Platform on new construction, renovation, restoration and transformation
Construction is in full swing on the Linden project on Bijlmerdreef in Amsterdam-Zuidoost. This modern and sustainable office building consists of two interconnected 13-story towers, six atria, flexible workspaces, and a transparent structure that is harmoniously reflected in the facades. WVH Gevelprojecten is playing a key role in the construction of these facades; the company is responsible for the engineering, production, and installation of no fewer than 713 prefabricated facade elements, including aluminum composite facade panels, Colorbel glass panels, aluminum window frames, and seals.
“At the end of 2023, we were approached by the tender team at Dura Vermeer Bouw & Vastgoed Amsterdam to translate the architectural design by Paul de Ruiter Architects into a feasible facade solution that combines aesthetic quality with sustainability and both technical and economic feasibility,” says Helen Nossin, head of sales and projects at WVH Gevelprojecten. “We held several design sessions with the architect and the client. We then began working out the details in the summer of 2024, at which point project manager Paul van Acht also joined the team. The first facade elements were installed in August 2025.”
In total, WVH Gevelprojecten engineered, manufactured, and installed no less than 12,000 m2 of building facade. “Because of the required quality and speed for this project, we opted for prefabricated facade elements that could be easily connected like Lego blocks,” explains Van Acht. “The timber-frame elements were manufactured at our carpentry plant in Biest-Houtakker and then transported to our assembly line in Oirschot. There, De Groot & Visser installed approximately 5,500 m² of window frames, after which we installed the aluminum backing structure, approximately 2,125 m² of Colorbel thermally cured enameled glass panels, and over 11,000 m² of aluminum composite facade panels. The elements were then transported to a hub, from where they were delivered to the construction site on a just-in-time basis.” A maximum of forty elements were delivered and installed each week. “A major logistical challenge. All elements are approximately 5.40 meters wide and 3.90 meters high, which meant we had to use the lowest flatbed trailer available. Otherwise, we wouldn’t have been able to pass under the overpasses.”
The openings, or ‘eyes,’ in the facades—which feature an aluminum modular facade system—were also a challenge, Van Acht explains. “We carefully coordinated the technical connections to ensure the highest facade performance.”
All Colorbel glass panels are finished in a black tint, while the aluminum composite panels have been given an anodized look. “In the preparatory phase, we always create a full-scale mock-up,” says Nossin. “For this project, we also created color samples using cassettes in three gloss levels. The architect tested the samples at different times and under varying lighting conditions, based on which a gloss level of 60% was selected.” A concealed mounting system ensures an extremely flat facade appearance.
In addition to the facade elements, WVH Gevelprojecten also supplied 900 m2 of aluminum composite exterior ceilings for the undersides of the walkways and the overhang above the plinth facade.
