Platform on new construction, renovation, restoration and transformation
On the outskirts of Heerhugowaard, work is underway on De Remise: a new apartment complex with social housing. For many future residents, it means affordable housing at a time when that is anything but a given.
On the construction site, it's all about planning, coordination and execution. Elektropartners is providing the entire electrical installations, working with Van Wijnen and others. “It is a project in which a lot comes together,” says project manager Arno Jong. “You have to deal with a tight schedule, multiple parties and a large number of homes that are being realized at the same pace. Then it is especially important that you keep an overview and that the execution is correct.”
The work consists of installing all electrical facilities in the complex. From the infrastructure to the connections in the houses. Surveyable on paper, in practice mainly a question of rhythm and accuracy. “You don't make one installation, but dozens in a row,” Jong explains. “That's where the challenge lies. Everything has to be the same level. No deviations, no surprises afterwards. That requires discipline in how you work.”
Within that whole, attention is also paid to how energy is generated. Each home will have its own PV system, which residents will soon use to generate their own energy. “It's a logical step,” Jong says. “You see energy getting closer and closer to the user. This is a practical example of that.”
The Remise is being realized in a construction team, in which various parties work intensively together. That way of working ensures short lines of communication and makes it possible to move quickly when needed. “You don't sit opposite each other here, but side by side,” Jong says. “If something comes up, you solve it together. That works more pleasantly and prevents things from getting stuck.”
That cooperation is also reflected in the atmosphere on the construction site. “People just work hard, but in between there is also laughter. The other day we were all barbecuing on the construction site. Things like that happen naturally. You notice that people just get along well.”
Elektropartners is a Heerhugowaard-based family business with a strong focus on electrical engineering and energy. This interest runs deep in the organization. Installations are not only constructed, but also figured out and understood in detail. This way of working can also be seen in projects such as De Remise. What starts as a solid foundation increasingly touches on larger questions regarding energy use.
Electricity demand is growing. Grid capacity is under pressure. And with it, the role of electrical engineering is also changing. “Clients are increasingly coming up with questions that go beyond installation,” Jong says. “How do you deal with limited capacity? How do you make sure you stay within limits? Things like that.”
Whereas De Remise is all about a good foundation, many other places have more complex issues. Connections that cannot be upgraded, companies that want to become more sustainable but get stuck. In these situations, the focus shifts to making better use of what is already there. Consuming less, generating locally, storing energy and organizing use more intelligently. “The image that something cannot be done is by no means always correct,” Jong says. “More is often possible if you look differently at how energy is used and distributed.” Installations thus become part of a larger whole, in which technology and use are increasingly closely linked. That requires a different way of looking and working.
