production, delivery and assembly: we do it all ourselves. And that's practical for a contractor." 

Worldwide on the map 

For Brakel Systeemwanden, the WEC is a special job. "We are proud to be part of this beautiful, large project. Soon everyone will be able to visit the building and see our products. This will put us on the map worldwide and that is very special for us."