Project management as both connecting link and quality assurance

The way projects are prepared, planned, executed and delivered has a major impact on both quality and sustainability. Careful project management is therefore essential. During the construction of Mediavaert, the new wood-hybrid headquarters of DPG Media in Amsterdam-Duivendrecht, this responsibility lies with Drees & Sommer.

Drees & Sommer is an international consulting and project management firm for real estate and infrastructure. "As an organization, we are highly committed to innovation and sustainability," says André Leeuwis of Drees & Sommer Netherlands. "Themes that also come together in Mediavaert in a special way. From the wood-hybrid construction to the installation concept, the coordination and mutual cooperation."

Drees & Sommer has been involved in Mediavaert since the first pitch at the invitation of real estate developer Being, Leeuwis says. "We presented ourselves as a combination for both project development and tendering and project management during realization. Because we had worked together several times before, we were well matched. Among other things, that efficiency gave DPG Media enough confidence to award us the contract." Whereas Being handles project development and contracting, Drees & Sommer is responsible for project management, direction and supervision in the implementation phase. "We ensure that DPG Media and its employees will soon receive exactly what was promised to them on the front end - in the contract terms," Leeuwis summarizes. "To ensure quality during execution, we perform weekly quality checks. In addition, we are the connecting link between all project parties. Our managing director participates in all construction meetings and ensures that any changes are documented and implemented in exactly the right way."

One of the biggest challenges in this project, according to Leeuwis, is to properly guide DPG Media and its many departments as they move into the building later. "We have not been commissioned to design and supervise the built-in package," he says. "But we will see to it that everything important for this build-in is already properly integrated into the shell now." In this, he praises the open attitude of and fine triangular cooperation with Being and DPG Media. "Because the client is close to the project and constantly keeps a finger on the pulse, we can switch quickly, everyone stays sharp and it's incredibly fun working together."