Theory and practice on a single scaffold

Total Assembly as the Driving Force Behind a Streamlined Construction Process

In the Spaarndammerbuurt neighborhood in Amsterdam, 105 homes are being built using CLT timber construction. For the Bredius project, a team of five is handling the complete assembly of the wooden shell and steel structure, as well as the HSB facade elements, precast concrete elevator shafts, and stairwells. This approach prevents downtime and speeds up the construction process.

Coen Kampinga, owner of Kampinga Bouw, is a civil engineer and worked for nearly three years as a project manager and site supervisor at timber construction specialist DERIX. He then went into business for himself, focusing on prefabricated solid wood construction. Through DERIX, he became involved with Bredius, Ballast Nedam West’s first major CLT project. “In addition to the timber shell, DERIX also supplies the steel. We handle the complete assembly of the HSB facade elements, precast concrete elevator cores, and stairwells. Because we assemble everything, there’s very little downtime in the process: no one has to wait for anyone else.”

Tolerances and Detailing

Monadnock’s design is ambitious in its level of detail. That requires precision during assembly. “On the drawings, all the materials are straight, but in practice there’s always some deviation. That has to be taken into account during work planning. The challenge for us is to stay within the tolerances—including, for example, for the mason who comes after us.” Kampinga uses his knowledge and expertise to address deviations immediately. “If you leave things as they are, it takes much more time to fix them later on.”

Collaborate and Find Solutions

The team works closely with DERIX, Ballast Nedam West, and the structural engineer. “On the construction site, you discover where 3D models from different suppliers conflict. But that can be resolved.” Kampinga says the well-thought-out integration of wood, steel, concrete, and light-gauge steel (HSB) deserves praise. “At its core, it’s very well thought out.” The construction period for assembly is seven to eight months. The combination of Kampinga’s theoretical background and years of hands-on experience on the construction site helps ensure everything is completed on time. “I understand both sides. That combination always pays off for me. I think this is the best work there is.”