Zwols concrete has a strong presence in Emmen

Without concrete, (almost) nothing happens in construction!

Did you know that concrete is the second most consumed product in the world after water? Logical really, because concrete is at the basis of almost everything to do with construction. BudoBouw BV knows all about it. The company from Zwolle literally and figuratively provides the foundation on which buildings rise and is present as a silent force in the entire construction chain.

The tallest building this place has ever known is currently rising in Emmen: the Hondsrugtoren, no less than 65 meters high. The construction is being carried out by AKOR bouw, based on a design by Attika Architects and commissioned by Peter van Dijk. It concerns a prestigious building, for which BudoBouw BV provides the concrete work. Previously, BudoBouw BV realized the expansion of the parking garage at the Willinkplein, right next to the Hondsrugtoren. We speak with Denis van Wijk and Jeroen van Ostaijen of BudoBouw BV, about the work and the various disciplines applied in the field of concrete.

Building underground with concrete

"First on the agenda was the expansion of the underground parking garage at Willinkplein," Van Wijk opens the conversation. "In fact, this formed the basis for the building that now stands on top of it. The underground expansion provides Emmen with approximately 365 parking spaces and various technical areas, all on level -1." Van Ostaijen adds: "We also realized a sprinkler basin, a new stairwell and an elevator conversion on level -2."
The expansion of the parking garage was done to the already existing parking garage, which in terms of concrete work also came from the hand of BudoBouw BV. "Even when building underground with concrete, we use various techniques," Van Ostaijen explains. "For example, the ramps for the entrances and exits are made of poured concrete. There is a monolithic floor with a foundation of concrete beams. The superstructure consists of precast hollow walls, which we poured, which also applies to the pressure layers on the first floor."

Taking to the air with concrete

After the parking garage at Willinkplein was completed, work could begin on the construction of the already famous Hondsruggtoren, on the corner of Hondsrugweg/Weerdingerstraat in Emmen. Van Wijk explains, "There, too, we started building a modest parking basement, following the same construction principle as for the large parking garage, namely a monolithic floor with a foundation of concrete beams. The first floor of the tower consists of weighted beams with a wide slab floor, on which walls are set. We realized the first floor and second floor with a mix of hollow walls and in-situ poured walls. The floors are all beam structures with wide slab floors." Van Ostaijen: "From the second floor on, two types of walls are used, the interior walls are gray and solid, the exterior walls are sandwich concrete walls. The latter are composed of an exterior wall with an insulation core and an interior wall. This construction method is repeated from the second floor to the top floor. In the process, the floor work again consists of wide slab floors."

Work on the Hondsrug Tower.

Anyone driving on the N34 towards Groningen when everything is ready will be treated to a beautiful skyline of Emmen, with the Hondsrugtoren as the real eye-catcher. The view of Emmen will then be forever defined by no less than 17 floors intended for living, working and recreation, in a grand tower 65 meters high. When enjoying this view, remember that the expertise and commitment of "the men of concrete" from Zwolle lies at the heart of this special project.