Built-to suit service office and warehouse for Welkoop Retail

The construction was provided by Systabo B.V.. Together with sister company VolkerWessels Logistics Development B.V., the contractor realized a complete built-to-suit project for end user Welkoop.

Welkoop underwent such growth in recent years that the business premises were no longer adequate. The search for a new location led to Apeldoorn Noord industrial estate, which for Welkoop has a nice central location in relation to its stores. A new DC was built there to supply more than 150 stores. The new building project consists of a 19,500 m² warehouse, a 3,300 m² service office and an adjacent parking garage with 185 parking spaces. The service office consists of several office gardens, meeting rooms, a canteen and a test store.

Impactful

Systabo started construction in December 2019, says plan developer Vincent Kenkhuis. "We have been involved in the project from the beginning. As a construction partner, we bring our technical expertise to bear to create an optimal building from the initial design idea. In all considerations in the design and execution process, the client's wishes and 'unburdening' are central. Thanks to the careful preparation in BIM with our regular LEAN chain partners, we were able to realize the work quickly and decisively." The DC of three soccer fields in size has two expedition sides and is set up in such a way that the incoming and outgoing flows of goods are completely separated. Kenkhuis: "In consultation with Welkoop, various tenant requirements were already included during construction. For example, racking was already placed in the warehouse during the completion of the project and Systabo realized the complete office layout on behalf of the end user."

Hybrid installation

The warehouse and office were designed and built under a BREEAM "Very Good" certification. "Among other things, this is reflected on the roof, where there are over 6,000 solar panels. The warehouse is equipped with a hybrid system. For 90% of the time, the use of an air heat pump will suffice. Only during peak moments in a harsh winter is gas fired. This too was a specific wish of the user, not to be 100% dependent on one heating principle." He also points to the wadis on the property, for the purpose of water infiltration and storage. Furthermore, mostly sustainable materials were used in construction.

Construction method

As Kenkhuis pointed out, the construction process went smoothly. Didn't the corona virus cause delays? "Of course certain materials came a little later, but we managed to compensate for that by bringing some other things forward. During the work, measures such as keeping a distance were well observed. Consultations took place digitally whenever possible." Systabo used its standard construction method during realization: "During the construction of this type of voluminous building, the various subcontractors run in trains contiguously in planning. Thanks to the BIM working method combined with LEAN, each chain partner knows when and what is expected of it." With the new DC and service office, Welkoop is ready for the future, Kenkhuis concludes. "Some 150 people are now employed and there is room for more. Moreover, the growth of the assortment has been taken into account."  

Construction Info

Client
VolkerWessels Logistics Development B.V., Amersfoort

End user/tenant
Welkoop Retail B.V., Ede

Architect
Leferink Architects BNA B.V., Oldenzaal

Contractor
Systabo B.V., Enschede

Constructor
Snetselaar Structural Engineers B.V., Ede

Installations
Van Dalen Installatietechniek B.V., Nijkerk