Gildenkwartier, Utrecht | A communication challenge

Talking to residents, retailers, office holders, travelers and shoppers

While Hoog Catharijne was one of the leading indoor shopping centers in the 1970s, work is now underway to restore the homes, stores and offices to the look and feel of today. The vast majority are finished. The Gildenkwartier is not yet.    

The redevelopment of the Gildenkwartier in Utrecht consists partly of renovation and partly of expansion. Facades will be tightened, stores will be enlarged and the store entrances, offices and apartments will be given a contemporary look again. On three sides, the building will be enlarged with a plinth about thirteen meters high and various widths, creating more retail space.

Logistics and Communications

"Construction-wise, the project does not have extremely high demands," says Wilbert Hilverda, AKOR's project manager. "The challenge is in logistics and communication. It is a postage-stamp location along the busiest bike path in the Netherlands. Every day, thousands of travelers cycle here toward the station. Retailers see their stores temporarily reduced in size by a bulkhead behind which construction work is taking place. To the construction team the imperative request to work with minimal inconvenience to those involved."

Nuisance mitigation measures

The construction team (Klépierre, BBC, ULC and AKOR) limits inconvenience through clear communication. The team informs residents, retailers, office owners, travelers and shoppers about the construction activities ahead. And deploys traffic controllers to designate detours. Activities involving noise will be scheduled only between 7 a.m. and 10 a.m. and traffic movements limited. "All construction materials will be delivered to a staging area  outside the center of Utrecht," Hilverda says. "They are delivered on demand and processed immediately." The total package of measures requires very detailed planning and professional communication.

'View from new facade station square towards Gildenkwartier yet to be renovated'

Construction surprises

Incidentally, the measures do not negatively affect AKOR's architectural ambitions. After all, the renovation of the 1970s building also offers special surprises. Hilverda: "The building has long since ceased to be as it was documented fifty years ago. Facades have been demolished, floors have been lowered and ceilings have been partially raised. It requires flexibility to accommodate all this and then communicate it back to the chain partners. We have all become pretty good at that by now."

Durable and stylish

AKOR is also satisfied with the progress. Phase I (Catharijnesingel) has been completed, Phase II (Smakkelaarsveld) and Phase III (Station side) have started. "Step by step, the store floor is now being expanded; all the unevenness in the facade is disappearing. In early 2020, there will be a facade here that is uncluttered, sustainable and stylish."