Platform on new construction, renovation, restoration and transformation
At Lightyards in Eindhoven, Arton completed the structural work on the parking garage and the Lumen and Highlight residential buildings—30 and 75 meters tall, respectively—at an impressive pace. A project of this nature, with such a tight construction schedule, demands craftsmanship and strong organizational skills. “The challenge was to organize everything so that everyone could get to work at the right time, in the right place, and with the right materials,” says John Jaspers, a work planner at Arton. “That required precise daily schedules and constant coordination with all parties involved. We devised a cycle that allowed us to complete one floor every nine days at Lumen—faster than agreed—and every six days at Highlight, as scheduled.”
For Arton, which specializes in the construction of complex, high-quality concrete structures, the first challenge was thorough preparation. “This pace is only achievable if all the technical requirements are met and you have everyone’s commitment. That’s why we held extensive consultations with all stakeholders. After all, no matter how good a plan you make, it’s the people who ultimately determine its success.”
Arton worked with the concrete engineers from general contractor BAM to develop a concrete mix that would keep pace with the desired construction schedule. “After all, concrete poured later in the day had to be strong enough by the next morning so that we could dismantle the floor formwork system. This way, engineering was directly linked to scheduling.” Safety also received a great deal of attention during the preliminary phase. “We had carefully planned aspects such as fixed staircases, hatches, and a smart material routing system in advance and had them implemented by BAM Materieel.”
Jaspers looks back on the project with enthusiasm: “I have to say—and I don’t say this often—this was truly a textbook example. The collaboration went off without a hitch. Everyone contributed ideas, worked incredibly hard, and stuck to the agreements. I want to commend everyone. But especially our site manager, Mark Gerlag, and his team of skilled craftsmen, who—when things didn’t go as planned—simply kept working until 7:00 p.m. so we could stay on schedule.’
