Distribution center combines efficient operation with attention to employee comfort and well-being: 37,000 m2 new building for logistics service provider

Project developer DHG directed the construction of this SMARTLOG distribution center. Convex Architects drew the plans and Groothuis Bouwgroep from Genemuiden was responsible for the realization. The new warehouse should guarantee efficient operations, while in the design of the office much attention was paid to the comfort and well-being of employees.

Westerman Multimodal Logistics distributes and transports goods by road, rail, sea or inland waterways within the Netherlands and throughout Europe. To do so, it has, among other things, a container terminal with cross-dock facility in Hasselt. However, demand for storage and assembly capacity continued to grow, both from existing and new customers. To facilitate that growth, project developer DHG developed a new, efficient distribution center for tenant Westerman on 6 acres of land in the municipality of Dalfsen (Nieuwleusen).

"We were involved in this project very early on by Westerman and were thus able, as a real estate solutions provider with 60 years of experience, to think along around the design of the warehouse and offices. We started with a plan study, from which the final plan emerged. After the signing of the cooperation contract, an investor was sought and so it became project developer DHG," says Willem Jan van de Worp, manager of commerce and plan development at main contractor Groothuis Bouwgroep. "Since Westerman moved into this new site in September, it has a capacity of 100,000 m². The logistics center includes an office area of 2,161 m² and a warehouse with a total surface area of 32,241 m² with a mezzanine of 2,819 m² above the loading docks, all based on the SMARTLOG principle. Warehouses according to this innovative concept of DHG are suitable for the most diverse target groups, guarantee excellent quality and are built according to established specifications."

Eye for the welfare of the employees

The municipality put a lot of effort into getting this logistics center to Nieuwleusen, including the construction of a wadi and earth walls with walkways and planting. The site had to fit elegantly into its surroundings, so, for example, the color of the rear facade was determined together with people from the neighborhood. "The three-story office space stands out above all because of the large glass facades, facing north. These provide plenty of light without heat problems and offer unrestricted views of the 60 loading docks. The landscape office for the some 100 employees is characterized by open office spaces, interspersed with quiet workstations. It is fully furnished according to the tenant's wishes and corporate style, as well as to the comfort and health of the users," Van de Worp explains. "The well-insulated single-story SMARTLOG warehouse with a mezzanine above the loading docks consists of a steel structure, combined with hollow-core slabs, concrete walls and sandwich panels with unique frames. Skylights in the center of the hall provide the necessary daylight, but since work is often done at night anyway, daylight-controlled LED lighting was also integrated. A certified sprinkler system and fire protection elements increase safety. In addition, rainwater is infiltrated into the soil and the roof is ready to accommodate solar panels in the future." The overall planning process and obtaining permits took about a year. Site preparation started in October 2019, and in 11 months main contractor Groothuis Bouwgroep and its construction partners realized the complete logistics site. 

Construction Info

Client
DHG, Schiedam

Architect
Convex Architects, Rotterdam

Main contractor
Groothuis Construction Group, Genemuiden