Good preparation is essential for success 

The precast concrete elements of the imposing Zoetermeer residential tower 70LUX, a project of builder STATON Bouw, were produced and assembled by Bestcon of Best. According to Hans van der Burgt, Bestcon's project manager, the project in South Holland is an example for other projects. "We have, throughout the entire process, had great cooperation with STATON."

"With precast concrete it is important to make decisions and choices at an earlier stage than with other construction methods," said Van der Burgt. "Therefore, we are always very happy to see our customer in Best at our factory. During such a factory visit, we not only discuss what we can do, but also look at what cannot be done. Open and transparent, after all, we have to be able to make the project a success together. The result? A good engineering process in which there is mutual understanding, you can think along with each other and look for alternatives together where necessary. When you find each other at an early stage, you create every opportunity to make optimal use of the advantages of precast concrete."

No failure costs

"It is widely known that precast concrete is fundamentally sustainable because of its lower failure costs, limited transport movements and faster construction time with fewer hands on site. In fact, at 70LUX, we had no failure costs at all. That's something we can be proud of. But it also shows how important good preparation is."

By the book

To top it off, Bestcon and its erection partner Gejamont managed to bring delivery forward by some seven weeks. "That, too, is the result of good preliminary work, a tight schedule adhered to by everyone and providing clarity about what can and cannot be done. On this project, that went pretty much by the book. Is it luck? I don't think so. I am convinced that high-rise projects with precast concrete have this in them. As I said, good preparation lays the best foundation and is the prerequisite for success. At Bestcon, we like to lay that foundation."

Bestcon manufactured, delivered and assembled 1,183 elements (walls, facades, floors, beams and columns). In addition, the company assembled the stairs, landings, columns in the gallery, balconies, gallery slabs and steel structure on level 23 (all third-party production). The HSB elements were also loose-fixed by Bestcon (final adjustment by the contractor). All this was combined with the piling of structural materials in just 19 working weeks!