Organic design with angled window frames and striking play of colors: Unique civic initiative results in striking complex with gymnasium above swimming pool

For example, this is a civic initiative where not the municipality, but rather the foundation acted as client. Moreover, the complex combines a swimming pool with a multifunctional sports hall on top and architect Max van Huut chose a striking organic design with sloping window frames and a play between bricks, glass, wood and brightly colored steel facade cladding. Together with the construction team, Van Norel Bouwgroep was responsible for the successful realization of this sustainable project.

When the piles for Het Sporthuis went into the ground next to Abcoude's train station in August 2019, it was received with great enthusiasm. After all, it was the result of a lot of preliminary efforts by the residents, which started back in 2010, when it became clear that the then Meerbad swimming pool was not going to last long. With the support of an action committee, the pool could be kept open for several more years, and it is also those investors who put their backs into this project.

Architectural firm Alberts & Van Huut, together with Amstel Architects, was responsible for the design, and Van Norel Bouwgroep was commissioned to execute this project in a construction team formula. "A price offer, combined with our project approach, obviously determines whether you finally get the job. Nevertheless, word of mouth also remains important. For Het Sporthuis, we were tipped off to the client by those involved at Thermen Berendonck in Wijchen, the largest wellness resort in the Netherlands," says Corné Vreugdenhil, project manager at Van Norel Bouwgroep. "Together with the construction team, we first worked out a Plan of Action and then took charge of the full execution of this rather complex project."

Striking design on several levels

The challenge lay mainly in combining the functions. After all, the Sports House with over 4,200 m² GLA consists of a swimming pool with a 25-meter competition pool with movable floor, changing rooms and a coffee corner. On top of this space is the sports hall with a sports floor of 22 x 42 meters, four dressing rooms, support rooms and a bar. The basement houses, among other things, all the technical equipment for the pool. "Because the sports complex was realized on a lot with a limited size, the architects lifted the sports hall so that it is directly above the pool area. This is exceptional in the Netherlands. Between the hot and humid pool environment and a rather cold gymnasium, thermal insulation and airtightness were extremely important. The span over the swimming pool also created substantial requirements in terms of the structural construction of the floor. To reduce the transmission of impact sound and vibration, a floating floor was chosen," explains the project manager. "The building is further based on a steel structure and precast concrete elements. The façade combines masonry, glass sections, wooden cladding and steel cladding and stands out particularly because of the sloping window frames and the play of colors."

Sustainability and energy efficiency as an added bonus

An additional challenge was the location of the complex. Because the project is close to the railroad and the drainage inside the construction pit resulted in a lowering of the groundwater level, intensive consultations were held with Prorail. "After all, the lowering of the groundwater level was not allowed to lead to subsidence on the tracks. To counteract this subsidence, the decision was made to return the groundwater directly outside the construction pit," Vreugdenhil continues. "In addition to this drastic measure, a project-specific working method was devised in consultation with the Amstel, Gooi and Vecht Water Board in order to prevent disturbance of the various aquifers after the sheet pile walls were drawn."

The Sporthuis Abcoude is in any case a characteristic building, to which the necessary attention was also paid in terms of sustainability and energy efficiency. For example, on the roof are 330 solar panels, which could be adopted by the inhabitants of the municipality. These solar panels, combined with the other technical installations, make this sports complex a sustainable and energy-efficient project.  

Project info

Interior finishing to perfection

The facade is often the business card of a project, but also inside, the finishing must always be done to the smallest detail. For the finishing in Het Sporthuis Abcoude, Van Norel Bouwgroep could count on the knowledge and experience of Dekker Schilders. The company from Vriezenveen has been delivering craftsmanship in new construction and renovation projects since the 1960s, both in residential and other projects. 

"We have worked successfully with Van Norel Bouwgroep several times in the past. Thus the main contractor also came to us for this new sports complex," states business manager Jeroen Dekker. "After approval of our price offer, we were responsible for all interior glazing, including fire-resistant glazing in combination with special pool sealing. Furthermore, we took care of the wall finishing and partition wallpaper in the pools as well as the finishing of the interior frames and doors. We were active on the construction site for three months with an average of two people. The beveled edges of the window frames were the biggest challenge."