Platform on new construction, renovation, restoration and transformation
A modern and high-quality logistics distribution center was built at the Roosendaal business park Borchwerf. The warehouse was developed and realized according to the standards of BREEAM 'Outstanding'. A serious challenge under the circumstances.
Text | Liliane Verwoolde Image | Bokckmans nv
Van Dam Invest purchased the 3.9-hectare plot. It then went looking for a construction company that could build a contemporary distribution center here in accordance with the requirements of BREEAM 'Outstanding'. In that case, she became the owner of the first building on the Roosendaal industrial estate Borchwerf with this highest environmental classification. It became a DC of over 24,000 m² with 4,000 m² mezzanine and to the left and right two office blocks, together of some 1,200 m².
For Belgian construction company Bolckmans, building to BREEAM 'Very Good' standards was already the order of the day. But BREEAM 'Outstanding' combined with a tight budget still became a serious challenge. Gunter Vermeulen, commercial manager of Bockmans, explains. "Because of the budget, we were forced to opt for gas heating. But this obviously came at the expense of many BREEAM points, which we could only compensate by scoring a ten on all other items. The impact of the building in relation to the environment, the flush water in the toilets, the perfect separation of bicycle, car and freight traffic, the number of traffic movements, waste management, everything had to be perfect, not to mention the associated paper masses. It was building at five-star level!"
Besides the BREEAM challenge, there was the tight construction time. In ten months, the DC had to be ready for use. "With challenges like this, we reap the benefits of a seasoned company. Bolckmans is originally a steel company. We have been working with BIM for twenty years and prepare our projects down to the bolt. In fact, we build every building first on screen and then in practice. You notice that in everything. Projects run like well-oiled machines for us. That made the ten months in Roosendaal eminently feasible."
As a foundation for its construction projects, Bolckmans uses three core values. For example, it demands commitment from all collaborative partners. Developer, architect and suppliers are involved from the first moment and indicate at each step whether it feels right to them. The second core value is being critical of each other. "Something is not good just because you have been doing it for 20 years," Vermeulen says of this. "Insights and techniques change. If everyone says honestly how they look at it, our third core value, pride, naturally follows. We want to be proud of every building we put up." And what about that pride in Roosendaal? "Excellent! The DC is conveniently located, it has its own sleek look and it was built with respect for the environment."
Client Invest Antwerp
Architect Stripes Architect, Eindhoven
Constructor and contractor Bolckmans, Hoogstraten (B)
Installations Van Dijnsen, Breda
Construction €13 million
Construction period September 2019 - April 2020
Decorative gable bands
Braak distribution center has facades of stature. The austere grid of sandwich panels is attractively broken by decorative facade bands of an aluminum composite, engineered, manufactured and assembled by Kempen Composite.
When discussing the decorative façade bands, Kempen Composite uses a set method. It informs about the possibilities of aluminum composite and then takes client, architect and contractor through the design process until everyone agrees with the design.
Aluminum composite consists of a plastic core (3.0 mm), covered on both sides with aluminum (0.5 mm). Processing of the composite is done from the back, making it suitable for beautiful, tight, but also curved shapes in any desired color. At Braak, a line pattern was chosen, mostly straight and tapering at the entrance. Rob Vissers, director of Kempen Composite, is proud of the result. "The gable bands were realized entirely in-house - from engineering to assembly - and give the building cachet."
Wet concrete mortar according to BREEAM
With the high requirements of BREEAM, Bolckmans had to be careful in selecting its suppliers. Only suppliers that could meet the requirements of BREEAM and held the CSC certificate and favorable LCA reports were considered. Thus, Jansen Beton became the supplier of the wet concrete mortar.
Circular enterprise has long been a leading concept at Jansen Beton. It is among the forerunners of the CO2 performance ladder and has several environmental certifications. So the paperwork was fine, yet the practical implementation was a challenge. "All deliveries had to meet high specifications," says Toon Verbraak, project manager of Jansen Beton. "Moreover, the transport had to be perfectly connected and responsibly arranged." Thanks to thorough preparation, the project went smoothly and without problems. "Bolckmans is strong in the preparation of projects. With the extensive preliminary information and frequent telephone consultations, things could really only go well."
