'Building a landmark project together'

The Utrecht neighborhood west of the Amsterdam-Rhine Canal is familiar territory for Simon van der Linden. "A few years ago I was involved as a draftsman in Hometown, another development in this area," said the work planner at Van den Pol Elektrotechniek. "Nice to follow this up now with a striking project like The Crown on Leeuwesteyn."

Trebbe is a trusted partner for Van den Pol. "For many years we have acted as co-maker," he says. Because of the regular cooperation, both companies know what they can gain from each other. "Co-makers are involved early in the construction process. In the consultation there is room for recommendations and alternatives. Everyone's expertise comes into its own naturally. That's how you really build together."

Indoor garden and parking garage

At The Crown at Leeuwesteyn, Van den Pol is responsible for the complete electrical services. "This includes the videophone system for the apartments and the sensor lighting on the galleries," says Van der Linden. "In the communal courtyard garden, 25 bollard fixtures were installed and cabling was installed for the irrigation system. In close coordination with co-maker Van der Sluis, we provided the cabling for the PVT panels." The parking garage is equipped with LED lighting and a LIST fire alarm system. "Charging facilities have also been prepared. The VvE of the complex is responsible for installing these."

Alert on heights

Height difference is an important feature of the project. "From the Dafne Schippers Bridge it is easy to see that the studios are a lot lower than the entrance to the apartment building. Electricity is included in the prefab walls. When determining its positions, we had to be alert each time to the impact of the different heights."

Instant feedback

The Crown at Leeuwesteyn consists of a mix of high-rise and ground-level homes. "With the latter, we had to deal with individual buyer requirements. Think, for example, of data connections with a view to working from home. Upon completion, there is then often immediate feedback; residents are happy with our work." Now that those residents can move in, Van den Pol and Trebbe are already working on the next joint project: Hoeverijk, which consists of 178 rental and owner-occupied homes plus commercial facilities in Nieuwegein.