The best professionals in the right place in construction

In recent months, 20 percent of construction companies indicated that a shortage of professionals is hampering their operations. Demand has never been higher and also one of the reasons why the production of new homes is stagnating. Technical project agency Velox is pleased to offer a solution to this problem. An extensive team of consultants is committed daily to supporting clients in construction, installation and civil engineering with capacity issues. For example, by connecting them to experienced and qualified professionals on a project basis. From planners to engineers and supervisors.

Velox professionals are currently working on housing projects such as Hart van de Waalsprong in Nijmegen, De Cascade in Utrecht and the Overhoeks residential and commercial district on the north bank of the IJ in Amsterdam. Part of Overhoeks are the two apartment blocks The Cube and The Wing, which excel in both luxury and sustainability and are being built by Dura Vermeer on behalf of developer Amvest. Two contractors are working on this project through Velox: Paul van der Niet and Gert Klok. Whereas Van der Niet joined Velox in September, Klok has been working for this project agency for several years. "We like the cooperation," he says. "Velox has the knowledge and the network to get great projects assigned. As a self-employed person, I can't compete with this. Instead of sending my resume around and waiting for clients to award me work, I am now the one who gets to choose. I really like that. Moreover, I have established a nice contact with several consultants, who regularly call and/or visit the construction site to stay informed." Van der Niet agrees: "Velox has taken care of its business well. The cooperation goes well and there is clear communication. Also on a personal level."

Additional supervision and control

Klok's responsibilities include the completion of building block The Wing, including all additional and less work. He coordinates the construction activities, coordinates with subsidiary and subcontractors and supervises the planning. A challenging task, in part because the lack of technically skilled personnel means that more and more foreign workers are being brought in. "Because of the language barrier, not all safety and assembly instructions always come through properly, which means that things are sometimes not followed (properly)," he says. "This requires extra supervision and control. When I walk around the construction site, I am sometimes 4 hours down the road. During that time, all sorts of questions and phone calls come my way. Prioritization is then a necessity, as is proper feedback and support. Fortunately, I know a lot about people. I find dealing with all kinds of people extremely interesting and one of the most enjoyable parts of my job. You experience everything. Despite all the challenges, the cooperation on this project is also incredibly good." Van der Niet acknowledges this. He too, despite the challenges, wouldn't want it any other way. "I enjoy leading, supervising people and transferring my professional knowledge," he says. "But above all to work together as colleagues and as one team to achieve an optimal delivery result. In project Overhoeks, too, we give excellent substance to this."

Unique dynamics

Designed by Powerhouse Company, The Wing features 77 luxury owner-occupied apartments. The building's unique wing shape, combined with the natural stone cladding and organically shaped balconies, creates a unique dynamic between nature and architecture, while sophisticated insulation, high-insulating glazing and balanced ventilation (WTW) ensure that energy consumption is kept to a minimum. "The energy demand that remains is met sustainably with district heat and solar collectors on the roof," Klok said. "This makes The Wing a great reference for what is possible in terms of sustainability and energy efficiency." Van der Niet: "When I started in construction over 40 years ago, an Rc value of 1.5 was acceptable. This has now been tightened to a value of 6 or higher. Buildings must be built completely airtight and meet high energy labels. Heat recovery, all-electric and Zero-Meter are just not trend words anymore. As a contractor, you have to keep up with this and keep developing continuously. You literally have to gain knowledge in practice. By observing well and by asking the right questions, I too learn every day."

Following in the footsteps of The Wing, The Cube is also distinguished by a high sustainability ambition and an attractive silhouette, Van der Niet said. This building was designed by De Zwarte Hond and provides space for 84 owner-occupied apartments, a green atrium and a parking garage. With the realization of both buildings, Dura Vermeer is making another small contribution to the flow in the housing market, and thus to new housing opportunities for starters, for example.